The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding frequencies (one, two, three, and four times per day) on the performance of male feedlot lambs. Forty Santa Inês male lambs were used with ...an average age of 120 days approximately and initial body weight of 24.90 ± 1.8 kg (mean ± S.D.). The lambs were distributed to treatment groups in a completely randomized experimental design, with 10 animals per treatment, placed in individual pens. A standard diet consisted of Tifton-85 hay and concentrate with a ratio of 60:40, respectively. The different feeding frequencies did not influence (p > 0.05) the intake of nutritional components, blood parameters, weight gain, ingestive behavior, carcass characteristics, or meat quality of male feedlot lambs. The feeding frequency of 3 and 4 times per day promoted the highest digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF; p = 0.008) and total digestible nutrients (TDN; p = 0.002). The feeding frequency of 3 times per day promoted the highest digestibility of crude protein (CP; p = 0.005). The time devoted to rumination (min/kg DM) was increased (p = 0.029) when the diet was supplied once a day compared to the other feeding frequencies. Based on these results, the recommended feeding frequency for male feedlot lambs is once a day. When feeding at this frequency, the ingestive behavior, productivity, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of male feedlot lambs will not be compromised.
This study proposes to examine the effect of adding increasing levels of palm kernel cake (PKC) to the supplement fed to pasture-finished heifers on their performance, carcass traits, and meat ...quality. The study involved 32 heifers (½ Holstein × Zebu) aged 20 months which were supplemented at 0.4% of their body weight and finished on a Urochloa brizantha pasture in a rotational grazing system. The heifers were distributed into four treatment groups in a completely randomised design, which consisted of 0%, 15%, 30%, and 45% PKC added in the total dry matter (DM) of the supplement. All animals were followed for 140 days and subsequently slaughtered. The inclusion of PKC did not influence the intakes of DM from forage (5.58 kg day-1) or supplement (1.44 kg day-1). Rumination time increased, whereas the average daily gain of the heifers decreased by 12% with the inclusion of PKC. The inclusion of PKC did not influence carcass weight (187 kg) or subcutaneous fat thickness (4.8 mm), but increased muscle lipids levels as well as the C13:0 and C22:6n-3 contents in the meat fat. Up to 45% palm kernel cake can be included in the supplement of heifers finished on tropical pasture.
Ingestive behavior of lambs fed diets consisting of fresh sugarcane with urea, bagasse treated with calcium oxide, and urea ammoniated sugarcane bagasse supplemented with concentrate mixture in 50:50 ...ratio were evaluated. For this, 34 wethers Santa Inês in their growing phase, with an average age of 3.0 ± 0.6 months and a mean initial live weight of 17.8± 5.2 kg were used. The animals were distributed in a completely randomized design and subjected to visual observation periods of 5 days, for 24 h a day, during the experimental period. Dry matter (DM) intake and intake efficiency of DM were higher (
P
< 0.05) for animals receiving fresh sugarcane with urea. The animals which were fed with bagasse treated with calcium oxide had higher (
P
< 0.05) consumption of neutral detergent fiber, longer feeding and chewing time (
P
< 0.05), and shorter (
P
< 0.05) idling time. The time spent on chewing the ruminal bolus did not differ from one diet to the other (
P
> 0.05). Grams of dry matter per ruminated bolus were similar among animals fed with fresh sugarcane and ammoniated bagasse (
P
> 0.05) but lower (
P
< 0.05) in animals fed with bagasse treated with calcium oxide. Rumination efficiency values, in grams of dry matter per hour, and grams of neutral detergent fiber per hour for all three diets were similar (
P
> 0.05) to those found for feeding efficiency. The number of feeding and rumination periods was not affected (
P
> 0.05) by diet. Based on the intake and ingestive behavior responses, the fresh sugarcane with urea compared to bagasse treated with calcium oxide and ammoniated bagasse was found to be the better alternative feed for use in lamb diets.
The use of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as an alternative to the techniques commonly employed in the study of forage composition needs to be explored. The objective was to construct calibration ...curves to predict the physical-chemical composition of tropical grasses (Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Stapf 'Marandu', 'Piata'; B. decumbens Stapf, Panicum maximum Jacq. 'Coloniao'), by NIRS and compare two multivariate regression method. Forage samples were analyzed for crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), ash, ether extract (EE), lignin, and moisture. The values obtained by the Official Methods of Analysis of Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) were reference values for the creation of multivariate calibration models. The samples were scanned on the NIRS. The multivariate calibration models were created by the partial least squares (PLS) method and by the multiple linear regression (MLR) method. The predictive capacity of the models was evaluated by the correlation coefficient (R) and parameters of the mean squared deviation (RMSE). When the MLR was used, only the prediction model of ash (R = 0.82) of the P. maximum, EE (R = 0.87) and moisture (R = 0.90) of ' Piata' showed approximate predictive capacity, for the other components R indicated good prediction. After the validation of the models developed by the PLS regression method, the CP (0.78-0.91), NDF (0.88-0.95), lignin (0.85-0.91), and moisture (0.79-0.96) predictions presented good results. The NIRS technique can be used to determine the physical-chemical composition of tropical grasses. The MLR multivariate regression method as well as PLS can be used to predict the physical-chemical composition of tropical grasses. Key words: Brachiaria, C4 forage, forage composition, multiple linear regression, multivariate statistics, near infrared spectroscopy.
