Strategies of virginiamycin supplementation in the postweaning phase on growth performance and carcass quality of beef cattle

Strategies of virginiamycin supplementation in the postweaning phase on growth performance and carcass quality of beef cattle | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Strategies of virginiamycin supplementation in the postweaning phase on growth performance and carcass quality of beef cattle Rodrigo da Costa Gomes, Gilberto Romeiro de Oliveira Menezes, and 11 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3146396/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 16 Dec, 2023 Read the published version in Tropical Animal Health and Production → Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The present study evaluated the effects of supplementing VM in grazing cattle during the rearing phase on performance and carcass quality of beef cattle in the finishing phase. Two experiments with a randomized block design were conducted in consecutive years to contrast two post-weaning supplementation strategies using VM at 45 mg/100 kg body weight (BW). In the first year, treatments were protein supplement in the dry season and mineral supplement in the rainy season versus the addition of VM both in the protein and mineral supplements. In the second year, was contrasted with protein supplement in the dry season and protein-energy supplement in the rainy season. Performance, carcass traits, and carcass quality were evaluated at the end of both phases. In Year 1, adding VM in mineral supplement increased final backfat thickness ( P =0.05), backfat gain ( P =0.06), final rump fat thickness ( P =0.02), and rump fat gain ( P =0.01). In the finishing phase, VM-treated cattle had a greater dry matter intake ( P =0.03) and tended to show a greater backfat thickness than non-treated cattle ( P =0.07). In Year 2, no VM effects were observed on post-weaning phase performance and carcass traits. However, cattle-fed VM during the post-weaning phase tended to show a lower feed conversion ratio ( P =0.09) and had a significantly higher gross feed efficiency ( P =0.03) than non-treated cattle at slaughter. Virginiamycin supplementation during rearing on pasture improves performance and carcass fattening in the growth phase and has a residual effect in the finishing phase that may reflect greater backfat thickness and gross feed efficiency. Additive Feed efficiency Non-ionophore Pasture supplementation Streptogramin Introduction Additives are incorporated into ruminant feed to improve fermentation patterns, prevent metabolic disorders, and increase productivity. These adjustments are obtained by controlling populations of ruminal microorganisms, especially protozoa and Gram-positive bacteria. For this purpose, antibiotic growth promoters represent important tools. In this context, non-ionophore additives, such as virginiamycin (VM), stand out as an alternative source with effects similar to those of ionophores, such as monensin (MO). Virginiamycin is streptogramin isolated from Streptomyces virginiae , with bacteriostatic or bactericidal action attributed to the concentrations of its components: a peptolide and a macrocyclic lactone, also called factor M 1 and factor S 1 , respectively, which act in synergistic interaction on Gram-positive bacteria (Araújo et al., 2016 ; Villanueva, 2020 ). After entering the bacterial cell, VM adheres to ribosomal subunits called peptidyltransferase centers, where the M 1 factor binds to the 50S portion and promotes the binding of the S 1 factor to an adjacent region, thus inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis (Li et al., 2020 ; Villanueva, 2020 ). Irreversible interruption of protein synthesis features a peculiar characteristic known as bacteriopause to VM, conferring a bacteriostatic effect even after its removal from the culture medium (Araújo et al., 2016 ). In this context, it can be inferred that VM supplementation has residual effects between production phases. Several studies have evaluated the effects of VM addition in feedlot cattle feed on animal performance, pointing to positive impacts on growth performance and preventing liver abscesses (Tedeschi and Gorocica-Buenfil, 2018 ). Additionally, the association between VM and MO can be strategically used in cattle finishing, improving energy use efficiency, weight gain, and carcass traits in relation to diets with only MO (Benatti et al., 2017 ; Rigueiro et al., 2020 , 2023 ). In grazing systems with tropical forages, the benefits of additives are mainly related to energy loss reduction due to enteric methane release depletion (Fonseca et al., 2019 ). However, under grazing conditions, animal performance is dependent on dynamics in forage availability and quality (Detmann et al., 2014 ; Lazzarini et al., 2016 ), which reinforces the importance of establishing strategies for intensification through supplementation with additives. Given the above, benefits of VM as an additive in beef cattle are widely reported. However, it is still not proven that the impacts of VM supplementation strategies can be extended from the growth phase to the finishing phase. In this sense, the present study evaluated the effects of supplementing VM to grazing cattle during the post-weaning phase, testing the hypothesis that VM supplementation has effects on the finishing phase carried out in feedlots due to previous growth changes in the rearing phase. Material and Methods The study was carried out at the National Beef Cattle Research Center of the Brazilian Corporation of Agricultural Research (Embrapa Beef Cattle), Campo Grande, MS, Brazil (20°26'42''S, 54°43'22''O). Over a 2-year study period (Year 1 = 2013 to 2014 and Year 2 = 2014 to 2015), crossbred steers (n = 49 and 56 for Years 1 and 2, respectively) and heifers (n = 52 and 48 for Years 1 and 2, respectively) were submitted to different nutritional strategies during the postweaning period, which was undertaken in grazing systems, following a single strategy for finishing in the feedlot. Cattle were produced from matting Nellore and crossbred spring-caving cows (½ Nellore x ½ Angus and ½ Nellore x ½ Caracu) with tropically adapted sires (Braford, Charbray, and Caracu), using fixed-time artificial insemination, and weaned at 8 to 10 mo of age in June 2013 (Year 1) and June 2014 (Year 2). Then, cattle were allocated to eight paddocks, blocked by sex and balanced by genetic group. Paddocks were 8 ha on average, composed of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu (marandu-grass) and received nitrogen fertilization in February 2014 and 2015 (100 kg urea ha − 1 ). Forage availability was evaluated every 56 days by harvesting and weighing the forage mass in 40 random plots per paddock. Composite samples were dried (55°C, 72 h) to calculate forage availability on a dry basis. A subsample was divided into leaf, stem, and dead material to calculate the leaf-to-stem ratio. Leaves were dried and ground (1-mm sieve), and their chemical composition was estimated using Near-infrared spectroscopy with standard curves calibrated for the genus Brachiaria , according to Marten et al. ( 1989 ). Cattle were maintained in pastures for 12 months and submitted to different treatments during the whole phase before being enrolled in a feedlot for finishing. Treatments were composed of different nutritional strategies with focus on the use of VM (Eskalin, Phibro, Guarulhos, Brazil) as a growth promotor, provided to cattle through a protein supplement in the dry season (June to October) and a mineral supplement in the following rainy season (November to May) (Table 1 ). The VM was included in the supplements to provide a daily VM intake of 45 mg/100 kg BW, and the expected daily supplement intake was 0.25 and 1.0 g kg/BW for mineral and protein supplements, respectively. In Year 1, all paddocks received protein supplements (P-D, 35% crude protein) during the dry season (106 days) and mineral supplements during the rainy season (M-R, 203 days). However, VM was included in the supplements of four paddocks (two paddocks per sex), and the other four paddocks received no VM (Control). In Year 2, the lengths of the dry and rainy seasons were 125 and 213 days, respectively, and the same treatments as those in Year 1 were applied, except that the control group received a second protein-energy supplement (PE-R, 25% crude protein) without VM in the rainy season, replacing the mineral supplement (Table 2 ). The supplements were offered ad libitum in sheltered feeding bunks, and daily supplement intake was measured by weighing orts weekly. Table 1 Supplements and feedlot diet composition. Item Supplements Year 1 Year 2 P-D M-R P-D M-R PE-R CP, g/kg 350.0 - 350.0 - 250 NPN (max), g/kg 297.0 - 297.0 - 150 Ca (min), g/kg 60.0 60.0 60.0 60.0 30 Ca (max), g/kg 68.0 180.0 68.0 180.0 40 P (min), g/kg 18.0 40.0 18.0 40.0 25 S (min), g/kg 8.0 9.0 8.0 9.0 15 Na (min), g/kg 47.0 42.0 47.0 42.0 45 Mg (min), g/kg 5.0 5.0 6.0 Co (min), mg/kg 0.0023 46 0.0023 46 20 Cu (min), mg/kg 0.2 615 0.2 615 260 Fe (min), mg/kg 0.15 - 0.15 - I (min), mg/kg 0.01 36 0.01 36 100 Mn (min), mg/kg 0.4 440 0.4 440 310 Se (min), mg/kg 0.002 14 0.002 14 10 Zn (min), mg/kg 1.0 1950 1.0 1950 720 F (max), mg/kg 0.18 600 0.18 600 250 TDN (min), mg/kg 400 Ingredients Feedlot TMR (Years 1 and 2) Dry basis (g kg -1) Sorghum silage 35 Corn, dry ground 49,8 Soybean hulls 9 Soybean meal 45% CP 3.6 Urea 1.1 Mineral premix 1.5 Nutrients Year 1 Year 2 DM 989.4 936.0 CP 117.6 114.1 EE 23.9 36.6 NDF 381.3 352.7 ADF 155.1 224.4 ADL 15.5 20.6 TDN 736.4 737.1 P-D = protein supplement in the dry season; M-R = mineral supplement in the rainy season; PE-R = protein-energy supplement in the rainy season; TMR = total mixed ration; CP = crude protein (g/kg DM); NPN = non-protein nitrogen; DM = dry matter (g/kg DM); EE = ether extract; NDF = neutral detergent fiber (g/kg DM); ADF = acid detergent fiber (g/kg MS); ADL = Acid detergent lignin (g/kg MS); TDN = total digestible nutrients (Weiss et al., 1999). Table 2 Scheme of experimental arrangements and summary representation of supplementation strategies during the post-weaning phase in grazing cattle. Season Year 1 Year 2 Dry P P vm P P vm Rainy M M vm PE M vm Contrast P-D/M-R P vm -D/M vm -R P-D/PE-R P vm -D/M vm -R n = 50 n = 51 n = 52 n = 52 P = protein supplement; M = mineral supplement; PE = protein-energy supplement; P vm = protein supplement with virginiamycin; M = mineral supplement with virginiamycin; P-D/M-R = supplementation strategy with protein supplement in the dry season and mineral supplement in the rainy season; P vm -D/M vm -R = addition of virginiamycin both in the protein and mineral supplements; P-D/PE-R = supplementation strategy with protein supplement in the dry season and protein-energy supplement in the rainy season. During this phase, cattle were subjected to protocols for deworming (doramectin 1%, Vallé, Brazil) as well as tick and fly (cypermethrin) control (June to October), and steers were castrated (November). Weighing was carried out after a 16-hour fasting period every 56 days, and carcass traits were evaluated by ultrasound on four occasions throughout the last 5 months of the growing period. Cattle were scanned using a real-time Piemedical, Scanner 200 VET (Pie Medical, Inc., Maastricht, The Netherlands) ultrasound equipment unit equipped with an 18-cm, 3.5-MHz linear array transducer and a coupled acoustic guide. Vegetable oil was used for acoustic coupling. Ultrasound images of the longissimus thoracis muscle (LT) between the 12th and 13th ribs were used to determine the ultrasound rib eye area (UREA) and subcutaneous backfat thickness (UBFT), and images of the biceps femoris muscle were used to obtain ultrasound rump fat thickness (URFT). Following the growing period, cattle were housed in individual soil-surfaced pens (2 x 19 m) with water fountains and sheltered feed bunks and enrolled in a feeding trial, receiving a total mixed ration (TMR, 2.69 Mcal ME/kg, and 14.3%CP on a dry matter basis, Table 3 ). A single TMR was offered to animals from both treatments and both years such that the effects of the previous nutritional regime could be evaluated. Cattle were allowed to adapt to the diet and feeding procedures for 25 days when sorghum silage was offered ad libitum and gradually substituted for concentrate to meet the final TMR. After the adaptation period, the TMR was offered ad libitum , at 8:00 h and 15:00 h, to allow for 5% refusal, and orts were weighed daily before the morning feed delivery to calculate the daily dry matter intake (DMI). The TMR samples were collected weekly for determining the DM concentration and chemical composition. Feed samples were dried at 55ºC for 72 h and ground to pass a 1-mm screen. Dry matter, ash, crude protein (micro-Kjeldahl method), and ether extract contents were determined according to the AOAC ( 1990 ), and neutral and acid detergent fiber was measured according to Van Soest et al. ( 1991 ). Total nutrient digestibility was estimated according to Weiss ( 1999 ). Table 3 Forage characteristics during the postweaning phase. Item Sampling days MSE 1 P-value² Year 1 Oct-13 Nov-13 Jan-14 Mar-14 Jun-14 FM 16.13 a 10.88 b 14.82 a 14.72 a 16.10 a 0.43 < 0.0001 GFM 5.33 bc 4.67 c 7.91 a 8.13 a 6.87 ab 0.28 < 0.0001 LM 2.29 d 2.65 cd 4.69 a 3.83 ab 3.43 bc 0.17 < 0.0001 L:S 0.79 c 1.23 b 1.61 a 0.94 bc 1.13 b 0.06 < 0.0001 SR 0.76 d 0.84 cd 0.95 bc 1.09 ab 1.23 a 0.03 < 0.0001 OM 910.1 a 894.7 c 908.8 ab 905.2 ab 903.0 b 1.12 < 0.0001 CP 70.2 c 71.2 c 66.2 c 78.9 b 86.5 a 1.32 < 0.0001 NDF 732.2 a 735.2 a 737.9 a 706.4 b 694.7 b 3.15 < 0.0001 ADF 366.9 b 382.5 a 377.4 ab 352.7 c 342.2 c 2.76 < 0.0001 ADL 29.1 ab 29.2 a 29.3 a 26.6 ab 26.3 b 0.37 < 0.0001 OMIVD 523.2 c 528.5 c 517.1 c 558.6 b 598.9 a 5.54 < 0.0001 Year 2 Aug-14 Oct-14 Jan-15 Mar-15 May-15 FM 14.59 a 11.65 b 10.52 b 11.16 b 13.22 a 0.28 < 0.0001 GFM 5.94 b 4.40 c 5.93 b 7.55 a 7.90 a 0.27 < 0.0001 LM 3.10 cd 2.43 d 3.56 bc 4.27 a 3.84 ab 0.13 < 0.0001 L:S 1.11 b 1.26 b 1.50 a 1.31 b 0.94 b 0.05 < 0.0001 SR 0.81 c 0.86 bc 1.02 b 1.18 a 1.30 a 0.03 < 0.0001 OM 904.6 c 907.8 bc 903.4 c 912.0 ab 916.3 a 0.98 < 0.0001 CP 84.5 a 79.2 a 67.9 b 83.6 a 83.0 a 1.25 < 0.0001 NDF 722.7 ab 668.9 d 734.9 a 690.6 c 716.6 b 4.04 < 0.0001 ADF 356.2 b 315.4 d 371.5 a 341.3 c 340.0 c 3.11 < 0.0001 ADL 28.8 a 21.6 d 26.3 b 24.6 bc 23.4 cd 0.47 < 0.0001 OMIVD 562.4 c 628.2 a 530.0 d 589.0 b 556.8 c 5.73 < 0.0001 FM = forage mass (t DM/ha); GFM = green forage mass (t DM/ha); GLM = leaf mass (t DM/ha); L:S = leaf: stem ratio; SR = stocking rate (animal units/ha); OM = organic matter (g/kg DM); CP = crude protein (g/kg DM); NDF = neutral detergent fiber (g/kg DM); ADF = acid detergent fiber (g/kg MS); ADL = acid detergent lignin (g/kg MS); OMIVD = organic matter in vitro digestibility (g/kg DM). Means followed by different letters differ significantly (P < 0.05). ¹ Mean standard error. ² Probability of error type I. The finishing period length was 83 and 84 days for heifers and 119 and 98 days for steers in Years 1 and 2, respectively. At the end of the finishing period, cattle were slaughtered at a commercial abattoir (Naturafrig, Rochedo, Brazil), following humane slaughter guidelines as required by Brazilian laws. Carcass processing followed the common industry practices