Suchergebnisse

Industrialization of the Babassu coconut for edible oil production generates many co-products and has great potential to be used in ruminant nutrition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different inclusions of endocarp meal type II of Babassu coconut (BEMII) on intake and digestibility of sheep diets. Twenty non-castrated male sheep with an undefined breed were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replications. The animals received an experimental diet with increasing inclusions of BEMII (0.0%, 7.5%, 15.0%, and 22.5%). Increasing additions of the coproduct negatively influenced dry matter intake (g/BW and g/kg0.75). Crude protein intake (in grams) per day decreased linearly with the inclusion of BEMII, presenting a reduction of 49.35 g/d. The inclusion of 7.5% showed the best response for energy balance among all inclusions and presented the closest nitrogen balance value when compared to the control group; therefore, this inclusion percentage is the best for endocarp meal utilization.

This study evaluated the inclusion of increasing contents (0; 35; 70; 105 and 140 g kg-1) of dried acerola fruit (Malpighia glabra, Linn.) by-product (DABP) in the ensilage of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.) considering the in situ degradability of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and hemicellulose. Plastic drums with 210 L capacity were used as experimental silos. After 45 days of ensiling, silos were opened and silage samples were collected for the degradability trial and laboratory analysis. For the in situ degradability trial, was used one rumen-fistulated adult male cattle. The five by-product inclusion contents were tested in three replicates, with five incubation times, in a randomized complete split-plot design in which the contents of DABP were the treatments (plots), the different silos were the replicates and the incubation times were the sub-plots. Longer incubation times significantly increased (P < 0.05) the disappearance rates of DM, CP, NDF, ADF and hemicellulose. The effective degradability of the DM, NDF and hemicellulose was higher in the silages with 35 g kg-1 of DABP in the rumen passage rates of 0.02; 0.05 and 0.08 h-1. Dried acerola fruit by-product can be added to elephant grass ensiling up to 35 g kg-1 without reducing the effective degradability of nutrients.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the animal performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of F1 Angus-Nellore steers and heifers, feedlot finished with high degree of subcutaneous fat deposition. The experimental design was completely randomized, with two treatments (steers and heifers) and 11 replicates (animals). Twenty-two bovines with initial age of 18 months of age, 11 steers and 11 heifers, with initial body weight of, respectively, 354.86±43,66 and 353.82±39,80 kg were used. The animals were finished in confinement (114 days) with a diet containing 200 g kg-1 of corn silage and 800 g kg-1 of concentrate composed mainly of corn grain and soybean meal. The dry matter intake (9.42 vs. 9.24 kg day-1), mean daily weight gain (1.44 vs. 1.38 kg day-1), feed conversion (6.49 vs. 7.05 kg of dry matter kg-1 of weight gain), hot carcass weight (284.62 vs. 268.16 kg) and the subcutaneous fat thickness (12.09 vs. 13.05 mm) were similar between steers and heifers (respectively). The hot carcass yield was higher (P < 0.05) for steers (58.14 vs. 55.53%). The steers presented a higher proportion of the forequarter (39.26 vs. 37.53%), while heifers had a higher proportion of pistol cut (49.87 vs. 48.85%). The meat of steers showed darker color (P < 0.05). The shear force of the meat and marbling score did not differ between sexual conditions, with mean values of 5.43 kgf cm-2 and 10.14 points (median), respectively. Except for the proportion of primary cuts, carcass yield and meat color, F1 Angus-Nellore heifers present similar animal performance, carcass and meat characteristics in relation to steers, feedlot finished with high degree of subcutaneous fat deposition.

Assessment of carcass and meat characteristics of Holstein-Zebu crossbred young bulls finished in feedlot with crude glycerin levels (0, 60, 120, and 240 g kg-1 dry matter) in replace of ground pearl millet grain and babassu mesocarp bran mixture-based diets. Twenty four bulls 30-month-old and initial average body weight of 390 ± 31.5 kg were used. The animals were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and six replicates. The absolute weight (kg) of commercial cuts did not fit any of the tested regression models. However, the weight of the short ribs and the pistol cut were higher for animals fed with crude glycerin in relation to those fed without inclusion of this food in the diet. The proportion of the commercial cuts, however, was not changed. The increase of the crude glycerin levels linearly increased the proportion of carcass fat and reduced the muscle proportion, without changing the proportion of bone and the edible portion of the carcasses. The ratio muscle/fat reduced linearly with the advance of crude glycerin level of diets. The color of the meat, evaluated subjectively, increased linearly with the advance of crude glycerin levels of the diets, from dark red to slightly dark red. The texture, marbling, shear force, thawing loss and cooking loss were not changed by dietary levels of crude glycerin. The inclusion of up to 240 g kg-1 of crude glycerin in the diets increases the proportion of fat without changing the marketable portion of carcasses. The benefits to the meat quality refer to the improvement of color, without changing the other characteristics of economic interest.