Agro-industrial by-products are a great option for ruminant feeding. Alternative feedstuffs in ruminant diets are important to increase diets and reduce production costs. The present study evaluated ...different levels of palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) kernel cake inclusion in diets for feedlot-finished cull cows and their implications on the intake and digestibility of dry matter (DM) and nutrients, as well as animal performance. The experiment was carried out in Ribeirao do Largo, Bahia, Brazil. Thirty-six Holstein x Zebu crossbred cows were assigned to four treatments at the rate of nine cows per treatment. The animals were fed sugarcane bagasse (roughage 15%) and concentrate (85%). The treatments were no addition of palm kernel cake, 8%, 16%, or 24% palm kernel cake inclusion in the total DM diet. Palm kernel cake inclusion influenced DM and nutrient intakes, which responded quadratically. The digestibility of DM, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein showed a quadratic response and maximum digestibility at 1.67%, 5.24%, and 3.68% cake inclusion levels, respectively; values decreased thereafter. The total digestible nutrients decreased linearly based on cake inclusion levels. Treatments affected final body weight, mean daily gain, and feed conversion, which showed a quadratic response to increasing levels of the by-product in the diet and maximum values were at 11.98%, 13.07%, and 16.32% inclusion, respectively. Palm kernel cake is a viable alternative ingredient for animal biological efficiency. The 16% inclusion level in the total DM diet was the most appropriate for the finishing of cull cows in the feedlot. Key words: Body weight, cattle, Elaeis guineensis, intake, performance.
The objective of this study was to determine the effects of licury cake (LC) inclusion in the diets of lactating goats on productive and metabolic performance. Twelve lactating goats, eight Saanen ...and four Anglo-Nubian, were distributed in a triplicate 4 × 4 Latin square design, with four treatments (0, 66.7, 133.3, and 200 g kg
of dry matter-DM). On the one hand, the LC inclusion increased neutral detergent fiber, indigestible neutral detergent fiber, and potentially digestible neutral detergent fiber (
< 0.001) intake. On the other hand, LC inclusion reduced ether extract and non-fibrous carbohydrate (
< 0.001) intake. There was a reduction in dry matter digestibility (
= 0.018) and an increase in neutral detergent fiber digestibility (
= 0.036). Feeding (
= 0.005) and rumination (
< 0.001) efficiencies increased with LC inclusion. The nitrogen balance was similar for all tested diets; however, we observed recycling metabolism. Based on the studied parameters, mainly milk production and composition, we recommend the LC inclusion of up to 200 g kg
DM in diets for lactating goats.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of palm kernel cake (PKC) on the feeding behavior of feedlot-finished cattle. Forty uncastrated crossbred bulls with an average ...age of 24.2 ± 2 months and an average weight of 331.1 ± 36.2 kg were distributed into four treatment groups in a completely randomized design with ten replicates. The treatments consisted of 0, 8, 16, or 24% PKC inclusion in the diet (dry matter basis). Palm kernel cake inclusion influenced feeding time (
P
< 0.05), which increased linearly. The inclusion of the ingredient also affected (
P
< 0.05) rumination time (min/day), total chewing time, and the time spent on other activities. The number of cuds ruminated per day showed a linear response to the PKC inclusion levels (
P
< 0.05). The number of feeding bouts increased linearly (
P
< 0.05). Dry matter (DM) intake and DM feeding efficiency decreased linearly (
P
< 0.05). There were no effects of PKC inclusion (
P
> 0.05) on neutral detergent fiber feeding (NDF) efficiency or DM rumination efficiency. NDF rumination efficiency increased linearly (
P
< 0.05). Palm kernel cake can be included at levels up to 24% in the total diet of feedlot-finished crossbred bulls, as it does not affect their dry matter intake or feeding behavior.
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sex on the chemical composition, fatty acid profile, and nutritional indexes of the Longissimus lumborum muscle of feedlot cattle fed a whole shelled corn ...diet. A total of 40 Nellore cattle were used, of which 20 animals were uncastrated bulls and 20 were heifers, with an average body weight of 411 ± 20.82 and 274 ± 17.80 kg, respectively. The diet was composed of 85 % whole shelled corn and 15 % protein–vitamin–mineral supplement. The chemical composition, fatty acid profile, and the nutritional value of the meat of the animals were evaluated. The chemical composition of the Longissimus lumborum muscle was similar among sexes (p>0.05). Differences were observed in the saturated (17 : 0, 18 : 0, and 21 : 0) and monounsaturated (16 : 1 cis-9, 17 : 1
cis-10, 18 : 1 cis-9, and 18 : 1 trans-7) fatty acid composition between sexes (p<0.05), and the polyunsaturated fatty acid (18 : 2 cis-9 and cis-12, 18:2
cis-9 and trans-11, 20 : 3 n-6, and 22 : 6 n-3) content also showed sex differences (p<0.05). The total number of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids was higher in bulls, and the total number of monounsaturated fatty acids was higher in heifers (p<0.05). Indicators of nutritional quality, such as the n-6 : n-3 ratio, thrombogenicity index, and Δ-9-desaturase C14, Δ-9-desaturase C16, and Δ-9-desaturase C18 indexes, were different between the sexes (p<0.05). In conclusion, sex was not found to influence chemical composition but did affect the fatty acid profile and nutritional indexes in the meat of feedlot cattle fed a whole shelled corn diet.
PDF