adopted in Brazil. Animals were desensitized by a captive bolt pistol and bleeding through incisions of the jugular veins and carotid arteries. Liver weight and pooled kidney, pelvic, and inguinal fat mass weight (KPI) were recorded. Carcasses were longitudinally half divided, weighed (HCW), washed, and immediately chilled at 0–2°C. After a 24-h postmortem period, carcass pH was measured on the LT muscle. The LT section between the 12th and 13th ribs was exposed, and the marbling score (MAR), rib eye area (REA), and backfat thickness (BFT) were measured. Two 2.5-cm-thick and one 0.5-cm-thick (~ 30 g) steaks were obtained from the exposed LT for Warner-Bratzler shear force and fat content analyses. Steaks were allowed to bloom for 20 minutes, and light reflectance scores for lightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*) were obtained using a MiniScan XE colorimeter (HunterLabs, Reston, VA). Samples were also classified into different groups of the marbling score according to Gomes et al. ( 2021 ), from practically devoid to abundant, according to a photographic scale (100 = practically devoid and 900 = abundant), by qualified university personnel. The samples were either packed in polyethylene bags and immediately frozen at -20°C or vacuum-packed, aged for 7 d at 3 to 4°C, and frozen at -20°C until analyses. The 2.5-cm-thick steaks were thawed in a refrigerator with an internal temperature set at 4°C for 24 h. Samples were cooked in an electric oven with upper and lower heating elements, set to 180°C, until the sample internal temperature reached 71°C (AMSA, 2016 ), as measured by digital thermometers. Subsequently, steaks were wrapped in plastic film and chilled overnight at 4°C. Eight 1.27-cm cores were removed parallel to the muscle fiber with a mechanical coring device. Cores were sheared in a Warner-Bratzler meat shear apparatus, and the shear force values were averaged to determine the Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF). Data were analyzed in a randomized complete block design by applying the Mixed procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC), with paddock as the experimental unit for the measurements of supplement intake, body weight, and average daily gain in the postweaning period and animal as the experimental unit for all other traits. The mixed model included the fixed effect of treatment (with or without VM during the postweaning regime) and random effects of sex and genetic group. The least-square means statement was used to calculate the adjusted means for treatments. All data were checked to fit a normal distribution by the Shapiro-Wilk test, using the UNIVARIATE procedure of SAS. Significant effects were considered when P 0.05) in the dry season of the postweaning phase (Table 4 ). In the rainy season, there were no VM effects on mineral supplement intake (P > 0.05); however, VM-treated cattle showed greater average daily gain (0.666 vs 0.586 kg d − 1 , P < 0.001) and final body weight (370.3 vs 354.6 kg d − 1 , P = 0.02) than non-treated cattle. Adding VM in mineral supplement in the rainy season also increased final backfat thickness (3.92 vs 3.24 mm, P = 0.05), backfat gain (0.012 vs 0.009 mm d − 1 , P = 0.06), final rump fat thickness (5.60 vs 4.17 mm, P = 0.02) and rump fat gain (0.021 vs 0.013 mm d − 1 , P = 0.01). No treatment effects were observed for initial backfat, initial rump fat, initial and final rib eye area, and rib eye area gain (P > 0.05). Table 4 Supplement intake, growth performance, and ultrasound carcass traits during the postweaning phase of crossbred cattle submitted to different supplementation strategies (least square means). Year 1 Year 2 P-value 2 Trait P-D/M-R P vm -D/M vm -R SEM P-D/PE-R P vm -D/M vm -R SEM 1 Year 1 2 Dry season Supplement intake, kg d − 1 0.228 0.201 0.01 0.137 0.101 0.01 0.18 0.12 Initial body weight, kg 181.3 181.5 4.03 225.1 222.4 2.89 0.96 0.55 Final body weigh, kg 235.2 235.1 3.32 276.4 271.9 3.39 0.99 0.38 Average daily gain, kg d − 1 0.342 0.350 0.01 0.414 0.399 0.01 0.72 0.47 Rainy season Supplement intake, kg d − 1 0.151 0.127 0.01 0.388 0.134 0.05 0.14 < 0.001 Final body weight, kg 354.6 370.3 4.66 417.0 418.2 5.3 0.02 0.88 Average daily gain, kg d − 1 0.586 0.666 0.01 0.657 0.669 0.01 < 0.0001 0.66 Initial rib eye area, cm 2 49.88 52.10 0.93 55.2 54.5 0.87 0.15 0.66 Final rib eye area, cm 2 72.8 73.7 1.29 75.6 74.1 1.91 0.69 0.70 Rib eye area gain, cm 2 d − 1 0.124 0.123 0.006 0.135 0.133 0.006 0.99 0.82 Initial backfat thickness, mm 1.73 1.95 0.100 0.88 0.88 0.13 0.26 0.98 Final backfat thickness, mm 3.24 3.92 0.174 4.74 5.23 0.40 0.05 0.44 Backfat thickness gain, mm d − 1 0.009 0.012 0.001 0.026 0.029 0.002 0.06 0.34 Initial rump fat thickness, mm 2.00 2.22 0.16 2.48 2.04 0.132 0.51 0.06 Final rump fat thickness, mm 4.17 5.60 0.30 6.89 6.46 0.501 0.02 0.26 Rump fat thickness gain, mm d − 1 0.013 0.021 0.002 0.033 0.030 0.002 0.01 0.44 P-D/M-R = supplementation strategy with protein supplement in the dry season and mineral supplement in the rainy season; P vm -D/M vm -R = addition of virginiamycin both in the protein and mineral supplements; P-D/PE-R = supplementation strategy with protein supplement in the dry season and protein-energy supplement in the rainy season. ¹ Mean standard error. ² Probability of error type I. In year 2, no VM effects were also observed for protein supplement intake, final body weight, and average daily gain during the dry season of the postweaning phase (Table 4 , P > 0.05). During the rainy season, the protein supplement had a higher intake than the VM-enriched mineral supplement (0.388 vs 0.134 g d − 1 , P 0.05). Cattle fed protein supplement during the rainy season showed greater initial rump fat thickness than cattle fed VM-enriched mineral supplement (2.48 vs 2.04 mm, P = 0.06). In the finishing phase of Year 1 (Table 5 ), no treatment effects were observed on initial and final BW, dry matter intake in kilograms per day, feed conversion ratio, and gross feed efficiency (P > 0.05). There was a tendency of cattle fed VM during the previous postweaning phase to show a greater average daily gain (1.536 vs 1.441 kg d − 1 , P = 0.08). Also, VM-treated cattle had a greater dry matter intake as a percentage of mid-test BW (2.60 vs 2.45%, P = 0.03). At slaughter, no treatment effects were observed for hot carcass weight, carcass dressing, liver weight, kidney, pelvic, and inguinal fat weight, carcass pH, REA, marbling, meat L, a* and b*, and Warner Bratzler shear force, both in aged and non-aged beef (P > 0.05). There was a tendency of VM-treated cattle to show a greater BDT than non-treated cattle (6.41 vs 5.44 mm, P = 0.07). Table 5 Finishing performance, carcass traits, and meat quality traits of crossbred cattle submitted to different pasture supplementation strategies during the postweaning phase (least square means). Year 1 Year 2 P-value 2 Trait P-D/M-R P vm -D/M vm -R SEM P-D/PE-R P vm -D/M vm -R SEM 1 Year 1 2 Initial body weight, kg 366.9 376.6 5.45 451.5 448.8 6.48 0.21 0.72 Final body weight, kg 508.1 515.0 6.53 559.2 564.0 8.38 0.46 0.67 Average daily gain, kg d − 1 1.536 1.441 0.03 1.176 1.254 0.03 0.08 0.14 Dry matter intake, kg d − 1 10.82 11.09 0.17 11.40 11.18 0.19 0.32 0.47 Dry matter intake, % BW 2.44 2.59 0.03 2.26 2.21 0.03 0.003 0.19 Feed conversion ratio, kg/kg 7.57 7.69 0.15 9.81 9.19 0.18 0.65 0.09 Gross feed efficiency, kg/kg 0.138 0.133 0.01 0.104 0.113 0.01 0.26 0.03 Hot carcass weight, kg 267.4 272.4 3.67 297.5 299.8 4.82 0.37 0.73 Carcass dressing, % 52.6 52.9 0.24 53.09 53.08 0.22 0.50 0.97 Liver weight, kg 5.58 5.44 0.09 5.90 5.86 0.11 0.41 0.83 Kidney, pelvic and inguinal fat, kg 8.88 9.47 0.33 9.69 9.91 0.32 0.32 0.72 pH 24h 5.47 5.47 0.02 5.83 5.89 0.04 0.97 0.47 Rib eye area, cm² 77.8 77.7 1.20 79.9 77.7 1.25 0.95 0.30 Backfat thickness, mm 5.44 6.41 0.29 10.69 10.43 0.50 0.07 0.75 Marbling, points 484 503 10.51 508 496 9.95 0.37 0.55 L* 38.13 37.33 0.32 37.19 37.20 0.30 0.20 0.99 a* 14.99 15.05 0.18 14.09 14.54 0.13 0.82 0.08 b* 12.80 12.64 0.21 11.98 12.12 0.16 0.66 0.29 Shear force, 0d aging, kg 8.70 9.30 0.35 6.14 6.77 0.20 0.39 0.63 Shear force, 7d aging, kg 6.79 6.25 0.23 4.78 5.56 0.19 0.24 0.11 P-D/M-R = supplementation strategy with protein supplement in the dry season and mineral supplement in the rainy season; P vm -D/M vm -R = addition of virginiamycin both in the protein and mineral supplements; P-D/PE-R = supplementation strategy with protein supplement in the dry season and protein-energy supplement in the rainy season. ¹ Mean standard error. ² Probability of error type I. In the finishing phase of Year 2 (Table 5 ), no treatment effects were observed on initial and final BW, average daily gain, and dry matter intake in kilograms per day and in the percentage of mid-test BW (P > 0.05). Cattle fed VM during the postweaning phase tended to show a lower feed conversion ratio (9.19 vs 9.81, P = 0.09) and had a significantly higher gross feed efficiency (0.113 vs 0.104, P = 0.03) than non-treated cattle. At slaughter, no treatment effects were observed for hot carcass weight, carcass dressing, liver weight, kidney, pelvic and inguinal fat weight, carcass pH, REA, BFT, marbling, meat L and b*, and Warner Bratzler shear force, both in aged and non-aged beef (P > 0.05). Cattle treated with VM in the postweaning phase tended to show a higher meat a* value (14.54 vs 14.09, P = 0.08). Discussion Grazing systems in tropical countries are subject to fluctuations in forage quality and availability throughout the year. In the present study, the dry season reflects the period of lower rainfall and lower sunlight intensity, and pastures grow at lower rates, with a decreased digestibility and protein content. Conversely, the rainy season represents the period of greater pasture growth, higher digestibility, and higher protein content, reflected in higher animal growth rates. As the dry season has a major impact on productivity and age at slaughter, using protein supplements for just-weaned calves and feedlot feeding for finishing cattle can be an alternative for intensifying grazing-based livestock systems. On the other hand, supplementary protein and energy, even in the rainy season, may lead to greater animal weight gain, making it an alternative for intensification. In the present study, the inclusion of VM in protein supplements did not affect animal performance in the dry season; however, in the rainy season, it promoted weight gain (Year 1), which was comparable to that expected for cattle receiving protein supplements. Virginiamycin benefits protein metabolism by decreasing protein deamination in the rumen, allowing for a greater protein flow to the duodenum (Vidal et al., 2022 ), which has been related to higher growth rates in beef cattle (Tedeschi and Gorocica-Buenfil, 2018 ). Additionally, the additive alters rumen fermentation patterns toward greater propionic acid production, leading to lower energy losses (Fonseca et al., 2019 ). The lack of benefits of VM in the dry season may be explained by the low forage digestibility, even with the increase in protein intake through protein supplement intake (Raffrenato et al., 2017 ). A lower content of fermentable organic matter in the rumen may restrict the action of VM in rumen fermentation, consequently not altering growth patterns. This is supported by in vitro digestibility of organic matter. In the dry season, forage plants increase their levels of indigestible neutral detergent fiber and reduce the portion of potentially digestible dry matter (Santana et al., 2022 ). Thus, the lower availability of potentially digestible dry matter decreases the population and diversity of ruminal bacteria, limiting the potential modulator effect of the ionophore antibiotic VM on these microorganisms (Fu et al., 2020 ). However, in the rainy season, the inclusion of VM in the P-D/M-R strategy increased final weight, weight gain, and carcass fattening of cattle. Including VM reduces the populations of Gram-positive bacteria and, therefore, decreases the ruminal deamination of amino acids, increases the molar ratio of propionate in the rumen, and increases net energy for maintenance and animal gain (Maciel et al., 2015 ; Carvalho et al., 2022 ). We can conclude that, with the highest pasture quality, the ruminal fermentation of bovines receiving VM was directed towards a higher propionate production (Alves Neto et al., 2018 ) and an increase in amino acids absorbed in the small intestine by improved metabolizable protein levels (Araújo et al., 2016 ). Both the higher level of propionate and the greater flux of amino acids may have resulted in greater insulin synthesis by the pancreas of animals receiving VM and favored greater muscle hypertrophy (weight gain) and lipogenesis (carcass fattening) (Costa et al., 2018 ). The similar animal performance for the P vm -D/M vm -R and P-D/PE-R supplementation strategy in Year 2 indicates that mineral supplement with VM in the rainy season can replace protein-energy use in this seaso. Virginiamycin, under conditions of higher forage dry matter quality (see ADL, OMIVD, and CP of forage in Year 2 - Table 3 ) can select bacteria that reduce deamination and increase the ruminal production of neo glycogenic substrates and microbial protein (Vidal et al., 2022 ). We inferred that those cattle receiving P vm -D/M vm -R had similar average daily gain values because the flux of metabolizable nutrients into the tissues of steers was close to that of animals receiving P-D/PE-R. In Year 2, when P vm -D/M vm -R replaced P-D/PE-R, the animals received less supplement. It was expected that the presence of true protein sources, contained in the protein-energy supplement, would increase supplement intake compared to just the mineral supplement (Rocha et al., 2019 ). However, the similar animal performance for the strategies in question reinforces that the mineral supplement with VM is also a more efficient option compared to protein-energy during the rainy season, most likely because of its lower intake. In the finishing period of Year 1, cattle fed with P-D/M-R tended to have higher average daily gain values, possibly due to differences in the physiological status (animals with less fat in the carcass, see Year 1 fattening in rearing) when compared to animals that received VM. Animals with less fat on the carcass have a greater energy use efficiency for gain (Marcondes et al., 2015 ; Kelly et al., 2019 ). Another hypothesis also refers to the compensatory gain of the group without VM in feedlot finishing (see liver weight). In contrast, in animals that received VM, there was a higher consumption of dry matter (% BW), possibly due to the size of the viscera in this group (these were animals with greater weight gain during the growing season). Renesto et al. ( 2021 ) also observed a higher DMI (% BW) in the finishing phase of steers reared using VM. In addition, the subcutaneous fat thickness in the carcass of P vm -D/M vm -R animals was greater, at the same carcass weight, indicating greater carcass fattening due to the inclusion of VM in the rearing of steers. Heker Junior et al. ( 2018 ) also reported increased carcass fattening of steers receiving VM in the diet. In Year 2, we observed that animals that received VM (P vm -D/M vm -R) in grazing rearing had a better