Emerson Moreira de Aguiar

Rendimento e composição químico-bromatológica de fenos triturados de gramíneas tropicais

The research was carried out to evaluate yield, chemical composition and losses of chopped tropical grass hays with the following forages: pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum), sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense), elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum) and two cultivars of forage sorghum (SF-25 and IPA-467-4-2) (Sorghum bicolor). The materials were harvested at 30% flowering, except for elephantgrass (60 days). The experiment was conducted according to a complete randomized block design, with five treatments and four replications. There were significant differences among hay productions with sorghum cultivars IPA-467-4-2 and SF-25 reaching the highest yields (10.85 and 10.65 t/ha/cut). Production of elephantgrass, sudangrass and pearl millet hays were respectively of 6.94, 6.69, and 4.93 t/ha/cut. Percentage of hay losses were not different among all treatments and varied from 17.33 to 20.17%. Pearl millet and sudangrass hays had the highest CP concentrations (10.56 and 8.80%), which were superior to elephantgrass (6.76%) and sorghum cultivars (5.62 and 5.50%). Most of the NDF values were superior to 70.0%. Sorghum cultivars exhibited the lowest NDIN concentration (0.42 and 0.40% of DM). The ADIN concentration ranged from 0.06 to 0.30% of DM. The highest lignin (%DM) concentration was observed for pearl millet (6.52%) and sorghum IPA-467-4-2 (6.17%) hays. Estimated TDN of the hays showed significant differences and sudangrass reached the highest value (53.35%). Production of chopped tropical grass hays showed high yields and chemical composition according to the minimum standards for ruminant nutrition.

Influence of the year and calving season on production, composition and mozzarella cheese yield of water buffalo in the State of Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil

This research was carried out to evaluate the influence of the year and calving season on the production, composition and mozzarella cheese yield index (PKM) of Murrah water buffalos. We analyzed a data set of 514 lactations collected from 2004 to 2008, recorded and archived in software of a farm located in Taipu, in the eastern region of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. To assess the effects of calving season, the year was divided into a rainy season (from March to August) and a dry season (from September to February). Results showed that the year influenced daily production and PKM (P<0.05). However, no effects were observed on logarithm somatic cell count (LSCC), fat, protein and total dry extract (TDE). The season had no influence on the variables analyzed and no interaction was observed between the year and the season. The season and its interactions had no effect on water buffalo performance in relation to dairy production and PKM index of mozzarella efficiency.

Efeito de níveis de melão em substituição ao milho moído sobre o desempenho, o consumo e a digestibilidade dos nutrientes em ovinos Morada Nova

ABSTRACT - Performance, intake, and nutrients digestibility of 32 Morada Nova confined lambs were evaluated, usingdiets with increasing levels (0, 30, 60, 100%) of melon ( Cucumis melo L.) in substitution of corn grain. Animals were about6 months old, with an average of 15 kg of initial body weight and slaughtered at 25 kg. They were allocated in a completelyrandomized design with four treatments and eight replicates. The dry matter intake (DMI) presented a quadratic behavior forboth sex, varying from 769 to 837 g for males, and from 722 to 646 g for females. Intakes of OM (organic matter), CP (crudeprotein), EE (ether extract), NDF (neutral detergent fiber), TDN (total digestible nutrients), TCH (total carbohydrate) andNFC (non fiber-carbohydrate) showed a quadratic curve, reflecting the same behavior of DMI. There was a decreasing linearresponse for the coefficient of apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM). The apparent digestibility coefficients of OM, CP,EE, NDF, and TCH presented an increasing linear response with the addition of melon in substitution of ground corn in thediet. Concerning the average daily gain (ADG) there was a better performance for males compared with females, as the levelsof melon increased. Feed efficiency and conversion were not influenced by the treatments. There was an increasing linear effectfor the days of confinement, which varied from 79 to 90. The levels of melon added to the Morada Nova lambs’ diets providedreasonable performances. The treatment with 60% participation of melon shows the best economical return. On the otherhand, when the level of melon is above 30%, the days in confinement increase, elevating the slaughter age.Key Words: agricultural byproducts, daily gain, feedlot, semi-arid, sheep husbandry