Assessment of carcass and meat characteristics of Nellore young bulls finished in feedlot with crude glycerin levels (0, 60, 120, and 240 g kg-1 dry matter) in millet-based diets. Twenty-eight young bulls with mean age of 18 months and average weight of 357 ± 23.56 kg were used. The animals were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and seven replicates. It was observed that the physical composition and edible portion of the carcass were not affected by crude glycerin levels in the diets. However, the increased dietary crude glycerin level raised the weights of the forequarters (kg and % of cold carcass weight), but not that of the pistol cut and short ribs. Among the commercial cuts prepared to marketing of the pistol cut, only the weight of the rump cap (% cold carcass weight) was changed, decreasing linearly with increasing dietary crude glycerin levels. Additionally, meat characteristics remained unaltered by the increased levels of crude glycerin. It was concluded that inclusion of up to 240 g kg-1 of crude glycerin in millet grain-based diets for Nellore young bulls finished in feedlot does not alter the main carcass and meat characteristics or affect their economic value.

Assessment of carcass physical composition and physicochemical characteristics of meat from Nellore males distributed randomly into three treatments: males castrated at 13 months of age at puberty (n=26); castrated at 18 months of age, 15 days before confinement (n=26); and young bulls (n=25). For the evaluation of meat chemical characteristics, we used samples of 12 animals taken at random from each treatment. The experimental design was completely randomized. Animals were slaughtered at 22 months of age after 100 days of confinement. The carcasses of young bulls showed higher contents of muscle (66.46 %) and bone (16.03 %), and lower fat content (17.66 %), in relation to that of steers castrated at 13 (62.83,15.28, and 22.11 %, respectively) or 18 months (63.99, 15.29, and 21.53%, respectively), which did not differ amongst themselves. The meat of young bulls was darker (3.07 points) than the meat from those castrated at 13 months of age (3.43 points), while the meat from those castrated at 18 months displayed an intermediate color (3.29 points), not differing from the others. Young bulls yielded meat with lower content of intramuscular fat (3.18 points) and lipids (3.81%) in relation to those castrated at 13 (4.58 points and 6.77%, respectively) or 18 months (4.52 points and 5.66%, respectively). Protein content was higher (P 0.05) by the age of castration, with young bulls having lower values in relation to the castrated males. Castration of Nellore young bulls in early puberty increases the edible portion of the carcass due to the higher body fat deposit.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of slaughter weight on animal performance, carcass commercial cuts and meat characteristics of Purunã cows feedlot finished. We used 28 cull cows with 68.02±17.36 months of age slaughtered at different weights (461, 476, 434 and 522 kg). The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments (slaughter weight) and seven replicates (animals). The dry matter intake, expressed as kg d-1 and % of body weight, presented quadratic variation with increasing slaughter weight, with the highest values observed for slaughter weight of 461 kg. The average daily gain decreased linearly, whereas the absolute weight of forequarter, short ribs, and pistol cut linearly increased by the advance of slaughter weight. In relative terms only the short ribs was changed by increase slaughter weight, increasing linearly. Between the proportions of meat cuts prepared for commercialization, linear increases were observed for the chuck and striploin. Increasing slaughter weight promoted linear increases in the scores of color, marbling and palatability, but did not alter the score of tenderness of the meat. The increase of slaughter weight of cull cows of the Purunã breed reduces animal performance, increasing the losses by trimming fat, with important benefits only for the meat palatability.

This study aimed to evaluate the morphogenic, structural, chemical characteristics, and forage yield of Massai grass, as well as the performance of sheep under three pre-grazing canopy heights. Eighteen Dorper x crossbred sheep (12 males and 6 females) were subjected to three pre-grazing canopy heights of Massai grass (45, 35, and 25 cm). Rotational grazing was adopted, with a fixed rest period of 12 days and occupation of four days. Before placing animals in the paddock, stocking rate was estimated to ensure a reduction of about 50% in the initial height. Morphogenic and chemical characteristics of forage were evaluated, as well as animal intake and performance. Pasture managed at 25 cm height induced reductions in stem and sheath sizes, and phyllochron but an increased leaf: stem ratio. However, the pasture cut at 35 cm above ground promoted an increase in total dry mass and foliar leaf productions, in addition to greater forage availability and daily accumulation. Yet, pastures with a height of 45 cm had a higher percentage of stem and senescent material, decreasing leaf intake by animals. Among the studied heights, 35 cm is the most suitable for Massai grass, when used for rearing sheep for meat production under pasture conditions in the northern Tocantins. This is because this management provided a greater availability of good quality forage and thereby increasing weight gains per area in animals.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the in situ degradability of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and hemicellulose of elephant grass (Pennisetumpurpureum, Schum.) with increasing levels (0; 35.0; 70.0, 105.0, and 140.0 g kg-1) of dried pineapple (Ananascomosus, L.) by-product (DPBP). The experimental silos consisted of plastic drums with 210 L capacity. After weighing and homogenizing the elephant grass with the DABP, the material was inserted in the silos (126 kg silage, at a density of 600 kg m-3) and compressed. After 45 days of ensilage, silos were opened and samples of the silages were collected for the trial. The study of degradability in situ was conducted using a rumen-fistulated male cattle. The animal was fed with corn silage supplemented with 1 kg concentrate daily. Five levels of addition of the by-product were tested, with three replicates and five times of incubation with an animal. The experimental design was completely randomized with split plots, in which the proportions of DPBP were the treatments (plots), the different silos were the replicates, and the incubation times were the subplots. The levels of inclusion of DPBP provided an increase (P &lt; 0.05) in disappearance of DM and CP and in the effective degradability of DM, NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose. The dried pineapple by-product is a potential alternative to be used as additive in the ensilage of elephant grass, as it provides an increase in the rumen degradability parameters.