feed conversion and higher gross feed efficiency in feedlot finishing. Gorocica and Tedeschi ( 2017 ) also reported a better feed conversion of steers receiving VM in the diet. Possibly, the presence of VM facilitated the growth of Gram-negative bacteria, which represent to the main trophic group of non-fiber carbohydrate degraders (Maciel et al., 2015 ). This microbial group is predominant in diets with high starch contents (see TMR with approximately 50% corn grain), and therefore, the residual effect of post-weaning supplementation with VM is related to a more efficient adaptation of the ruminal microbiota to the feedlot diet (Rigueiro et al., 2023 ). The inclusion of VM in the protein supplement during the dry season (% of body weight) and in the mineral supplement during the rainy season improves the average daily gain and carcass fattening of steers reared on Brachiaria pasture. The nutritional strategy protein supplement (% of body weight) + VM in the dry season and mineral supplement + VM is more efficient than the strategy protein supplement (% of body weight) + protein-energy supplement (% of body weight) in rearing steers, leading to better gross feed efficiency in feedlot finishing. Declarations Acknowledgment Connan Animal Nutrition (Boituva, SP, Brazil) for providing supplements. Funding This work was supported by Foundation to Support the Development of Teaching, Science, and Technology of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (FUNDECT), grant numbers 123/2014 and 037/2015, and National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), grant number 476203/2013-9. Author R. da C. Gomes has received research support from companies. Conflict of Interest Statement The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of relationships that could be construed as a conflict of interest. Author contributions R. da C. Gomes: conceptualization, resources, project administration, methodology, writing - original draft, funding acquisition; G. R. de O. Menezes: resources, formal analysis, methodology, writing - original draft; R. Favero, and G. Altrak: investigation, data curation, writing - original draft; R. Kazama, I. Mizubuti, M. de N. Bonin, G. L. D. Feijó, D. B. Montagner, and R. A. de A. Torres Júnior: conceptualization, resources, visualization, supervision; T. L. A. C. de Araújo and D. M. de Lima Júnior: writing - original draft, writing - review & editing; M. de N. Bonin: conceptualization; resources, funding acquisition. Data Availability The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Statement of Animal Rights All experimental procedures were approved by the local Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (protocol #12/2014). References Alves Neto, J.A., Oliveira, I.M. de, Moretti, M.H., Gonçalves, P.H., Alves, M.A.P., Fernandes, J.J. de R., Resende, F.D. de and Siqueira, G.R., 2018. Determining the optimal dose of virginiamycin for ruminal parameters and performance of Nellore cattle on pasture Semina: Ciências Agrárias, 39, 1749 (Universidade Estadual de Londrina) AMSA, 2016. Research guidelines for cookery, sensory evaluation, and instrumental tenderness measurements of meat, 2nd ed. (American Meat Science Association: Champaign, IL) AOAC, 1990. Official methods of analysis, 15th ed. (Association of Official Agricultural Chemists: Washington, DC) Araújo, D.B. de, Barbosa, L.F.S.P., Borges, C.A.A., Coulter, R., Boselli, E., Grandini, D. V., Gorocica, M.A. and Gosselé, F., 2016. Use of Virginiamycin in Cattle Feeding In:, Rumenology, (Springer International Publishing: Cham), 189–212 Benatti, J.M.B., Alves Neto, J.A., de Oliveira, I.M., de Resende, F.D. and Siqueira, G.R., 2017. Effect of increasing monensin sodium levels in diets with virginiamycin on the finishing of Nellore cattle Animal Science Journal, 88, 1709–1714 Carvalho, P.H. V, Latack, B.C., Flores, R., Montano, M.F. and Zinn, R.A., 2022. Interaction of early metabolizable protein supplementation and virginiamycin on feedlot growth performance and carcass characteristics of calf-fed Holstein steers Translational Animal Science, 6 Costa, A.S.H., Costa, P., Alves, S.P., Alfaia, C.M., Prates, J.A.M., Vleck, V., Cassar-Malek, I., Hocquette, J.F. and Bessa, R.J.B., 2018. Does growth path influence beef lipid deposition and fatty acid composition? PLoS ONE, 13, 1–20 Detmann, E., Paulino, M.F., De Campos Valadares Filho, S. and Huhtanen, P., 2014. Nutritional aspects applied to grazing cattle in the tropics: A review based on Brazilian results Semina:Ciencias Agrarias, 35, 2829–2854 Fonseca, M.P. da, Borges, A.L. da C.C., Carvalho, P.H. de A., e Silva, R.R., Gonçãlves, L.C., Borges, I., Lage, H.F., Ferreira, A.L., Saliba, E.O.S., Jayme, D.G., da Glória, J.R., Graça, D.S., Meneses, R.M., de Carvalho, A.Ú., Facury Filho, E.J. and Silva, A.A., 2019. Energy partitioning in cattle fed diets based on tropical forage with the inclusion of antibiotic additives PLOS ONE, 14, e0211565 Fu, Z., Xu, X., Zhang, J. and Zhang, L., 2020. Effect of different feeding methods on rumen microbes in growing Chinese Tan sheep R. Bras. Zootec. , 49 (Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia) Gomes, M.D.N.B., Feijó, G.L.D., Duarte, M.T., Silva, L.G.P. da, Surita, L.M.A. and Pereira, M.W.F., 2021. Manual de avaliação de carcaças bovinas, 1st ed. (UFMS: Campo Grande, MS) Gorocica, M.A. and Tedeschi, L.O., 2017. 498 Virginiamycin increases performance and carcass weight of feedlot cattle under Mexican conditions Journal of Animal Science, 95, 243–243 (Oxford University Press (OUP)) Heker Junior, J.C., Neumann, M., Ueno, R.K., Falbo, M.K., Galbeiro, S., Souza, A.M. de, Venancio, B.J., Santos, L.C. and Askel, E.J., 2018. Effect of monensin sodium associative to virginiamycin and/or essential oils on the performance of feedlot finished steers Semina: Ciências Agrárias, 39, 261 Kelly, D.N., Murphy, C., Sleator, R.D., Judge, M.M., Conroy, S.B. and Berry, D.P., 2019. Feed efficiency and carcass metrics in growing cattle 1 Journal of Animal Science, 97, 4405–4417 Lazzarini, Í., Detmann, E., de Campos Valadares Filho, S., Paulino, M.F., Batista, E.D., de Almeida Rufino, L.M., Dos Reis, W.L.S. and de Oliveira Franco, M., 2016. Nutritional Performance of Cattle Grazing during Rainy Season with Nitrogen and Starch Supplementation. Asian-Australasian journal of animal sciences, 29, 1120–8 Li, Q., Pellegrino, J., Lee, D.J., Tran, A.A., Chaires, H.A., Wang, R., Park, J.E., Ji, K., Chow, D., Zhang, N., Brilot, A.F., Biel, J.T., van Zundert, G., Borrelli, K., Shinabarger, D., Wolfe, C., Murray, B., Jacobson, M.P., Mühle, E., Chesneau, O., Fraser, J.S. and Seiple, I.B., 2020. Synthetic group A streptogramin antibiotics that overcome Vat resistance Nature, 586, 145–150 Maciel, I.C. de F., Saturnino, H.M., Barbosa, F.A., Filho, G.H.B.M., Costa, P.M. and Malacco, V.M.R., 2015. Virginiamicina na alimentação de ruminantes Caderno de Ciências Agrárias, 7, 271–285 Marcondes, M.I., Tedeschi, L.O., Filho, S. de C.V., Costa e Silva, L.F. and Lopes da Silva, A., 2015. Using growth and body composition to determine weight at maturity in Nellore cattle Animal Production Science, 56, 1121 Marten, G.C., Shenk, J.S. and Barton, F.E., 1989. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS): Analysis of forage quality, (United States Department of Agriculture: Washington, DC) Raffrenato, E., Fievisohn, R., Cotanch, K.W., Grant, R.J., Chase, L.E. and Van Amburgh, M.E., 2017. Effect of lignin linkages with other plant cell wall components on in vitro and in vivo neutral detergent fiber digestibility and rate of digestion of grass forages Journal of Dairy Science, 100, 8119–8131 (Elsevier Inc.) Renesto, D.M., Hoffmann, A., Araújo, T.L.R., Delevatti, L.M., Leite, R.G., Ribeiro, J.L., Romanzini, E.P., Barbero, R.P. and Reis, R.A., 2021. Supplement levels and functional oils to replace virginiamycin for young bulls during early dry season on grasslands and finishing phase in feedlot systems Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 19, e0609 Rigueiro, A.L.N., Pereira, M.C.S., Silvestre, A.M., Pinto, A.C.J., Felizari, L.D., Dias, E.F.F., Demartini, B.L., Estevam, D.D., Dellaqua, J.V.T., Souza, K.L.R., Silva, L.A.F., Nunes, A.B.P.C., Souza, J.M. and Millen, D.D., 2023. Withdrawal of sodium monensin when associated with virginiamycin during adaptation and finishing periods on feedlot performance, feeding behavior, carcass, rumen, and cecum morphometrics characteristics of Nellore cattle Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10 Rigueiro, A.L.N., Pereira, M.C.S., Squizatti, M.M., Ferreira, M.M., Dondé, S.C., Luiz, F.P., Silvestre, A.M., Muller, L.R., Garcia, C.P., Bueno, A.P.D., Toledo, L. V., Estevam, D.D., Martins, C.L., Arrigoni, M.D.B. and Millen, D.D., 2020. Different combinations of sodium monensin and virginiamycin during feedlot finishing of Nellore cattle Animal Production Science, 60, 1061 Rocha, W.J.B., Silva, R.R., da Silva, F.F., de Carvalho, G.G.P., da Silva, A.P.G., Silva, J.W.D., Paixão, T.R., Freitas, T.B., Mendes, F.B.L., Barroso, D.S., de Souza, S.O. and Santos, L. V., 2019. Intake, digestibility, and growth performance of Girolando bulls supplemented on pasture in Bahia, Brazil Tropical Animal Health and Production, 51, 1413–1420 Santana, J.C.S., Ítavo, L.C.V., Ítavo, C.C.B.F., Dias, A.M., Niwa, M.V.G., de Moraes, G.J., Arcanjo, Â.H.M., Gurgel, A.L.C., Borges, A.D., Formigoni, G.M. and dos Santos Difante, G., 2022. Productive characteristics, chemical composition, in vitro digestibility, and degradation kinetics of two Brachiaria grasses at different regrowth ages Tropical Animal Health and Production, 54, 342 Tedeschi, L.O. and Gorocica-Buenfil, M.A., 2018. An assessment of the effectiveness of virginiamycin on liver abscess incidence and growth performance in feedlot cattle: a comprehensive statistical analysis Journal of Animal Science, 96, 2474–2489 Van Soest, P.J., Robertson, J.B. and Lewis, B.A., 1991. Methods for Dietary Fiber, Neutral Detergent Fiber, and Nonstarch Polysaccharides in Relation to Animal Nutrition Journal of Dairy Science, 74, 3583–3597 (Elsevier) Vidal, R.C., Lima, N.S.A., Sampaio, C.B., Duarte, M.S. and Detmann, E., 2022. Association of virginiamycin and multiple supplement for cattle fed a high-quality tropical forage Frontiers in Animal Science, 3 (Frontiers Media SA) Villanueva, M.T., 2020. Building antibiotics block by block Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 19, 756–756 Weiss, W.P., 1999. Energy prediction equations for ruminant feeds In:, Proceedings of the 61th Cornell Nutrition Conference Feed Manufactures, (Cornell University: Ithaca), 176–185 Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 16 Dec, 2023 Read the published version in Tropical Animal Health and Production → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Accept with minor revision 30 Nov, 2023 Reviewers agreed at journal 16 Aug, 2023 Reviewers invited by journal 28 Jul, 2023 Editor assigned by journal 14 Jul, 2023 First submitted to journal 13 Jul, 2023 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-3146396","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":222416274,"identity":"6891e08a-908e-4dc4-9577-b142fb5037e1","order_by":0,"name":"Rodrigo da Costa Gomes","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Embrapa Beef Cattle","correspondingAuthor":false,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Rodrigo","middleName":"da Costa","lastName":"Gomes","suffix":""},{"id":222416275,"identity":"58c658ca-0d03-4372-9b62-6009298b54af","order_by":1,"name":"Gilberto Romeiro de Oliveira 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Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Arido","correspondingAuthor":false,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Dorgival","middleName":"Morais de Lima","lastName":"Junior","suffix":""},{"id":222416285,"identity":"f3665dd9-a016-463d-85f0-174504ad4c6e","order_by":11,"name":"Roberto Augusto de Almeida Torres Junior","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Embrapa Beef Cattle","correspondingAuthor":false,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Roberto","middleName":"Augusto de Almeida Torres","lastName":"Junior","suffix":""},{"id":222416286,"identity":"ae2607bc-eca8-4e09-888d-19b10ff59913","order_by":12,"name":"Marcio de Nadai Bonin","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Connan Animal Nutrition","correspondingAuthor":false,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Marcio","middleName":"de Nadai","lastName":"Bonin","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2023-07-06 14:52:27","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3146396/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3146396/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-023-03860-5","type":"published","date":"2023-12-16T15:00:54+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":48401280,"identity":"69ebd477-1411-41cd-92c7-e012ba007db1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2023-12-18 15:06:41","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":348010,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3146396/v1/cd58aa25-1a41-469a-a46c-0b097efc3281.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"Strategies of virginiamycin supplementation in the postweaning phase on growth performance and carcass quality of beef cattle","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eAdditives are incorporated into ruminant feed to improve fermentation patterns, prevent metabolic disorders, and increase productivity. These adjustments are obtained by controlling populations of ruminal microorganisms, especially protozoa and Gram-positive bacteria. For this purpose, antibiotic growth promoters represent important tools. In this context, non-ionophore additives, such as virginiamycin (VM), stand out as an alternative source with effects similar to those of ionophores, such as monensin (MO).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eVirginiamycin is streptogramin isolated from \u003cem\u003eStreptomyces virginiae\u003c/em\u003e, with bacteriostatic or bactericidal action attributed to the concentrations of its components: a peptolide and a macrocyclic lactone, also called factor M\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e and factor S\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e, respectively, which act in synergistic interaction on Gram-positive bacteria (Ara\u0026uacute;jo et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e; Villanueva, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). After entering the bacterial cell, VM adheres to ribosomal subunits called peptidyltransferase centers, where the M\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e factor binds to the 50S portion and promotes the binding of the S\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e factor to an adjacent region, thus inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis (Li et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e; Villanueva, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Irreversible interruption of protein synthesis features a peculiar characteristic known as bacteriopause to VM, conferring a bacteriostatic effect even after its removal from the culture medium (Ara\u0026uacute;jo et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e). In this context, it can be inferred that VM supplementation has residual effects between production phases.