Suchergebnisse

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of inclusion of different levels of protected lysine and methionine on the nutritional parameters and protein metabolites of lambs. The experiment was carried out at the Capim Branco Experimental Farm, at Uberlândia Federal University, during the months of September and October 2016. Five blood lambs ½ Dorper × ½ Santa Inês, approximately eight months old and with an average weight of 50 kg, were distributed in a Latin square scheme 5 × 5 (five treatments and five replicates). The treatments consisted of the inclusion in the diet of different levels of lysine and methionine protected from ruminal degradation (MicroPEARLS LM®): 0 g, 8 g, 16 g, 24 g, and 32 g. The diet was composed of corn silage and concentrate in a ratio of 30V:70C. The experiment was divided into five phases. Each phase had a duration of fifteen days (ten days of adaptation of the animals to the experimental diets and five days of data collection). The animals were kept in individual metabolic cages. A digestibility assay was performed to determine the apparent dry matter intake and digestibility (DMI/DDMI), nitrogen balance, and protein metabolites. The DMI (kg day-1) and in relation to the metabolic weight presented a positive linear equation, and was highest for the treatment with 32 g of amino acids, as well as the ingested nitrogen and nitrogen balance, being positive in all treatments. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in the DDMI. The crude protein and urea concentrations remained above the recommended levels and the concentration of creatinine remained below the recommended level. The inclusion of protected amino acids up to 32 g increases DMI and urinary nitrogen excretion without negatively affecting digestibility. The protein metabolism was altered, without causing damage to the performance of the animals.

Voluntary consumption (VolC) and ingestive behaviour (IB) of lambs fed diets containing different percentages (0.0; 7.5; 15.0 and 22.5%) of babassu mesocarp bran (I-BMB) were evaluated. The trial was at the Federal University of Tocantins, Campus de Araguaína-TO. Twenty lambs were evaluated using a completely randomized design, and five replications were performed. VolC data was obtained by measuring total volumes of both food supplied and food remaining after feeding. IB was evaluated throughout two, non-consecutive 24-h periods, with observations were recorded every five minutes that described the following behavioural variables: resting (REST), rumination (RUM), intake (INT) and chewing (CHEW). The particle size was also measured using a Penn State particle separator. All VolC parameters (dry matter intake, DMI; crude protein intake, CPI; neutral detergent fibre intake, NDFI; and acid detergent fibre intake, ADFI) increased linearly with I-BMB intake. I-BMB consumption did not interfere with water intake, nor did it affect I-BMB did not affect the duration of DMI, NDFI and ADFI. However, linear increases of rumination and chewing activities associated with DMI, NDFI and ADFI were observed as I-BMB levels increased. In summary, effects of inclusion I-BMB in diets of lambs included increased voluntary consumption, and reduced rumination and chewing, but not ingestion, efficiency. When economically favorable, these data suggest that inclusion of up to 22.5% I-BMB within balanced diets should be applied.

Objetivou-se estimar os intervalos de referência dos parâmetros bioquímicos de ovelhas lactantes nos trópicos. Foram compiladas informações de até 290 ovelhas lactantes no período de 2006 a 2017. Todos os animais eram saudáveis e não passaram por condições de desnutrição forçada. Os animais foram criados em diferentes sistemas de manejo (pasto, confinamento total, semiconfinamento, confinamento coletivo e/ou individual). O perfil bioquímico constituiu informações de colesterol, triglicerídeos, frutosamina, HDL (lipoproteína de alta densidade), VLDL (lipoproteína de muito baixa densidade), proteínas totais, ácido úrico, ureia, albumina, creatinina, cálcio, fósforo e magnésio, AST (aspartato aminotransferase), GGT (gama glutamil transferase) e fosfatase alcalina (FA). Os valores de referência foram estimados através do teste de Dixon, quando paramétrico e por boostrap quando não paramétrico, sendo o intervalo de confiança a 95% de probabilidade. Os intervalos estimados foram 36,3 - 94; 262,22 - 450,66; 7 - 43; 18,6 - 69,4; 1,4 - 8,4; 0,61 - 1,66; 5,4 - 11; 0 - 1,4; 8,4 - 61,5; 1,9 - 3,57 para colesterol, frutosanima, trigligeríceos, HDL, VLDL, creatinina, PT, ácido úrico, ureia e albumina, respectivamente. Para as enzimas e o perfil mineral foram 59 - 160; 37,9 - 127,8; 30 - 190; 8,23 - 12,45; 3,7 - 8,5; 1,7 - 3,8 para AST, GGT, FA, Ca, P, e Mg, respectivamente. Conclui-se que os parâmetros bioquímicos das ovelhas lactantes nos trópicos são discrepantes aos determinados na literatura.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of extrused roughage on nutritional and metabolic parameters in sheep. Eighteen 3-year-old sheep in metabolic cages were randomly assigned to two treatments: corn silage and extruded roughage. Dry matter intake (DMI) and water intake were calculated as the difference between offered feed and orts left. Ruminal movement was assessed through auscultation of the rumen for five minutes, glycemia and other metabolites through blood collection by jugular venipuncture, and feeding behavior by observation every 5 minutes for 24 hours. DMI per animal, both as a percentage of live weight and in relation to metabolic weight, was higher for animals fed extrused roughage. The extrused roughage treatment also resulted in reduced ruminal movement and higher dry matter digestibility (DMD), glycemia and drinking water intake. Animals fed with extrused roughage reduced the time of rumination and total chewing, thus increasing ingestion, chewing and rumination efficiency. Blood concentrations of glucose and urea were higher in animals fed extrused roughage, while cholesterol concentration was lower. We conclude that the use of extrused roughage promotes improvement in the nutritional parameters of sheep by increasing DMI and DMD, and reducing chewing and rumination times, without causing disorders in energy and protein metabolism.

