Â. M. V. Batista

Efeitos da adição de vagens de algaroba sobre a composição química e a microbiota fúngica de silagens de capim-elefante

Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da adicao de vagens de algaroba ao capim-elefante sobre a composicao quimica e a microbiota fungica das silagens. Os tratamentos constaram de silagens formadas pela associacao de capim-elefante e vagens de algaroba nas seguintes proporcoes: 100:0; 67:33; 34:66 e 0:100. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos e quatro repeticoes. As silagens foram confeccionadas em mini-silos de PVC, mantidos lacrados por 120 dias. Apos abertura dos silos, foram coletadas amostras das silagens para isolamento e identificacao dos fungos e avaliacao da composicao quimica das silagens. A adicao de vagens ao capim-elefante reduziu linearmente os teores de FDN, FDA e cinzas (MM) e aumentou o de MS. Um total de 490 unidades formadoras de colonias (UFC) foi isolado por g de material e apresentou a seguinte distribuicao: 68; 101; 261 e 58 UFC/g de silagens, respectivamente, nos tratamentos 100:0; 67:33; 34:66 e 0:100. A adicao de vagens aos silos alterou a microbiota fungica das silagens. No tratamento contendo somente silagem de algaroba, houve maior diversidade de especies fungicas, apesar da menor contagem de UFC/g de amostra, enquanto, no tratamento com 66% de algaroba, observaram-se maior crescimento de fungos e menor diversidade de especies fungicas.

Effects of Bermudagrass hay and soybean hulls inclusion on performance of sheep fed cactus-based diets

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of replacing corn with soybean hulls (SH) or Bermudagrass tifton hay (TH) on performance of sheep fed cactus-based diets. Three ruminally fistulated sheep were used in a 3 × 3 Latin square experiment with 21-day periods. All diets contained 75% spineless cactus (dry matter basis, DM) and formulated to be isonitrogenous. Fiber source had no influence on nutrient intakes except for the intake of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) which was lower (p < 0.05) for animals fed corn relative to those fed SH or TH. Time expended in rumination and total chewing time were higher (p < 0.05) for animals fed TH than those fed SH or corn. In vivo nutrient digestibilities were similar for all dietary treatments and averaged 69.6%, 74.8%, 69.9%, and 61.8% for DM, organic matter, crude protein, and NDF, respectively. Feeding SH relative to TH and corn decreased ruminal pH (p < 0.05) and increased concentration of total volatile fatty acids (p < 0.05). However, ruminal NH3–N concentration was higher (p < 0.05) for animal fed TH than for those fed SH or corn. Abdominal distension and ruminal biofilm production were greater (p < 0.05) in animals fed corn or SH than in those fed TH. It was concluded that replacing corn with SH or TH up to 15% of the diet DM in a cactus-based diet had no effect on nutrient intakes or total tract nutrient utilization. Changes in ruminal fermentation parameters reflected differences in ruminal degradability between the two fiber sources. Bermudagrass tifton hay was more effective than SH in reducing the risk of bloat associated with feeding high levels of spineless cactus to ruminants.

Composição corporal e exigências de proteína para ganho de peso de caprinos Moxotó em crescimento

Twenty-six Moxoto non-castrated male kids (initial mean 15 kg LW and 7-8 month old) fed a diet with 2.6 Mcal ME were used to evaluate the body composition and protein requirements for weight gain. At the beginning of the experiment, six animals were slaughtered as reference to estimate initial body composition and initial empty body weight (EBW). Subsequently, homogeneous groups of four animals were distributed a complete randomized experimental design into two feeding regimes: ad libitum feeding (AL) and feed restriction of 85, 70 and 55% of that consumed by the AL feeding group. The animals from each feeding regime were slaughtered at the time the group of the AL feeding approached 25 kg LW. Logarithm equation of retained body protein contents (BCP) was fitted on log10 of empty body weight (EBW). By deriving this equation, the predicting equation of BCP per kg of EBW gain was obtained. The protein content of the animals remained practically constant and ranged from 205.60 to 201.69 g/kg of EBW (reduction of 1.9%) and 15 to 25 kg with the increase of live weight. Despite of small body changes of net protein requirements (19.86 to 19.49), the fat: protein ratio increased with the increase in LV from 15 to 25 kg.

Exigências de energia para mantença e eficiência de utilização da energia metabolizável para mantença e ganho de peso de caprinos Moxotó

Twenty-six Moxoto non-castrated male kids (averaging 15 kg of initial live weight (LW) and 6-8 months old) fed a diet with 2.6 Mcal of metabolizable energy were used to predict the net energy requirements for maintenance and net efficiency of metabolizable energy utilization (EMEU) for maintenance (km) and weight gain (kf). At the beginning of the experiment, six animals were slaughtered as reference to estimate initial body composition and initial empty body weight (EBW). Afterwards, five groups of four animals (one for each intake levels) were assigned to a complete randomized design, in the following treatments: 100% or ad libitum (AL), 85, 70 and 55 of ad libitum. Each group was slaughtered when BW of AL animals reached 25 kg LW. The net energy requirements for maintenance were estimated by the logarithm or exponential relations of heat production (HP) and metabolizable energy intake. Estimates of km and kf were calculated as the relation between dietary net energy for gain and maintenance, respectively, and the dietary ME concentration. After, ME and TDN requirements were estimated. The net energy requirement for maintenance of 55.11 kcal per kg EBW0.75 was next to the predicted by the North American report for this specie. This value is considered low if compared to that reported in the Brazilian literature. Km estimate was of 0.57. Kf estimates were of 0.22, 0.19, 0.28 and 0.36, respectively, for the concentrations of 2.99, 2.95, 2.56 e 2.5 Mcal/kg of DM.

Replacing corn with soybean hull: intake, carcass yield and characteristics, and yield of "buchada" of goats.

Replacing corn with soybean hull: intake, carcass yield and characteristics, and yield of “buchada” of goats. Thirty-two Anglo-Nubian crossbred castrated male goats were utilized in a completely randomized design to evaluate the effect of replacing corn with soybean hull in diets based on cactus forage (Nopalea cochenilifera Salm Dyck) at levels of 0, 33, 66 and 100%, measured for intake and carcass yield. The rise in soybean hull levels increased neutral detergent fiber intake linearly (p < 0.05) and reduced the intake of non-fiber carbohydrates. However, live slaughter weight, empty body weight, freezing losses, hot carcass weight and yield, cold carcass and “buchada” (gut) were not influenced. Fasting losses presented quadratic behavior (p < 0.05) while true and freezing yields increased linearly (p < 0.05). The carcass compactness index, the cuts and their respective yields were not influenced by the replacement of corn with soybean hull level, except for the shoulder cut, which presented quadratic behavior (p < 0.05). Total replacement of corn reduced feeding costs by 15.4%. Soybean hull can represent an alternative in the feeding of goats in confinement fed a cactus forage-based diet.