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeveral studies have evaluated the effects of VM addition in feedlot cattle feed on animal performance, pointing to positive impacts on growth performance and preventing liver abscesses (Tedeschi and Gorocica-Buenfil, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). Additionally, the association between VM and MO can be strategically used in cattle finishing, improving energy use efficiency, weight gain, and carcass traits in relation to diets with only MO (Benatti et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e; Rigueiro et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). In grazing systems with tropical forages, the benefits of additives are mainly related to energy loss reduction due to enteric methane release depletion (Fonseca et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). However, under grazing conditions, animal performance is dependent on dynamics in forage availability and quality (Detmann et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e; Lazzarini et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e), which reinforces the importance of establishing strategies for intensification through supplementation with additives.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGiven the above, benefits of VM as an additive in beef cattle are widely reported. However, it is still not proven that the impacts of VM supplementation strategies can be extended from the growth phase to the finishing phase. In this sense, the present study evaluated the effects of supplementing VM to grazing cattle during the post-weaning phase, testing the hypothesis that VM supplementation has effects on the finishing phase carried out in feedlots due to previous growth changes in the rearing phase.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Material and Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe study was carried out at the National Beef Cattle Research Center of the Brazilian Corporation of Agricultural Research (Embrapa Beef Cattle), Campo Grande, MS, Brazil (20\u0026deg;26'42''S, 54\u0026deg;43'22''O). Over a 2-year study period (Year 1\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2013 to 2014 and Year 2\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2014 to 2015), crossbred steers (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;49 and 56 for Years 1 and 2, respectively) and heifers (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;52 and 48 for Years 1 and 2, respectively) were submitted to different nutritional strategies during the postweaning period, which was undertaken in grazing systems, following a single strategy for finishing in the feedlot.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCattle were produced from matting Nellore and crossbred spring-caving cows (\u0026frac12; Nellore x \u0026frac12; Angus and \u0026frac12; Nellore x \u0026frac12; Caracu) with tropically adapted sires (Braford, Charbray, and Caracu), using fixed-time artificial insemination, and weaned at 8 to 10 mo of age in June 2013 (Year 1) and June 2014 (Year 2). Then, cattle were allocated to eight paddocks, blocked by sex and balanced by genetic group. Paddocks were 8 ha on average, composed of \u003cem\u003eBrachiaria brizantha\u003c/em\u003e cv. Marandu (marandu-grass) and received nitrogen fertilization in February 2014 and 2015 (100 kg urea ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e). Forage availability was evaluated every 56 days by harvesting and weighing the forage mass in 40 random plots per paddock. Composite samples were dried (55\u0026deg;C, 72 h) to calculate forage availability on a dry basis. A subsample was divided into leaf, stem, and dead material to calculate the leaf-to-stem ratio. Leaves were dried and ground (1-mm sieve), and their chemical composition was estimated using Near-infrared spectroscopy with standard curves calibrated for the genus \u003cem\u003eBrachiaria\u003c/em\u003e, according to Marten et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1989\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCattle were maintained in pastures for 12 months and submitted to different treatments during the whole phase before being enrolled in a feedlot for finishing. Treatments were composed of different nutritional strategies with focus on the use of VM (Eskalin, Phibro, Guarulhos, Brazil) as a growth promotor, provided to cattle through a protein supplement in the dry season (June to October) and a mineral supplement in the following rainy season (November to May) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). The VM was included in the supplements to provide a daily VM intake of 45 mg/100 kg BW, and the expected daily supplement intake was 0.25 and 1.0 g kg/BW for mineral and protein supplements, respectively. In Year 1, all paddocks received protein supplements (P-D, 35% crude protein) during the dry season (106 days) and mineral supplements during the rainy season (M-R, 203 days). However, VM was included in the supplements of four paddocks (two paddocks per sex), and the other four paddocks received no VM (Control). In Year 2, the lengths of the dry and rainy seasons were 125 and 213 days, respectively, and the same treatments as those in Year 1 were applied, except that the control group received a second protein-energy supplement (PE-R, 25% crude protein) without VM in the rainy season, replacing the mineral supplement (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). The supplements were offered \u003cem\u003ead libitum\u003c/em\u003e in sheltered feeding bunks, and daily supplement intake was measured by weighing orts weekly.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSupplements and feedlot diet composition.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eItem\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"7\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSupplements\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYear 1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYear 2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP-D\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eM-R\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP-D\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eM-R\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePE-R\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCP, g/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e350.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e350.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e250\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNPN (max), g/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e297.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e297.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e150\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCa (min), g/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCa (max), g/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e68.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e180.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e68.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e180.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP (min), g/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eS (min), g/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNa (min), g/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e47.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e42.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e47.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e42.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMg (min), g/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCo (min), mg/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.0023\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.0023\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCu (min), mg/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e615\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e615\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e260\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFe (min), mg/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI (min), mg/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMn (min), mg/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e440\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e440\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e310\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSe (min), mg/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.002\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.002\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZn (min), mg/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1950\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1950\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e720\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eF (max), mg/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e600\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e600\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e250\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTDN (min), mg/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e400\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIngredients\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"7\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFeedlot TMR (Years 1 and 2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDry basis (g kg -1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSorghum silage\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"7\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCorn, dry ground\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"7\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49,8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSoybean hulls\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"7\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSoybean meal 45% CP\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"7\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUrea\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"7\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMineral premix\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"7\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNutrients\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYear 1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYear 2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDM\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e989.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e936.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCP\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e117.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e114.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEE\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNDF\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e381.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e352.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eADF\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e155.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e224.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eADL\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTDN\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e736.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e737.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"8\"\u003eP-D\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;protein supplement in the dry season; M-R\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;mineral supplement in the rainy season; PE-R\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;protein-energy supplement in the rainy season; TMR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;total mixed ration; CP\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;crude protein (g/kg DM); NPN\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;non-protein nitrogen; DM\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;dry matter (g/kg DM); EE\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;ether extract; NDF\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;neutral detergent fiber (g/kg DM); ADF\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;acid detergent fiber (g/kg MS); ADL\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Acid detergent lignin (g/kg MS); TDN\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;total digestible nutrients (Weiss et al., 1999).\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eScheme of experimental arrangements and summary representation of supplementation strategies during the post-weaning phase in grazing cattle.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeason\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYear 1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYear 2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDry\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRainy\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eM\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eM\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePE\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eM\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eContrast\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP-D/M-R\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-D/M\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-R\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP-D/PE-R\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-D/M\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-R\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003en\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003en\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003en\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;52\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003en\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;52\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"6\"\u003eP\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;protein supplement; M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;mineral supplement; PE\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;protein-energy supplement; P\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e = protein supplement with virginiamycin; M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;mineral supplement with virginiamycin; P-D/M-R\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;supplementation strategy with protein supplement in the dry season and mineral supplement in the rainy season; P\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-D/M\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-R\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;addition of virginiamycin both in the protein and mineral supplements; P-D/PE-R\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;supplementation strategy with protein supplement in the dry season and protein-energy supplement in the rainy season.