Use of coccidiostat in mineral salt and study on ovine eimeriosis

Coccidiosis is a serious obstacle to sheep production, which is becoming a limiting factor, especially with regard to lamb production. However, there are few studies on this parasite in the State of Rio Grande do Norte. The aim of this study was to evaluate the action of decoquinate, added to mineral salt, for controlling Eimeria infection in lambs, and to identify which species are infecting sheep in the eastern region of the state. This study was carried out from August 2009 to January 2010, and used 76 animals. These were divided into two treatment groups: one with common mineral salt, and the other with mineral salt enriched with 6% micronized decoquinate. Fecal samples and body weight measurements were taken every 14 days for parasitological diagnosis, weight gain follow-up and quantitative analysis. The study showed that there was a significant difference in OPG only at the 7th collection, but no significant difference in weight gain. The Eimeria species found were E. ahsata. E. crandallis. E. granulosa. E. intrincata. E. ovina. E. faurei. E. ovinoidalis. E. pallida and E. parva. It was concluded that addition of decoquinate to mineral salt gave rise to lower oocyst elimination, thus favoring eimeriosis control in sheep.

Consumo voluntário e digestibilidade de fenos triturados de gramíneas tropicais em caprinos

The objective of this trial was to investigate intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients on goats fed one of the following chopped grass hays: pearl millet (PMH), sudangrass (SH), elephantgrass (EH) or two cultivars of forage sorghum (FSH1 and FSH2). Twenty-five goats averaging 18 months of age and 19.5 kg of body weight were assigned to a completely randomized block design with five treatments and five replicates. DM intake (DMI), expressed as percentage of body weight (% BW), did not differ and averaged 2.41, 2.33, 2.25, 1.82, and 1.85%, respectively, for PMH, SH, EH, FSH1, and FSH2. The same was observed for the intakes of OM and NDF. However, CP intake as % BW was greater on goats fed PMH and SH than on those fed EH, FSH1, and FSH2. No significant differences were observed for the apparent total tract digestibility of DM that varied from 49.87 to 55.90% across hays. CP digestibility was lowest on FSH2, intermediate on SH and FSH1, and greatest on PMH and EH while that of NDF differed significantly only by comparing PMH (64.44%) with FSH2 (54.72%). It can be concluded that the overall nutritional quality of all five hays were similar and further research is required to verify potential differences in animal performance among these forage sources.

Finishing swine fed cashew bagasse bran

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the digestibility of cashew bagasse bran as well as the performance of swine fed diets with different levels of inclusion of this by-product and their economic viability. In the digestibility trial, ten crossbred barrows weighing 60±6.86 kg were housed in metabolic cages. Five received standard feed and five received test feed with 300 g kg−1 cashew bagasse bran included. For the performance and economic viability study, forty crossbred pigs weighing 60±5.24 kg were allotted in a randomized block design with five treatments (0, 75, 150, 225, and 300 g kg−1 inclusion of cashew bagasse bran) and four replications. Daily feed intake, daily gain, feed conversion, partial gross income with and without allowance index, and partial net income with and without allowance index were evaluated. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and regression analysis. The treatment with 75 g kg−1 cashew bagasse bran provided the best results. Cashew bagasse bran can be included in the diet of finishing pigs up to the level of 300 g kg−1 without adversely affecting animal performance.

Factors Influencing Total Bacterial Count in Tanks: An Application of Linear Mixed-Effect Models

The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of procedures for hygienic milking and cleaning of dairy equipment and milk cooling tanks on the levels of total bacterial count (TBC). Mixed-effect models were used in order to model the structure of dependence between and within dairy farms. To this end, four bulk samples of milk were collected from each tank in eight properties for TBC analysis, employing the flow cytometry method. A questionnaire was applied in each property to assess the current situation of milking procedures on each production system that took part on this research, followed by training of employees in good agricultural practices in the production of milk and monitoring of the TBC measurements. Analysis of longitudinal data was the method employed, which focused on random effects models. The results showed that the handling procedures for milking and the cleanliness of the cooling tanks contributed to a further reduction in the levels of total bacterial count in raw milk cooling tanks.