Francisco Fernando Ramos de Carvalho

Níveis de energia em dietas para ovinos Santa Inês: características de carcaça e constituintes corporais

Carcass characteristics, cut dressing and body constituents were determined according to the different dietary energy levels. Eighteen Santa Ines sheep (averaging live weight of 20 kg and six months old) were full fed diets with 2.43, 2.66 and 2.88 Mcal of metabolizable energy (ME)/kg of dry matter (DM). The animals were slaughtered when reached 33 kg live weight (LW). A randomized block design, with six replicates, was used. Linear decreasing effect was observed for loss in fast (LF) and linear increase for hot (HCW) and cold (CCW) carcass weight, hot (HCD) and cold (CCD) carcass dressing and empty body weight (EBW). However, the loss in cooling (LC) and true dressing (TD) were not affected by the dietary energy levels. For the cuts and its respective dressing in relation to the CCW, no effect was observed for the analyzed variables, except for shoulder weight and superior rib weight, that showed increasing linear effect, as the dietary energy levels increased. The compactness index of the carcass and leg showed no effect, as the dietary energy levels increased. Fat thichness and loin eye area showed no significant effects. No significant effect was observed for the noncarcass constituents, except for the internal fat (IF) and for the content of gastrointestinal tract - CGT and rumen/reticulum - R/R, that showed linear increasing effect and linear decreasing effect, respectively.

Meat quality of Moxotó and Canindé goats as affected by two levels of feeding

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of reduced feed intake on Moxotó and Canindé goat, which are native breeds of semi arid area of Brazil, by analyzing the resultant meat quality. Intact male goats of both genotypes (10 animals each), weighing about 15kg, were allocated to two feeding levels (AL: feed ad libitum and FR: feed restricted to 63% of the total feed consumed by AL). Water-holding capacity and a(∗) color parameter were significantly influenced (p<0.05) by genotype. Proximate composition, cholesterol, shear force, pH, cooking loss, and sensory scores did not differ significantly (p>0.05) between genotypes. The redness of the meat of the Canindé breed was much improved in FR goats. Although, feed restriction by 37% did affect the final live weight and mean daily gain weight, it had no effect on chemical, physical, and sensory quality of Moxotó and Canindé meat.

Características de carcaça e dos componentes não-carcaça de cabritos Moxotó e Canindé submetidos a dois níveis de alimentação

Twenty-two non-castrated male kids (10 Moxoto and 12 Caninde) averaging 15 kg of initial body weight and housed in individual pens were used in this trial. Animals were assigned to a completely randomized design in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments [two breeds and two feeding levels: ad libitum (AL) or 30% of feed restriction (FR). Animals fed AL had greater yields of hot carcass, cold carcass, and carcass edible parts compared to those fed FR. It was not observed a significant feeding level effect on true carcass yield. After slaughter and cooling of the carcasses the following cuts were done: neck, shoulder clod, ribs (1st-5th and 6th-13th), loin, leg and breast. Although animals fed AL had greater body weights than FR kids, no significant differences were found between treatments for the different carcass cuts when expressed as percentage of cold carcass weight. Hind leg yield was affected by feeding level being lower in animals fed AL. Yields of liver, head, and gut, as percentage of empty body weight, were also affected by feeding level. Feed restriction had a negative effect on development and tissue deposition leading to lower cold carcass yield and weight. It can be concluded that when size and mature weight were similar, breed was not responsible for the differences on carcass characteristics, non-carcass components, and commercial cuts.

Características quantitativas de carcaça de ovinos Santa Inês confinados alimentados com rações contendo diferentes níveis de caroço de algodão integral

This work was carried out with the objective to evaluate the effects of different levels (0.0 20.0, 30.0 and 40.0%) of whole cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum L.) of the diet (% DM) on carcass characteristics, cut yields and carcass muscularity of feedlot Santa Inez sheep. Twenty-four sheep with average initial and final body weight of 19.0 and 32,2kg, respectively, and allotted to a completely randomized design, with four diets and six replications. No effect was observed for the inclusion of whole cottonseed (WCS) levels to the diets on quantitative characteristics. The average true carcass dressing yield was 56.46%. For the cuts weights based on half carcass, there was a decreasing linear effect for shoulder, while for the cut yields there was not effect of the inclusion of WCS levels in the diet. The estimated of carcass muscularity index presented decreasing linear effect for the muscle:bone ratio and loin eye area. Among the tissues that compose the leg, the muscle percentage a decreasing linear effect was observed. The levels of whole cottonseed provided smaller carcass muscularity, without however affect characteristics and yields of carcass cuts the Santa Inez lambs and could be included in termination diets.

Níveis de energia em dietas para ovinos Santa Inês: desempenho

The intakes of dry matter (IDM), metabolizable energy (IME), ether extract (IEE), crude protein (ICP), neutral detergent fiber (INDF), acid detergent fiber (IADF) and organic matter (IOM) and the daily weight gain (WG), in kg/day, and feed conversion (FC) were determined to evaluate the effect of three dietary energy levels, for sheep. Eighteen Santa Ines sheep (averaging live weight of 20 kg six months old) were full fed diets with 2.42, 2.66 and 2.83 Mcal of metabolizable energy (ME)/kg of dry matter (DM). A randomized block design, with six replicates, was used. IDM, in kg/day, %LW, g/kg0.75, showed no effect, as the dietary energy levels increased, with average of 0.88 kg, 3.33% and 75.52 g, respectively. INDF and IADF showed linear decreasing effect, as the dietary energy levels increased. IEE and IME increased linearly, as the dietary energy levels increased. There was no significant effect for ICP, as the dietary energy levels increased. Dietary energy levels did not influence weight gain and feed conversion, that were of 0.123, 0.137, and 0.191 kg and 9.6, 8.4, and 7.0, respectively.