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDuring this phase, cattle were subjected to protocols for deworming (doramectin 1%, Vall\u0026eacute;, Brazil) as well as tick and fly (cypermethrin) control (June to October), and steers were castrated (November). Weighing was carried out after a 16-hour fasting period every 56 days, and carcass traits were evaluated by ultrasound on four occasions throughout the last 5 months of the growing period. Cattle were scanned using a real-time Piemedical, Scanner 200 VET (Pie Medical, Inc., Maastricht, The Netherlands) ultrasound equipment unit equipped with an 18-cm, 3.5-MHz linear array transducer and a coupled acoustic guide. Vegetable oil was used for acoustic coupling. Ultrasound images of the longissimus thoracis muscle (LT) between the 12th and 13th ribs were used to determine the ultrasound rib eye area (UREA) and subcutaneous backfat thickness (UBFT), and images of the biceps femoris muscle were used to obtain ultrasound rump fat thickness (URFT).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFollowing the growing period, cattle were housed in individual soil-surfaced pens (2 x 19 m) with water fountains and sheltered feed bunks and enrolled in a feeding trial, receiving a total mixed ration (TMR, 2.69 Mcal ME/kg, and 14.3%CP on a dry matter basis, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). A single TMR was offered to animals from both treatments and both years such that the effects of the previous nutritional regime could be evaluated. Cattle were allowed to adapt to the diet and feeding procedures for 25 days when sorghum silage was offered \u003cem\u003ead libitum\u003c/em\u003e and gradually substituted for concentrate to meet the final TMR. After the adaptation period, the TMR was offered \u003cem\u003ead libitum\u003c/em\u003e, at 8:00 h and 15:00 h, to allow for 5% refusal, and orts were weighed daily before the morning feed delivery to calculate the daily dry matter intake (DMI). The TMR samples were collected weekly for determining the DM concentration and chemical composition. Feed samples were dried at 55\u0026ordm;C for 72 h and ground to pass a 1-mm screen. Dry matter, ash, crude protein (micro-Kjeldahl method), and ether extract contents were determined according to the AOAC (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1990\u003c/span\u003e), and neutral and acid detergent fiber was measured according to Van Soest et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1991\u003c/span\u003e). Total nutrient digestibility was estimated according to Weiss (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1999\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eForage characteristics during the postweaning phase.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eItem\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"5\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSampling days\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMSE\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP-value\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"5\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYear 1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOct-13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNov-13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJan-14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMar-14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJun-14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFM\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.13\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.88\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.82\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.72\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.10\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.43\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGFM\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.33\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.67\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.91\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.13\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.87\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.28\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLM\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.29\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.65\u003csup\u003ecd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.69\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.83\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.43\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eL:S\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.79\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.23\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.61\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.94\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.13\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.06\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSR\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.76\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.84\u003csup\u003ecd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.95\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.09\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.23\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOM\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e910.1\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e894.7\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e908.8\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e905.2\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e903.0\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCP\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70.2\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e71.2\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e66.2\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e78.9\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e86.5\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNDF\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e732.2\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e735.2\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e737.9\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e706.4\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e694.7\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eADF\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e366.9\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e382.5\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e377.4\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e352.7\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e342.2\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.76\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eADL\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29.1\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29.2\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29.3\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26.6\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26.3\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.37\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOMIVD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e523.2\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e528.5\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e517.1\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e558.6\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e598.9\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"5\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYear 2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" morerows=\"1\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAug-14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOct-14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJan-15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMar-15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMay-15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFM\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.59\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.65\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.52\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.16\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.22\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.28\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGFM\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.94\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.40\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.93\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.55\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.90\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.27\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLM\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.10\u003csup\u003ecd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.43\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.56\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.27\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.84\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eL:S\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.11\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.26\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.50\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.31\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.94\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSR\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.81\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.86\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.02\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.18\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.30\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOM\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e904.6\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e907.8\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e903.4\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e912.0\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e916.3\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.98\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCP\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e84.5\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79.2\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e67.9\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e83.6\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e83.0\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNDF\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e722.7\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e668.9\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e734.9\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e690.6\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e716.6\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eADF\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e356.2\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e315.4\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e371.5\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e341.3\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e340.0\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eADL\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28.8\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21.6\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26.3\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24.6\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.4\u003csup\u003ecd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOMIVD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e562.4\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e628.2\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e530.0\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e589.0\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e556.8\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.73\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"8\"\u003eFM\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;forage mass (t DM/ha); GFM\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;green forage mass (t DM/ha); GLM\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;leaf mass (t DM/ha); L:S\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;leaf: stem ratio; SR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;stocking rate (animal units/ha); OM\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;organic matter (g/kg DM); CP\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;crude protein (g/kg DM); NDF\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;neutral detergent fiber (g/kg DM); ADF\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;acid detergent fiber (g/kg MS); ADL\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;acid detergent lignin (g/kg MS); OMIVD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;organic matter \u003cem\u003ein vitro\u003c/em\u003e digestibility (g/kg DM). Means followed by different letters differ significantly (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05).\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"8\"\u003e\u0026sup1; Mean standard error. \u0026sup2; Probability of error type I.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe finishing period length was 83 and 84 days for heifers and 119 and 98 days for steers in Years 1 and 2, respectively. At the end of the finishing period, cattle were slaughtered at a commercial abattoir (Naturafrig, Rochedo, Brazil), following humane slaughter guidelines as required by Brazilian laws. Carcass processing followed the common industry practices adopted in Brazil. Animals were desensitized by a captive bolt pistol and bleeding through incisions of the jugular veins and carotid arteries. Liver weight and pooled kidney, pelvic, and inguinal fat mass weight (KPI) were recorded. Carcasses were longitudinally half divided, weighed (HCW), washed, and immediately chilled at 0\u0026ndash;2\u0026deg;C. After a 24-h postmortem period, carcass pH was measured on the LT muscle. The LT section between the 12th and 13th ribs was exposed, and the marbling score (MAR), rib eye area (REA), and backfat thickness (BFT) were measured. Two 2.5-cm-thick and one 0.5-cm-thick (~\u0026thinsp;30 g) steaks were obtained from the exposed LT for Warner-Bratzler shear force and fat content analyses. Steaks were allowed to bloom for 20 minutes, and light reflectance scores for lightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*) were obtained using a MiniScan XE colorimeter (HunterLabs, Reston, VA). Samples were also classified into different groups of the marbling score according to Gomes et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e), from practically devoid to abundant, according to a photographic scale (100\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;practically devoid and 900\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;abundant), by qualified university personnel. The samples were either packed in polyethylene bags and immediately frozen at -20\u0026deg;C or vacuum-packed, aged for 7 d at 3 to 4\u0026deg;C, and frozen at -20\u0026deg;C until analyses.