Clayton Quirino Mendes

Polpa cítrica em rações para cordeiros em confinamento: características da carcaça e qualidade da carne

The objective of this trial was to determine the effects of feeding diets containing citrus pulp on carcass characteristics and meat quality of feedlot lambs. Thirty-two Santa Ines lambs were distributed in a complete randomized block design according to body weight and age at the beginning of the performance trial. Lambs were fed diets containing 90% concentrate (corn and/or citrus pulp, soybean meal and minerals) and 10% coastcross hay (Cynodon spp). Citrus pulp was added at levels 23.7, 46.1 and 68.4% in the DM, replacing corn by 33, 67 or 100%. When lambs reached 33 kg of BW, they were slaughtered to determine dressing percentage, cold carcass yield, chilling loss, backfat thickness, loin eye area, cut yields and proportion of muscle, fat and bone. In addition, water holding capacity, color, cooking loss and pH were determined. Carcass characteristics were not altered by feeding citrus pulp to the lambs. However, the total replacement of corn by citrus pulp decreased carcass fat content by 12.4%.

Performance of Santa Ines lambs fed diets of variable crude protein levels

Differences among dietary protein levels suggested in the literature point out to the need for better evaluation of protein requirements of growing lambs, raised in drylot on a high-concentrate diet. This study evaluates the influence of crude protein (CP) levels in high concentrate diets on performance and carcass traits of ram lambs, confined for 56 days. Forty eight (48) Santa Ines lambs (initial body weight 18.4 ± 0.4 kg; 86 ± 2 days old) were fed 4 experimental diets containing 14, 16, 18 or 20% CP, in a completely randomized block design. Diets consisted of 80% concentrate and 20% sugarcane bagasse. There were no differences in average daily gain: values of 228, 220, 230 and 231 g d-1 were obtained for diets containing 14, 16, 18 and 20% CP, respectively. There were no differences in dry matter intake and feed conversion: values were 1.03; 1.02; 1.08 and 1.10 kg d-1; 4.19; 4.28; 4.35 and 4.44 kg DM kg-1 gain for diets with 14, 16, 18 and 20% CP, respectively. Plasma urea nitrogen concentrations increased linearly as diets contained more CP. There were no differences in carcass traits.

Cana-de-açúcar ensilada com ou sem aditivos químicos: fermentação e composição química

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of chemical additives on the fermentative dynamics and chemical composition of sugarcane silages. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete design with five replications. Sugarcane was ensiled without additives or with calcium oxide and limestone (1% as-fed basis) constituing three treatments. The fermentative dynamic was analyzed based on gas losses, organic acids and ethanol production and, silages chemical composition. The calcium oxide and limestone treatments showed the lowest values of gas losses. Silages treated with these two additives also showed higher concentrations of water soluble carbohydrates, acetic and butyric acids, and low alcoholic fermentation. The treatments containing chemical additives presented the highest ash and the lowest fiber concentration. Crude protein for all treatments was in agreement with the values of fresh sugarcane. Calcium oxide or limestone addition at ensiling resulted in a better fermentative pattern, promoting reduction in gas losses, alcoholic fermentation inhibition, and high amounts of residual soluble carbohydrates.

Substituição do milho por polpa cítrica em rações com alta proporção de concentrado para cordeiros confinados

A polpa citrica desidratada (PC) e um subproduto altamente energetico e com potencial para substituir o milho em racoes de cordeiros desmamados precocemente. Dois experimentos foram realizados para avaliarem-se os efeitos da substituicao do milho por PC no desempenho de cordeiros e na digestibilidade das racoes. No Experimento 1, 64 cordeiros Santa Ines, com peso vivo inicial de 18 (±0,6) kg e 73 (±1) dias de idade, foram utilizados para avaliar o ganho de peso medio diario (GMD), o consumo de materia seca (CMS) e a conversao alimentar (CA). No experimento 2, 12 cordeiros foram mantidos em gaiolas para ensaio de metabolismo para determinar a digestibilidade aparente das racoes no trato digestorio total e o metabolismo de nitrogenio. Nos dois experimentos, os cordeiros foram alimentados com uma racao contendo 90% de concentrado (milho moido e/ou PC, farelo de soja e minerais) e 10% de feno de coastcross (Cynodon spp). A PC foi adicionada em 23,7; 46,1 e 68,4% da MS, substituindo o milho em 33, 67 e 100%, respectivamente. No Experimento 1, foi observado a maximizacao do GMD (267g dia-1) e do CMS (1,01kg dia-1), ate o teor de substituicao de 33% do milho pela PC. No Experimento 2, houve efeito linear (P 0,05) entre os tratamentos na digestiblidade aparente da materia orgânica e no balanco de nitrogenio.