Lysine and methionine are the most limiting amino acids for ruminants; their inclusion in the free form is not effective, since they are quickly degraded by ruminal microorganisms, making the fulfillment of the requirements of metabolizable protein difficult. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of including different levels of lysine and methionine, protected from ruminal degradation, in the diet of lambs; more specifically, their effects on intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and ingestive behavior. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm Capim Branco, Federal University of Uberlândia, from September to October 2016. Five 1/2Dorper x 1/2Santa Inês lambs, at approximately eight months of age and an average weight of 50 kg, were distributed in a 5x5 Latin square design, with five treatments and five replicates. The treatments consisted of different levels (0 g, 8 g, 16 g, 24 g and 32 g) of lysine and methionine added to the diet, protected from ruminal degradation (MicroPEARLS LM ®). The feed was composed of corn silage and concentrate (30V: 70C), offered twice daily at 08h00 and 16h00. The experiment lasted 75 days and was divided into five phases. Each phase lasted 15 days, with 10 days for adaptation of the animals and five days of data collection. The animals were kept in individual metabolic cages, with a feeder, drinker and salt shaker. A digestibility assay was performed to determine the consumption and apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber and acid (NDF/NDA). Urine volume and density, stool weight and fecal score, nitrogen balance and ingestive behavior were recorded. In relation to metabolic and body weight, DM intake (kg day-1) presented a positive linear response with the inclusion of amino acids, as well as the CP intake, NDF intake, ingested nitrogen and nitrogen balance, which were positive in all treatments. There was no difference (P < 0.05) in the digestibility coefficients of DM, CP and NDF. Water consumption was high in all treatments, but did not differ by treatment (P > 0.05). Ingestive behavior was not influenced (P > 0.05). The inclusion of up to 32 g of protected lysine and methionine increases DM and nutrient intake, without negatively affecting digestibility. The high CP intake induced an increase in the urinary nitrogen excretion, and consequently, an increase in the energy expenditure.

Feed consumption has a great influence on the growth and performance of animals since the intake of dry matter supplies the quantity of nutrients that are necessary to meet the maintenance and production requirements of these animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dry matter intake, body growth, weight gain and carcass characteristics (by ultrasonography) of lambs fed an extruded ration at different roughage (R): concentrate (C) ratios. Thirty mixed race (Santa Inês x Dorper) lambs, aged 3 months and with an average weight of 20 kg, were used. The treatments consisted of an extruded ration in 30R:70C and 70R:30C ratios, completely randomised to 2 treatments and 15 replicates. The means of the variables were evaluated using a Tukey test and a regression at the 5% significance level. Dry matter intake (DMI), weight gain, body growth, evaluated through biometric measurements, and carcass characteristics, evaluated by ultrasonography, were assessed. There was a reduction of DMI in relation to body weight during the experimental period, with lower DMI amongst the animals in the 30R:70C treatment. There was a quadratic effect for the growth variables hindlimb height, forelimb height, body length, thoracic and barrel circumference over time, indicating that the animals presented adequate body growth, with intense development during the experimental period and stabilisation at the end of the experiment. There was no difference in the animals' weight gain, with an average daily gain of 182.79 g day-1. There was a difference in carcass characteristics throughout the evaluation period, with a larger loin eye area, body condition score and subcutaneous fat thickness at the end of the experimental period. The use of an extruded ration with a 30% roughage and 70% concentrate ratio promotes better feed efficiency in lambs, since it achieved the same weight gain and body development with lower dry matter intake.