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe 2.5-cm-thick steaks were thawed in a refrigerator with an internal temperature set at 4\u0026deg;C for 24 h. Samples were cooked in an electric oven with upper and lower heating elements, set to 180\u0026deg;C, until the sample internal temperature reached 71\u0026deg;C (AMSA, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e), as measured by digital thermometers. Subsequently, steaks were wrapped in plastic film and chilled overnight at 4\u0026deg;C. Eight 1.27-cm cores were removed parallel to the muscle fiber with a mechanical coring device. Cores were sheared in a Warner-Bratzler meat shear apparatus, and the shear force values were averaged to determine the Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eData were analyzed in a randomized complete block design by applying the Mixed procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC), with paddock as the experimental unit for the measurements of supplement intake, body weight, and average daily gain in the postweaning period and animal as the experimental unit for all other traits. The mixed model included the fixed effect of treatment (with or without VM during the postweaning regime) and random effects of sex and genetic group. The least-square means statement was used to calculate the adjusted means for treatments. All data were checked to fit a normal distribution by the Shapiro-Wilk test, using the UNIVARIATE procedure of SAS. Significant effects were considered when \u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn Year 1, there were no VM effects on protein supplement intake, initial and final body weight, and average daily gain (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) in the dry season of the postweaning phase (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). In the rainy season, there were no VM effects on mineral supplement intake (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05); however, VM-treated cattle showed greater average daily gain (0.666 vs 0.586 kg d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and final body weight (370.3 vs 354.6 kg d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.02) than non-treated cattle. Adding VM in mineral supplement in the rainy season also increased final backfat thickness (3.92 vs 3.24 mm, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.05), backfat gain (0.012 vs 0.009 mm d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.06), final rump fat thickness (5.60 vs 4.17 mm, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.02) and rump fat gain (0.021 vs 0.013 mm d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.01). No treatment effects were observed for initial backfat, initial rump fat, initial and final rib eye area, and rib eye area gain (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSupplement intake, growth performance, and ultrasound carcass traits during the postweaning phase of crossbred cattle submitted to different supplementation strategies (least square means).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"9\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYear 1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYear 2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP-value\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrait\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP-D/M-R\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-D/M\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-R\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSEM\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP-D/PE-R\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-D/M\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-R\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSEM\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYear\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"9\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDry season\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSupplement intake, kg d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.228\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.201\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.137\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.101\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInitial body weight, kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e181.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e181.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e225.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e222.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.96\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.55\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinal body weigh, kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e235.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e235.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e276.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e271.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.99\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.38\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAverage daily gain, kg d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.342\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.350\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.414\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.399\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.72\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"9\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRainy season\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSupplement intake, kg d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.151\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.127\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.388\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.134\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinal body weight, kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e354.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e370.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.66\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e417.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e418.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.88\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAverage daily gain, kg d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.586\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.666\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.657\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.669\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.66\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInitial rib eye area, cm\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49.88\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e52.10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.93\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e55.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e54.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.66\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinal rib eye area, cm\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e72.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e73.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e74.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.91\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.69\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRib eye area gain, cm\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.124\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.123\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.006\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.135\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.133\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.006\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.99\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInitial backfat thickness, mm\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.73\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.95\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.100\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.88\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.88\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.98\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinal backfat thickness, mm\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.92\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.174\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.74\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.23\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.40\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.44\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBackfat thickness gain, mm d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.009\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.012\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.026\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.029\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.002\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.06\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.34\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInitial rump fat thickness, mm\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.132\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.06\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinal rump fat thickness, mm\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.60\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.501\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRump fat thickness gain, mm d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.013\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.021\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.002\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.033\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.030\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.002\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.44\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"9\"\u003eP-D/M-R\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;supplementation strategy with protein supplement in the dry season and mineral supplement in the rainy season; P\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-D/M\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-R\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;addition of virginiamycin both in the protein and mineral supplements; P-D/PE-R\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;supplementation strategy with protein supplement in the dry season and protein-energy supplement in the rainy season.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"9\"\u003e\u0026sup1; Mean standard error. \u0026sup2; Probability of error type I.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn year 2, no VM effects were also observed for protein supplement intake, final body weight, and average daily gain during the dry season of the postweaning phase (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). During the rainy season, the protein supplement had a higher intake than the VM-enriched mineral supplement (0.388 vs 0.134 g d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), but no treatment effects were observed for final BW, average daily gain, initial and final REA, REA gain, initial and final BFT, backfat gain, final rump fat thickness, and rump fat gain (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Cattle fed protein supplement during the rainy season showed greater initial rump fat thickness than cattle fed VM-enriched mineral supplement (2.48 vs 2.04 mm, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.06).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the finishing phase of Year 1 (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e), no treatment effects were observed on initial and final BW, dry matter intake in kilograms per day, feed conversion ratio, and gross feed efficiency (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). There was a tendency of cattle fed VM during the previous postweaning phase to show a greater average daily gain (1.536 vs 1.441 kg d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.08). Also, VM-treated cattle had a greater dry matter intake as a percentage of mid-test BW (2.60 vs 2.45%, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.03). At slaughter, no treatment effects were observed for hot carcass weight, carcass dressing, liver weight, kidney, pelvic, and inguinal fat weight, carcass pH, REA, marbling, meat L, a* and b*, and Warner Bratzler shear force, both in aged and non-aged beef (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). There was a tendency of VM-treated cattle to show a greater BDT than non-treated cattle (6.41 vs 5.44 mm, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.07).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinishing performance, carcass traits, and meat quality traits of crossbred cattle submitted to different pasture supplementation strategies during the postweaning phase (least square means).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"9\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYear 1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYear 2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP-value\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrait\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP-D/M-R\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-D/M\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-R\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSEM\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP-D/PE-R\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-D/M\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-R\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSEM\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYear\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInitial body weight, kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e366.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e376.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e451.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e448.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.72\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinal body weight, kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e508.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e515.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.53\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e559.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e564.