<p>Objetivou-se avaliar as características da carcaça e carne de novilhos mestiços de origem leiteira terminados em confinamento com dietas a base de grãos de milheto, contendo níveis de inclusão de farelo do mesocarpo do babaçu (0, 12, 24, 36 e 48%). Foram utilizados 30 novilhos mestiços Holandês-Zebu com peso inicial médio de 371,02 ± 27 kg distribuídos aleatoriamente em seis dietas experimentais (cinco dietas a base de milho contendo níveis de inclusão de farelo do mesocarpo do babaçu e uma dieta padrão a base de milho), cada uma com cinco repetições. As dietas isonitrogenadas apresentam relação volumoso/concentrado de 20/80. O aumento do nível de inclusão do FMB na dieta reduziu o peso de abate e de carcaça de 488,4 e 242,2 kg para 454,0 e 226,7 kg, respectivamente. A espessura de gordura subcutânea, conformação e peso do traseiro especial reduziram, respectivamente, 38,8; 13,6 e 9% pelo aumento do nível de farelo do mesocarpo de babaçu na dieta. As características da carne não foram alteradas pelos níveis de inclusão de farelo do mesocarpo de babaçu na dieta. Não foi verificada diferença, pela análise de contrastes, entre as dietas com farelo do mesocarpo do babaçu e as dietas com milho ou milheto, ou entre as dietas a base de milho ou milheto para as características de carcaça e carne avaliadas. A inclusão de farelo do mesocarpo do babaçu em dietas a base de grão de milheto deve considerar a relação custo/benefício, pois promove queda do peso de abate e de carcaça apesar de não alterar as principais características da carne. A substituição total do grão de milho pelo grão de milheto em dietas de confinamento, por outro lado, não altera as principais características de carcaça e carne de bovinos.</p>

<p class="Default">The present study aimed to quantify, describe and identify areas of nutrient extraction by <em>Brachiaria brizantha </em>cv. Marandu biomass in integrated forest-pasture systems from a Cerrado-Amazon transition region with Typic Quartzipsamment soil by using geostatistical techniques, principal components analysis and non-hierarchical fuzzy k-means clustering. The evaluations were conducted in two integrated forest-pasture systems from an association with <em>Brachiaria brizantha </em>cv. Marandu and native vegetation thinned with 50% and 75% (integrated forest production-I (IFP-I) and IFP-II, respectively) shading and in <em>Brachiaria brizantha </em>cv. Marandu monoculture. For each treatment, an area of 4,000 m² (40 x 100 m) was demarcated containing 32 collection points arranged in a 4 x 25 m mesh. At each point, the rates of leaf elongation, senescence and stem elongation were estimated. At the end of each production cycle, the nutrient content (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) was determined in the leaf blades and stem. The nutrient uptake was calculated according to the rates of gross forage production, forage accumulation and leaf accumulation. The nutrient extraction zones of <em>Brachiaria brizantha </em>cv. Marandu biomass were defined using geostatistical techniques, principal components analysis and non-hierarchical fuzzy k-means clustering. Thus, the use of these procedures is feasible for the definition and delimitation of homogeneous zones within and between the pasture production systems studied.</p>

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of replacing soybean meal (SM) with castor bean cake (DCC), detoxified using two alkaline products, on the feeding behavior and physiological parameters of Saanen and Anglo-Nubian goat breeds with an initial body weight of 16.22 ± 0.67 kg. The treatments consisted of three diets that were isoproteic and isoenergetic: the first with a standard formulation based on corn and SM, the second with DCC detoxified using calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2 DCC), and the third with DCC detoxified using sodium hydroxide (NaOH DCC). A completely randomized design with a 3 × 2 (diets and breeds) factorial arrangement and four replicates per combination was used. A dietary effect on the intake of dry matter (DM) and NDFap (P = 0.02 and 0.01) was observed, with lower values for goats fed NaOH DCC than the other diets. The diets influenced feeding and rumination times (P = 0.04 and 0.03). An interaction (P = 0.04 and 0.01) between the breeds and the SM-based diet was found for time variables (other activity and idle time). Increased feeding and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) rumination efficiencies were observed for goats fed SM and Ca(OH)2 DCC (P = 0.03 and 0.01). Goats fed the NaOH DCC diet consumed large amounts of water, while Saanen goats urinated more times than did Anglo-Nubian goats. The diets had an effect on the heart rate and rectal temperature (P = 0.01 and 0.02), while the body surface temperature was influenced by the breed. Thus, Ca(OH)2 or NaOH DCC has a great potential to replace SM in the feeding of dairy goats. When used as diet for goats in the growth phase, NaOH DCC causes a reduction of DM and NDF intakes. Neither DCC negatively affected the physiological parameters of goats.