The objective of our study was to compare the intake and digestibility of dry matter and nutrients, and the nitrogen balance, of lambs fed extruded ration with different roughage (R) to concentrate (C) ratios. The experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Experimental Farm Capim Branco, from 7 December 2016 to 6 January 2017. Ten lambs (Santa Inês × Dorper) aged between four and five months, and with a mean weight of 25.9 ± 2.8 kg, were used. The animals were placed in metabolic cages equipped with a feeder, drinking fountain, and salt shaker, and which had a wooden slatted floor. The treatments consisted of extruded ration with 30R:70C or 70R:30C. Treatments were distributed in a randomised, complete block design, with each treatment being performed twice and with ten replications. The experiment was carried out in two blocked stages. Differences in the means of treatments were evaluated by Tukey's test at a significance level of 5%. Intake and digestibility of dry matter and nutrients, water intake by animals, and nitrogen balance were also analysed. The 30R:70C treatment resulted in a lower intake of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and hemicellulose, and caused higher dry matter and neutral detergent fibre digestibility. The 30R:70C treatment also resulted in a lower intake and faecal excretion of nitrogen, consequently establishing a higher ratio between retained and ingested nitrogen. In conclusion, the ration with 30R:70C results in lower intake, and better utilisation of nutrients by the animal.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of inclusion of different levels of protected lysine and methionine on the nutritional parameters and protein metabolites of lambs. The experiment was carried out at the Capim Branco Experimental Farm, at Uberlândia Federal University, during the months of September and October 2016. Five blood lambs ½ Dorper × ½ Santa Inês, approximately eight months old and with an average weight of 50 kg, were distributed in a Latin square scheme 5 × 5 (five treatments and five replicates). The treatments consisted of the inclusion in the diet of different levels of lysine and methionine protected from ruminal degradation (MicroPEARLS LM®): 0 g, 8 g, 16 g, 24 g, and 32 g. The diet was composed of corn silage and concentrate in a ratio of 30V:70C.The experiment was divided into five phases. Each phase had a duration of fifteen days (ten days of adaptation of the animals to the experimental diets and five days of data collection). The animals were kept in individual metabolic cages. A digestibility assay was performed to determine the apparent dry matter intake and digestibility (DMI/DDMI), nitrogen balance, and protein metabolites. The DMI (kg day-1) and in relation to the metabolic weight presented a positive linear equation, and was highest for the treatment with 32 g of amino acids, as well as the ingested nitrogen and nitrogen balance, being positive in all treatments. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in the DDMI. The crude protein and urea concentrations remained above the recommended levels and the concentration of creatinine remained below the recommended level. The inclusion of protected amino acids up to 32 g increases DMI and urinary nitrogen excretion without negatively affecting digestibility. The protein metabolism was altered, without causing damage to the performance of the animals.

The study aimed to determine the biochemical reference ranges for lambs from birth to 1 year of age in the tropics. Data were obtained from experiments performed in several institutions and commercial farms using Santa Inês, Dorper, Lacaune, Morada Nova, Bergamacia and Suffolk lambs reared under different conditions (grazing, feedlot, semi-feedlot) from 2006 to 2017. Serum energy-, protein-, mineral-, and enzyme-related metabolites were evaluated. The metabolic energy profile included data from glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, fructosamine, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; the metabolic protein profile included total protein, uric acid, urea, albumin, and creatinine; the metabolic mineral profile included data on calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium; and the metabolic enzymatic profile included the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, and creatine kinase. The reference ranges were estimated using confidence intervals with a 95% confidence level, and percentiles were estimated or bootstrapped nonparametrically when the data were not normally distributed. The serum biochemical reference ranges determined for lambs are strongly divergent from those established by one of the most cited books on the topic, especially considering the high serum urea and cholesterol concentrations and low levels of blood glucose observed. Therefore, the serum biochemical reference ranges for lambs from birth to 1 year of age in the tropics differ from international data, which consider adult sheep in temperate climate zones.