Water and small ruminant production

Water is a nutrient of extreme importance for animals and must be considered vital in any rearing phase. The increasing scarcity of this precious natural resource has concerned different segments of society in order to find solutions for rational and sustainable use of this nutrient. Small ruminants, especially sheep and goats, have social and economic importance due to their great ability in adapting to adverse environmental conditions and using water efficiently. Thus, they might be a good alternative to mitigate the climate change effects and to generate foreign exchange and improving life condition in many places of the world. The concept of water productivity for livestock production is relatively new and there are few studies in the world, especially in Brazil. More researches and new technologies for water use in livestock production are indispensable.

Effect of concentrate levels on carcass characteristics of the Morada Nova breed sheep in feedlot

The in vivo carcass characteristics and the cut yields measured in the carcass of Morada Nova sheep finished in feedlot system fed increasing levels of dietary concentrate were evaluated. Thirty-two castrated Morada Nova lambs with 8.11 ± 1.15 months of age and 19.67 ± 2.97 kg of initial body weight were used in this trial. The experimet was analyzed as a completely randomized block design with eight replicates per treatment. Animals were slaughtered at 30.0 kg BW and fed diets with four concentrate levels: 20, 40, 60 or 80%. Linear increasing effect of dietary concentrate on empty body weight and cold carcass weight and yield and linear decreasing effect on digestive tract content and feedlot period were observed. The neck weight and yield linearly increased and the percentage of shoulder and leg linearly decreased with the concentrate levels, while the rib weight showed quadratic effect. In the in vivo measurements, only leg perimeter presented significant effect. There was a linear increasing effect for thoracic width and carcass compactness, while the hind width showed quadratic effect. The use of concentrate in the diet increased the weight and yields of cold carcass; however this maximization did not increase the weights and yields of commercial cuts from Morada Nova lambs.

Influência dos níveis de concentrado sobre os cortes comerciais, os constituintes não-carcaça e os componentes da perna de cordeiros confinados

Thirty-two intact lambs averaging 17.1 kg of initial body weight were assigned to one of the following four treatments: 30, 45, 60 or 75% of dietary concentrate in a completely randomized design (eight lambs/treatment). Lambs were feedlot fed during the experimental period (43 days). After slaughter, carcasses were refrigerated for 24 h. It was measured the weights and percentages of five cuts from the half carcass as well as the proportion of muscle, bone and fat tissue from the leg. The weights of neck, shoulder, ribs, loin and leg all increased linearly by increasing the level of concentrate in the diet while the opposite was observed for the yields of neck, leg, and shoulder; yield of ribs followed the increment of concentrate in the diet and increased linearly. Fat thickness and loin eye area were both affected by the level of concentrate in the diet. The same was observed for the non-carcass components with the exception of digestive tract. Feeding increasing dietary levels of concentrate to lambs affected the weight and yield of retail cuts and internal organs and increased the proportion and deposition of fat in the carcass.

Níveis de energia em dietas para ovinos Santa Inês: digestibilidade aparente

The coefficients of apparent digestibility of dry matter (CADDM), organic matter (CADOM), crude protein (CADCP), ether extract (CADEE), total carbohydrates (CADTCHO), nonfiber carbohydrates (CADNFC), neutral detergent fiber (CADNDF) and acid detergent fiber (CADADF) were determined to evaluate the effect of the increasing dietary energy levels. The estimate of the apparent digestibility of the nutrients, using the method of fecal total collection, and the estimate of fecal dry matter production (FDMP), by the indigestible acid detergent fiber (IADF), as internal marker, were also compared. Eighteen Santa Ines sheep (averaging live weight of 20 kg and six months old) were full fed diets with 2.42; 2.66 and 2.83 Mcal metabolizable energy/kg of dry matter and allotted to a randomized block design, with six replicates. FDMP estimate, using IADF, was performed to be compared with the FDMP, determined by the total feces collection. It was observed increasing linear effect for CADDM, CADOM, CADEE, CADTCHO and CADNFC, as the the dietary energy levels increased. However, CADNDF and CADADF decreased linearly and, for CADCP, there was no effect, as the the dietary energy levels increased. IADF can be used as internal marker to estimate the coefficient of apparent digestibility in sheep.

Desempenho e digestibilidade aparente em ovinos confinados alimentados com dietas contendo níveis crescentes de caroço de algodão integral

This work was carried out with the objective to evaluate the effects of different levels (0.0 20.0, 30.0 and 40.0%) of whole cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum L.) of the diet (% DM) on performance and nutrient digestibilities of feedlot Santa Inez sheep. Twenty-four sheep with average initial and final body weight of 19.0 and 32.2 kg, respectively, and allotted to a completely randomized design, with four diets and six replications. The dry matter intake in kg/day, %BW and g/kg0.75 was not influenced by the inclusion of the whole cottonseed (WCS), with averages of 1.195, 4.61, and 104.07, respectively. The total and daily weight gains decreased, while the feed conversion ration showed increasing linear effect with the inclusion of WCS, except for the level of 20% WCS that showed similar performance to the control diet. The intakes of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), total carbohydrates (TC) and total digestible nutrients (TDN), in g/day were not affected, while the neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ether extract (EE) presented increasing linear effect with the inclusion of WCS. The inclusion of whole cottonseed in the feeding provided quadratic effect for digestible coefficients of CP, ADF and increasing linear effect for NDF and EE, however did not affect DM, OM, TC and TDN intake of the diets. The whole cottonseed in the used levels does not alter the intake and the digestibility of the DM, NDF and TND, but reduced the weight gain and feed conversion ratio of feedlot of the Santa Inez lambs, and could be included in termination diets.