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.38\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.67\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAverage daily gain, kg d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.536\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.441\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.176\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.254\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.08\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDry matter intake, kg d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.09\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.40\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDry matter intake, % BW\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.44\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.59\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.003\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFeed conversion ratio, kg/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.57\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.69\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.81\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.65\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.09\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGross feed efficiency, kg/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.138\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.133\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.104\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.113\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHot carcass weight, kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e267.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e272.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.67\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e297.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e299.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.37\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.73\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCarcass dressing, %\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e52.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e52.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e53.09\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e53.08\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.97\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLiver weight, kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.58\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.44\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.09\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.41\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKidney, pelvic and inguinal fat, kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.88\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.33\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.69\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.91\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.72\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003epH 24h\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.97\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRib eye area, cm\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e77.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e77.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e77.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.95\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBackfat thickness, mm\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.44\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.41\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.69\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.43\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.07\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.75\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarbling, points\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e484\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e503\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e508\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e496\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.95\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.37\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.55\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eL*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37.33\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37.19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37.20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.99\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ea*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.99\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.09\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.08\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eb*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.80\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.64\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.98\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.66\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eShear force, 0d aging, kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.35\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.77\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.63\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eShear force, 7d aging, kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.79\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.23\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.78\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.56\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"9\"\u003eP-D/M-R\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;supplementation strategy with protein supplement in the dry season and mineral supplement in the rainy season; P\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-D/M\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-R\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;addition of virginiamycin both in the protein and mineral supplements; P-D/PE-R\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;supplementation strategy with protein supplement in the dry season and protein-energy supplement in the rainy season.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"9\"\u003e\u0026sup1; Mean standard error. \u0026sup2; Probability of error type I.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the finishing phase of Year 2 (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e), no treatment effects were observed on initial and final BW, average daily gain, and dry matter intake in kilograms per day and in the percentage of mid-test BW (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Cattle fed VM during the postweaning phase tended to show a lower feed conversion ratio (9.19 vs 9.81, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.09) and had a significantly higher gross feed efficiency (0.113 vs 0.104, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.03) than non-treated cattle. At slaughter, no treatment effects were observed for hot carcass weight, carcass dressing, liver weight, kidney, pelvic and inguinal fat weight, carcass pH, REA, BFT, marbling, meat L and b*, and Warner Bratzler shear force, both in aged and non-aged beef (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Cattle treated with VM in the postweaning phase tended to show a higher meat a* value (14.54 vs 14.09, P\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.08).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eGrazing systems in tropical countries are subject to fluctuations in forage quality and availability throughout the year. In the present study, the dry season reflects the period of lower rainfall and lower sunlight intensity, and pastures grow at lower rates, with a decreased digestibility and protein content. Conversely, the rainy season represents the period of greater pasture growth, higher digestibility, and higher protein content, reflected in higher animal growth rates. As the dry season has a major impact on productivity and age at slaughter, using protein supplements for just-weaned calves and feedlot feeding for finishing cattle can be an alternative for intensifying grazing-based livestock systems. On the other hand, supplementary protein and energy, even in the rainy season, may lead to greater animal weight gain, making it an alternative for intensification.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the present study, the inclusion of VM in protein supplements did not affect animal performance in the dry season; however, in the rainy season, it promoted weight gain (Year 1), which was comparable to that expected for cattle receiving protein supplements. Virginiamycin benefits protein metabolism by decreasing protein deamination in the rumen, allowing for a greater protein flow to the duodenum (Vidal et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e), which has been related to higher growth rates in beef cattle (Tedeschi and Gorocica-Buenfil, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). Additionally, the additive alters rumen fermentation patterns toward greater propionic acid production, leading to lower energy losses (Fonseca et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe lack of benefits of VM in the dry season may be explained by the low forage digestibility, even with the increase in protein intake through protein supplement intake (Raffrenato et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e). A lower content of fermentable organic matter in the rumen may restrict the action of VM in rumen fermentation, consequently not altering growth patterns. This is supported by \u003cem\u003ein vitro\u003c/em\u003e digestibility of organic matter. In the dry season, forage plants increase their levels of indigestible neutral detergent fiber and reduce the portion of potentially digestible dry matter (Santana et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). Thus, the lower availability of potentially digestible dry matter decreases the population and diversity of ruminal bacteria, limiting the potential modulator effect of the ionophore antibiotic VM on these microorganisms (Fu et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHowever, in the rainy season, the inclusion of VM in the P-D/M-R strategy increased final weight, weight gain, and carcass fattening of cattle. Including VM reduces the populations of Gram-positive bacteria and, therefore, decreases the ruminal deamination of amino acids, increases the molar ratio of propionate in the rumen, and increases net energy for maintenance and animal gain (Maciel et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e; Carvalho et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). We can conclude that, with the highest pasture quality, the ruminal fermentation of bovines receiving VM was directed towards a higher propionate production (Alves Neto et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e) and an increase in amino acids absorbed in the small intestine by improved metabolizable protein levels (Ara\u0026uacute;jo et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e). Both the higher level of propionate and the greater flux of amino acids may have resulted in greater insulin synthesis by the pancreas of animals receiving VM and favored greater muscle hypertrophy (weight gain) and lipogenesis (carcass fattening) (Costa et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe similar animal performance for the P\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-D/M\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-R and P-D/PE-R supplementation strategy in Year 2 indicates that mineral supplement with VM in the rainy season can replace protein-energy use in this seaso. Virginiamycin, under conditions of higher forage dry matter quality (see ADL, OMIVD, and CP of forage in Year 2 - Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e) can select bacteria that reduce deamination and increase the ruminal production of neo glycogenic substrates and microbial protein (Vidal et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). We inferred that those cattle receiving P\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-D/M\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-R had similar average daily gain values because the flux of metabolizable nutrients into the tissues of steers was close to that of animals receiving P-D/PE-R.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn Year 2, when P\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-D/M\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-R replaced P-D/PE-R, the animals received less supplement. It was expected that the presence of true protein sources, contained in the protein-energy supplement, would increase supplement intake compared to just the mineral supplement (Rocha et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). However, the similar animal performance for the strategies in question reinforces that the mineral supplement with VM is also a more efficient option compared to protein-energy during the rainy season, most likely because of its lower intake.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the finishing period of Year 1, cattle fed with P-D/M-R tended to have higher average daily gain values, possibly due to differences in the physiological status (animals with less fat in the carcass, see Year 1 fattening in rearing) when compared to animals that received VM. Animals with less fat on the carcass have a greater energy use efficiency for gain (Marcondes et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e; Kelly et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). Another hypothesis also refers to the compensatory gain of the group without VM in feedlot finishing (see liver weight). In contrast, in animals that received VM, there was a higher consumption of dry matter (% BW), possibly due to the size of the viscera in this group (these were animals with greater weight gain during the growing season). Renesto et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e) also observed a higher DMI (% BW) in the finishing phase of steers reared using VM. In addition, the subcutaneous fat thickness in the carcass of P\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-D/M\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-R animals was greater, at the same carcass weight, indicating greater carcass fattening due to the inclusion of VM in the rearing of steers. Heker Junior et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e) also reported increased carcass fattening of steers receiving VM in the diet.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn Year 2, we observed that animals that received VM (P\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-D/M\u003csub\u003evm\u003c/sub\u003e-R) in grazing rearing had a better feed conversion and higher gross feed efficiency in feedlot finishing. Gorocica and Tedeschi (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e) also reported a better feed conversion of steers receiving VM in the diet. Possibly, the presence of VM facilitated the growth of Gram-negative bacteria, which represent to the main trophic group of non-fiber carbohydrate degraders (Maciel et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e). This microbial group is predominant in diets with high starch contents (see TMR with approximately 50% corn grain), and therefore, the residual effect of post-weaning supplementation with VM is related to a more efficient adaptation of the ruminal microbiota to the feedlot diet (Rigueiro et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe inclusion of VM in the protein supplement during the dry season (% of body weight) and in the mineral supplement during the rainy season improves the average daily gain and carcass fattening of steers reared on \u003cem\u003eBrachiaria\u003c/em\u003e pasture. The nutritional strategy protein supplement (% of body weight)\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;VM in the dry season and mineral supplement\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;VM is more efficient than the strategy protein supplement (% of body weight)\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;protein-energy supplement (% of body weight) in rearing steers, leading to better gross feed efficiency in feedlot finishing.