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. 2022 Oct 13;12(1):17138.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-21051-4.

Stable isotopes of C and N differ in their ability to reconstruct diets of cattle fed C3-C4 forage diets

David M Jaramillo  1   2 , Jose C B Dubeux Jr  3 , Martin Ruiz-Moreno  3 , Nicolas DiLorenzo  4 , Joao M B Vendramini  5 , Lynn Sollenberger  6 , Cheryl Mackowiak  7 , Luana M D Queiroz  3 , Daciele S Abreu  3 , Liza Garcia  3 , Erick R S Santos  8 , Burney A Kieke Jr  9
Affiliations

Stable isotopes of C and N differ in their ability to reconstruct diets of cattle fed C3-C4 forage diets

David M Jaramillo et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Stable isotopes are useful for estimating livestock diet selection. The objective was to compare δ13C and δ15N to estimate diet proportion of C3-C4 forages when steers (Bos spp.) were fed quantities of rhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata; RP; C3) and bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum; C4).Treatments were proportions of RP with bahiagrass hay: 100% bahiagrass (0%RP); 25% RP + 75% bahiagrass (25%RP); 50% RP + 50% bahiagrass (50%RP); 75% RP + 25% bahiagrass (75%RP); and 100% RP (100% RP). Feces, plasma, red blood cell (RBC), and hair were collected at 8-days intervals, for 32 days. Two-pool mixing model was utilized to back-calculate the proportion of RP based on the sample and forage δ13C or δ15N. Feces showed changes using δ13C by 8 days, and adj. R2 between predicted and observed RP proportion was 0.81 by 8 days. Plasma, hair, and RBC required beyond 32-days to reach equilibrium, therefore were not useful predictors of diet composition during the study. Diets were best represented using fecal δ13C at both 8-days and 32-days. By 32-days, fecal δ15N showed promise (R2 = 0.71) for predicting diet composition in C3-C4 diets. Further studies are warranted to further corroborate fecal δ15N as a predictor of diet composition in cattle.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
δ13C (a) and δ15N (b) feces of beef cattle consuming increasing proportions of rhizoma peanut (RP) in bahiagrass hay. Day of collection represents the number of days after dietary change. Asterisk indicates treatment differences (P ≤ 0.05) exist within the day of collection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
δ13C (a) and δ15N (b) plasma of beef cattle consuming increasing proportions of rhizoma peanut (RP) hay in bahiagrass hay. Day of collection represents the number of days after dietary change. Asterisk indicates treatment differences (P ≤ 0.05) exist within the day of collection.
Figure 3
Figure 3
δ13C of red blood cells (RBC) of beef cattle consuming increasing proportions of rhizoma peanut (RP) in bahiagrass hay. Day of collection represents the number of days after dietary change.
Figure 4
Figure 4
δ13C of hair from beef cattle consuming increasing proportions of rhizoma peanut (RP) in bahiagrass hay. Day of collection represents the number of days after dietary change. Asterisk indicates treatment differences (P ≤ 0.05) exist within the day of collection.
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