Efeito do Lactobacillus buchneri na fermentação, estabilidade aeróbia e no valor nutritivo de silagem de cana-de-açúcar

Dois experimentos foram realizados para avaliar o valor nutritivo, a estabilidade aerobia de silagens de cana-de-acucar e a digestibilidade aparente de racoes contendo essas silagens. No experimento 1, a cana-de-acucar foi ensilada sem aditivo ou inoculada com cepas NCIMB 40788 do Lactobacillus buchneri (5 x 104 ufc/g de materia verde). Amostras das silagens foram analisadas e comparadas a cana-de-acucar in natura para avaliacao da estabilidade aerobia, considerando os dados de temperatura, pH e perdas de MS das silagens. No experimento 2, utilizaram-se 12 cordeiros distribuidos em blocos completos casualizados e mantidos em gaiolas para ensaio de metabolismo recebendo racoes contendo cana-de-acucar in natura, silagem de cana-de-acucar sem aditivo ou silagem de cana-de-acucar tratada com Lactobacillus buchneri. Os teores de materia seca, carboidratos soluveis e acido acetico foram maiores na silagem com aditivo. O teor de etanol nao diferiu entre as silagens. A silagem tratada com aditivo apresentou menor perda de materia seca e manutencao do pH durante o periodo de avaliacao em aerobiose. A digestibilidade aparente de fibra em detergente neutro, fibra em detergente acido e hemicelulose foram maiores nas racoes contendo silagem de cana-de-acucar.

Digestibilidade da dieta, parâmetros ruminais e desempenho de ovinos Santa Inês alimentados com polpa cítrica peletizada e resíduo úmido de cervejaria

Two experiments were carried out with the objective to determine the effect of replacing corn by dried citrus pulp and wet brewer grain on apparent digestibility of nutrients of the diet, ruminal parameters and performance of sheep. The diets were defined by the replacement of corn (control) by dried citrus pulp or by a mixture of wet brewer grain and citrus pulp. In experiment 1, for evaluation of intake, apparent digestibility of nutrients and ruminal parameters, 12 Santa Ines ram lambs fitted with canulas in the rumen were assigned to a randomized complete block design with three diets and four replicates. In experiment two, for performance evaluation, 48 ewe lambs were confined and fed the same diets of experiment 1. Replacement of corn by dried citrus pulp did not affect intake or digestibility of nutrients in the diet. However, the inclusion of wet brewer grain reduced intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients, with exception of NDF. Apparent digestibility of NDF was similar among diets. Inclusion of wet brewer grain in the diet decreased ruminal concentration of acetate and propionate and increased acetate/propionate ratio and ruminal pH. In general, there is no difference between the diet containing corn and that containing citrus pulp in total replacement to corn. The use of wet brewer grain, however, reduces average daily gain, final body weight and feed efficiency.

Apparent digestibility of diets with combinations of soybean hulls and coastcross (Cynodon sp.) hay offered to ram lambs

Soybean hulls (SH) are an alternative fiber source that may be used to maintain neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration while increasing the energy concentration of ruminant diets. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of replacing coastcross (Cynodon sp.) hay NDF by SH NDF on the apparent digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen balance of Santa Ines ram lambs. Twenty-four animals (42.5 ± 3.6 kg of body weight and six months old) were placed in metabolism crates and assigned in a randomized complete block design defined by body weight (BW). Experimental diets provided a similar concentration of NDF (52%) and crude protein (15%). Hay NDF from a 70% roughage-based diet was replaced with SH NDF by 33%, 67%, and 100%, resulting in 0, 25, 52, and 77% of SH in the dietary dry matter (DM), respectively. There was a linear increase (p 0.05) on water intake when SH replaced hay. The SH can replace forage and may be included up to 77% in the dietary DM of ram lambs with satisfactory values of nutrient digestibilities.

