The use of shade and betaine to ameliorate heat load

摘要

IT HAS been suggested that certain dietary supplements have the potential to ameliorate the effects of high heat load in feed-lot cattle. Betaine is on such supplement. Anecdotal evidence from commercial feedlots in Australia suggested that there were benefits in feeding betaine over the summer months. There was, however, very little scientific data to support a benefit of betaine supplementation in beef cattle, although it has been proven to be of benefit in poultry and pigs. Therefore, MLA-fundedthe University of Queensland to undertake a project (B.FLOT.0345) to investigate the effects of betaine when fed to feedlot cattle at different inclusion levels over the summer months. The specific objective of this project was to determine effect of dietary betaine on dry matter intake, water intake, feed efficiency, ADG, core body temperature, respiratory dynamics and carcase quality when steers had either access (S) or no access to shade (NS).