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgment\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConnan Animal Nutrition (Boituva, SP, Brazil) for providing supplements.\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis work was supported by Foundation to Support the Development of Teaching, Science, and Technology of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (FUNDECT), grant numbers 123/2014 and 037/2015, and National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), grant number 476203/2013-9. Author R. da C. Gomes has received research support from companies. \u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of Interest Statement\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of relationships that could be construed as a conflict of interest.\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor contributions\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eR. da C. Gomes: conceptualization, resources, project administration, methodology, writing - original draft, funding acquisition; G. R. de O. Menezes: resources, formal analysis, methodology, writing - original draft; R. Favero, and G. Altrak: investigation, data curation, writing - original draft; R. Kazama, I. Mizubuti, M. de N. Bonin, G. L. D. Feij\u0026oacute;, D. B. Montagner, and R. A. de A. Torres J\u0026uacute;nior: conceptualization, resources, visualization, supervision; T. L. A. C. de Ara\u0026uacute;jo and D. M. de Lima J\u0026uacute;nior: writing - original draft, writing - review \u0026amp; editing; M. de N. Bonin: conceptualization; resources, funding acquisition.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData Availability\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStatement of Animal Rights\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll experimental procedures were approved by the local Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (protocol #12/2014).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlves Neto, J.A., Oliveira, I.M. de, Moretti, M.H., Gon\u0026ccedil;alves, P.H., Alves, M.A.P., Fernandes, J.J. de R., Resende, F.D. de and Siqueira, G.R., 2018. Determining the optimal dose of virginiamycin for ruminal parameters and performance of Nellore cattle on pasture Semina: Ci\u0026ecirc;ncias Agr\u0026aacute;rias, 39, 1749 (Universidade Estadual de Londrina)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAMSA, 2016. Research guidelines for cookery, sensory evaluation, and instrumental tenderness measurements of meat, 2nd ed. (American Meat Science Association: Champaign, IL)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAOAC, 1990. Official methods of analysis, 15th ed. (Association of Official Agricultural Chemists: Washington, DC)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAra\u0026uacute;jo, D.B. de, Barbosa, L.F.S.P., Borges, C.A.A., Coulter, R., Boselli, E., Grandini, D. V., Gorocica, M.A. and Gossel\u0026eacute;, F., 2016. Use of Virginiamycin in Cattle Feeding In:, Rumenology, (Springer International Publishing: Cham), 189\u0026ndash;212\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBenatti, J.M.B., Alves Neto, J.A., de Oliveira, I.M., de Resende, F.D. and Siqueira, G.R., 2017. Effect of increasing monensin sodium levels in diets with virginiamycin on the finishing of Nellore cattle Animal Science Journal, 88, 1709\u0026ndash;1714 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCarvalho, P.H. V, Latack, B.C., Flores, R., Montano, M.F. and Zinn, R.A., 2022. Interaction of early metabolizable protein supplementation and virginiamycin on feedlot growth performance and carcass characteristics of calf-fed Holstein steers Translational Animal Science, 6 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCosta, A.S.H., Costa, P., Alves, S.P., Alfaia, C.M., Prates, J.A.M., Vleck, V., Cassar-Malek, I., Hocquette, J.F. and Bessa, R.J.B., 2018. Does growth path influence beef lipid deposition and fatty acid composition? PLoS ONE, 13, 1\u0026ndash;20 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetmann, E., Paulino, M.F., De Campos Valadares Filho, S. and Huhtanen, P., 2014. Nutritional aspects applied to grazing cattle in the tropics: A review based on Brazilian results Semina:Ciencias Agrarias, 35, 2829\u0026ndash;2854 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFonseca, M.P. da, Borges, A.L. da C.C., Carvalho, P.H. de A., e Silva, R.R., Gon\u0026ccedil;\u0026atilde;lves, L.C., Borges, I., Lage, H.F., Ferreira, A.L., Saliba, E.O.S., Jayme, D.G., da Gl\u0026oacute;ria, J.R., Gra\u0026ccedil;a, D.S., Meneses, R.M., de Carvalho, A.\u0026Uacute;., Facury Filho, E.J. and Silva, A.A., 2019. Energy partitioning in cattle fed diets based on tropical forage with the inclusion of antibiotic additives PLOS ONE, 14, e0211565 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFu, Z., Xu, X., Zhang, J. and Zhang, L., 2020. Effect of different feeding methods on rumen microbes in growing Chinese Tan sheep R. Bras. Zootec. , 49 (Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGomes, M.D.N.B., Feij\u0026oacute;, G.L.D., Duarte, M.T., Silva, L.G.P. da, Surita, L.M.A. and Pereira, M.W.F., 2021. Manual de avalia\u0026ccedil;\u0026atilde;o de carca\u0026ccedil;as bovinas, 1st ed. (UFMS: Campo Grande, MS)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGorocica, M.A. and Tedeschi, L.O., 2017. 498 Virginiamycin increases performance and carcass weight of feedlot cattle under Mexican conditions Journal of Animal Science, 95, 243\u0026ndash;243 (Oxford University Press (OUP))\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeker Junior, J.C., Neumann, M., Ueno, R.K., Falbo, M.K., Galbeiro, S., Souza, A.M. de, Venancio, B.J., Santos, L.C. and Askel, E.J., 2018. Effect of monensin sodium associative to virginiamycin and/or essential oils on the performance of feedlot finished steers Semina: Ci\u0026ecirc;ncias Agr\u0026aacute;rias, 39, 261 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKelly, D.N., Murphy, C., Sleator, R.D., Judge, M.M., Conroy, S.B. and Berry, D.P., 2019. Feed efficiency and carcass metrics in growing cattle 1 Journal of Animal Science, 97, 4405\u0026ndash;4417 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLazzarini, \u0026Iacute;., Detmann, E., de Campos Valadares Filho, S., Paulino, M.F., Batista, E.D., de Almeida Rufino, L.M., Dos Reis, W.L.S. and de Oliveira Franco, M., 2016. Nutritional Performance of Cattle Grazing during Rainy Season with Nitrogen and Starch Supplementation. Asian-Australasian journal of animal sciences, 29, 1120\u0026ndash;8 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLi, Q., Pellegrino, J., Lee, D.J., Tran, A.A., Chaires, H.A., Wang, R., Park, J.E., Ji, K., Chow, D., Zhang, N., Brilot, A.F., Biel, J.T., van Zundert, G., Borrelli, K., Shinabarger, D., Wolfe, C., Murray, B., Jacobson, M.P., M\u0026uuml;hle, E., Chesneau, O., Fraser, J.S. and Seiple, I.B., 2020. Synthetic group A streptogramin antibiotics that overcome Vat resistance Nature, 586, 145\u0026ndash;150 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaciel, I.C. de F., Saturnino, H.M., Barbosa, F.A., Filho, G.H.B.M., Costa, P.M. and Malacco, V.M.R., 2015. Virginiamicina na alimenta\u0026ccedil;\u0026atilde;o de ruminantes Caderno de Ci\u0026ecirc;ncias Agr\u0026aacute;rias, 7, 271\u0026ndash;285 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMarcondes, M.I., Tedeschi, L.O., Filho, S. de C.V., Costa e Silva, L.F. and Lopes da Silva, A., 2015. Using growth and body composition to determine weight at maturity in Nellore cattle Animal Production Science, 56, 1121 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMarten, G.C., Shenk, J.S. and Barton, F.E., 1989. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS): Analysis of forage quality, (United States Department of Agriculture: Washington, DC)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRaffrenato, E., Fievisohn, R., Cotanch, K.W., Grant, R.J., Chase, L.E. and Van Amburgh, M.E., 2017. Effect of lignin linkages with other plant cell wall components on in vitro and in vivo neutral detergent fiber digestibility and rate of digestion of grass forages Journal of Dairy Science, 100, 8119\u0026ndash;8131 (Elsevier Inc.)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRenesto, D.M., Hoffmann, A., Ara\u0026uacute;jo, T.L.R., Delevatti, L.M., Leite, R.G., Ribeiro, J.L., Romanzini, E.P., Barbero, R.P. and Reis, R.A., 2021. Supplement levels and functional oils to replace virginiamycin for young bulls during early dry season on grasslands and finishing phase in feedlot systems Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 19, e0609 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRigueiro, A.L.N., Pereira, M.C.S., Silvestre, A.M., Pinto, A.C.J., Felizari, L.D., Dias, E.F.F., Demartini, B.L., Estevam, D.D., Dellaqua, J.V.T., Souza, K.L.R., Silva, L.A.F., Nunes, A.B.P.C., Souza, J.M. and Millen, D.D., 2023. Withdrawal of sodium monensin when associated with virginiamycin during adaptation and finishing periods on feedlot performance, feeding behavior, carcass, rumen, and cecum morphometrics characteristics of Nellore cattle Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRigueiro, A.L.N., Pereira, M.C.S., Squizatti, M.M., Ferreira, M.M., Dond\u0026eacute;, S.C., Luiz, F.P., Silvestre, A.M., Muller, L.R., Garcia, C.P., Bueno, A.P.D., Toledo, L. 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Energy prediction equations for ruminant feeds In:, Proceedings of the 61th Cornell Nutrition Conference Feed Manufactures, (Cornell University: Ithaca), 176\u0026ndash;185\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":true,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"tropical-animal-health-and-production","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"trop","sideBox":"Learn more about [Tropical Animal Health and Production](https://www.springer.com/journal/11250)","snPcode":"11250","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11250/3","title":"Tropical Animal Health and Production","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Additive, Feed efficiency, Non-ionophore, Pasture supplementation, Streptogramin","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3146396/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3146396/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe present study evaluated the effects of supplementing VM in grazing cattle during the rearing phase on performance and carcass quality of beef cattle in the finishing phase. Two experiments with a randomized block design were conducted in consecutive years to contrast two post-weaning supplementation strategies using VM at 45 mg/100 kg body weight (BW). In the first year, treatments were protein supplement in the dry season and mineral supplement in the rainy season versus the addition of VM both in the protein and mineral supplements. In the second year, was contrasted with protein supplement in the dry season and protein-energy supplement in the rainy season. Performance, carcass traits, and carcass quality were evaluated at the end of both phases. In Year 1, adding VM in mineral supplement increased final backfat thickness (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e=0.05), backfat gain (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e=0.06), final rump fat thickness (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e=0.02), and rump fat gain (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e=0.01). In the finishing phase, VM-treated cattle had a greater dry matter intake (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e=0.03) and tended to show a greater backfat thickness than non-treated cattle (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e=0.07). In Year 2, no VM effects were observed on post-weaning phase performance and carcass traits. However, cattle-fed VM during the post-weaning phase tended to show a lower feed conversion ratio (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e=0.09) and had a significantly higher gross feed efficiency (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e=0.03) than non-treated cattle at slaughter. Virginiamycin supplementation during rearing on pasture improves performance and carcass fattening in the growth phase and has a residual effect in the finishing phase that may reflect greater backfat thickness and gross feed efficiency.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Strategies of virginiamycin supplementation in the postweaning phase on growth performance and carcass quality of beef cattle","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2023-08-02 13:29:04","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3146396/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Accept with minor revision","date":"2023-11-30T14:10:31+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2023-08-16T10:15:41+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2023-07-28T20:45:50+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2023-07-14T08:10:36+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Tropical Animal Health and Production","date":"2023-07-13T14:17:29+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"tropical-animal-health-and-production","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"trop","sideBox":"Learn more about [Tropical Animal Health and Production](https://www.springer.com/journal/11250)","snPcode":"11250","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11250/3","title":"Tropical Animal Health and Production","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"778ea419-2f33-4353-b252-2c50da49276a","owner":[],"postedDate":"August 2nd, 2023","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2023-12-18T15:03:07+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-3146396","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-023-03860-5","journal":{"identity":"tropical-animal-health-and-production","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Tropical Animal Health and Production"},"publishedOn":"2023-12-16 15:00:54","publishedOnDateReadable":"December 16th, 2023"},"versionCreatedAt":"2023-08-02 13:29:04","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s11250-023-03860-5","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-023-03860-5","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-3146396","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-3146396","identity":"rs-3146396","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"WrCJVZZCHTDjtuVLN7oU0","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}