Desempenho, parâmetros da carcaça e comportamento ingestivo de cordeiros alimentados com cana-de-açúcar ensilada ou in natura

Thirty Santa Ines ram lambs, 26.2±0.6kg and 151±1.7 day-old, were penned to evaluate the effects of feeding sugar cane silages on performance, carcass characteristics and ingestive behavior. Lambs were fed a 50:50 (concentrate:roughage ratio) TMR. Experimental treatments were: fresh sugar cane, sugar cane silage without additive and sugar cane silage treated with Lactobacillus buchneri (5x104 cfu/g wet basis). No differences (P>0.05) on dry matter intake, average daily gain, feed conversion and carcass characteristics were observed among treatments. Eating time (min/g NDF) and rumination efficiency (g DM/h) were lower (P<0.05) for silage diets. Sugar cane silage had no detrimental effect on lamb performance and carcass characteristics compared to fresh sugar cane. Adding L. buchneri to sugar cane silage did not change the evaluated characteristics.

Efeito do genótipo sobre a composição química e o perfil de ácidos graxos da carne de borregas

The objective in this study was to investigate the effects of genotype (breed) on the chemical composition and the fatty acid profile in the longissimus dorsi muscle of feedlot ewe lambs. Thirty-six ewe lambs were assigned to a randomized complete block design with the following genotypes: Santa Ines (SI), Ile de France (IF), Ile de France × Santa Ines (IF × SI), Dorper × Santa Ines (DO × SI), Texel × Santa Ines (TE × SI) and Suffolk × Santa Ines (SU × SI). Blocks were defined by initial weight and age. Genotype did not affect moisture, ash or protein content of the longissimus dorsi. Meat from SI and SU × SI ewe lambs showed less fat compared with IF and IF × SI. Oleic (C18:1cis), palmitic (C16:0), and stearic (C18:0) were the fatty acids found in largest amounts in the intramuscular fat in this study. The genetic group IF × SI showed smaller ratio between polyunsatured fatty acid (PUFA) and saturated fatty acid (SFA) when compared with SI and SU × SI ewe lambs. Santa Ines and Suffolk × Santa Ines crossbred animals showed potential to produce meat with higher nutritional value due to lower fat content and better ratio between polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids.

Substituição parcial do farelo de soja por ureia ou amireia na alimentação de cabras em lactação

Thirty-three dairy goats were used to evaluate the effects of partial replacement of soybean meal by urea or starea (urea + extruded corn) on milk production and composition and plasma glucose, urea nitrogen and nonesterified fatty acids concentrations. The animals were distributed in a randomized complete block design, with three experimental diets and eleven replicates. All the experimental diets were isonitrogenous, composed by 40% corn silage and 60% concentrate, with different nitrogenous sources (soybean meal, soybean meal + 2.8% starea or soybean meal + 1.5% urea). The nitrogenous sources used in the diets did not influence dry matter intake, milk production, milk production corrected for 3.5% fat-corrected milk, neither milk fat and protein contents. Plasma glucose and non-esterified fatty acids concentrations were not modified by nitrogen sources. However, plasma urea nitrogen concentration in the harvest after the fourth experimental week was lower for animals fed soybean meal diet. Plasma concentration of glucose, urea nitrogen and non-esterified fatty acids were similar among non-protein nitrogen sources, regardless to the way it was used. Urea used in the extruded form (starea) has no advantage compared to the urea used in the conventional form.Thirty-three dairy goats were used to evaluate the effects of partial replacement of soybean meal by urea or starea (urea + extruded corn) on milk production and composition and plasma glucose, urea nitrogen and nonesterified fatty acids concentrations. The animals were distributed in a randomized complete block design, with three experimental diets and eleven replicates. All the experimental diets were isonitrogenous, composed by 40% corn silage and 60% concentrate, with different nitrogenous sources (soybean meal, soybean meal + 2.8% starea or soybean meal + 1.5% urea). The nitrogenous sources used in the diets did not influence dry matter intake, milk production, milk production corrected for 3.5% fat-corrected milk, neither milk fat and protein contents. Plasma glucose and non-esterified fatty acids concentrations were not modified by nitrogen sources. However, plasma urea nitrogen concentration in the harvest after the fourth experimental week was lower for animals fed soybean meal diet. Plasma concentration of glucose, urea nitrogen and non-esterified fatty acids were similar among non-protein nitrogen sources, regardless to the way it was used. Urea used in the extruded form (starea) has no advantage compared to the urea used in the conventional form.