Gumercindo Loriano Franco

Digestibilidade, degradabilidade e concentração amoniacal no rúmen de bovinos alimentados com polpa cítrica peletizada normal ou queimada

Objetivou-se avaliar a digestibilidade e a degradabilidade de dois tipos de polpa citrica peletizada: normal (PCPN) e queimada (PCPQ), bem como o potencial de producao de nitrogenio amoniacal com dois niveis de inclusao na racao (40 e 60%). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi de blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 2 x 2 (dois tipos de polpa e dois niveis de inclusao) e testemunha. A inclusao de polpa citrica peletizada (PCP) nas dietas, normal ou queimada, aumentou os coeficientes de digestibilidade dos nutrientes, quando comparados com a racao testemunha, exceto para a proteina bruta (PB). Com relacao aos coeficientes de digestibilidade para os dois tipos de PCP, verificou-se maior digestibilidade dos nutrientes da PCPN em relacao a PCPQ, principalmente em relacao a PB, FDN e FDA, pressupondo que a utilizacao da PCPQ pode comprometer a qualidade da racao, ocasionando perdas na produtividade dos animais. A PCPN apresentou maiores taxas de degradacao da MS e FDN, quando comparada a PCPQ. Verificou-se que o potencial de degradacao foi alcancado com 48 horas de incubacao para MS e FDN, para todos os tratamentos. Para producao de N-NH3 nao foi observada diferenca significativa entre os tratamentos. Contudo, a PCPQ pode ser utilizada na alimentacao de bovinos, sendo sua utilizacao pautada na relacao custo beneficio.

Consumo e digestibilidade do feno de capim-braquiária em bovinos de corte sob suplementação com mistura contendo sulfato de amônio, caseína e uréia

The intake and digestibilility of the nutrients of diets containing palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. MG4) hay of low quality and different protein levels were evaluated. The evaluated treatments were control (only hay) and hay with crescent addition, by rumen infusion, of the mixture containing ammonium sulphate, casein end urea (0.5:1.0:4.5) in way to elevate in +2, +4, +6 and +8% the CP level in the diets. A Latin square experimental design with five levels supplementation, five animals and five periods was used. The addition of crescent levels of no protein nitrogen (NPN) to the diet showed a quadratic effect on the dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and ether extract (EE) intake, and the biggest intake was observed with level of 10.5% CP. No effect of CP levels were observed for on the DM, OM, NDF and EE digestibilities coefficients. There was crescent linear effect on CP apparent digestibility coefficient, that showed values of 57.4, 66.9, 73.6, 77.3 and 81.7% for the CP levels of 6.3, 8.5, 10.5, 12.6 and 14.8%, respectively. The critical point and estimated maximum response were: 10.5% CP and 7.7 kg DM/day and 7.2 kg OM/day. The supplementation with nitrogenous compounds in amounts that permit to elevate the dietary protein level up to 10.5% of CP increases the use of low-quality forage.

Efeito da suplementação com cultura de levedura na fermentação ruminal de bovinos de corte

This study evaluated the effects of the inclusion of a yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae 1026) on the parameters of ruminal fermentation of beef cattle. Ten rumen fistulated 1/2 Red Angus 1/2 Nellore steers confined in individual pens were fed a diet containing 50% sorghum silage and 50% concentrate (%DM) containing peleted soybean hulls, sorghum grain, urea and mineralproteic premix. A completely randomized design was used to compare diets with or without Saccharomyces cerevisiae (1 g/100 kg of live weight) on two of the four daily meal. Ruminal pH, ruminal concentrations of ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH3), acetate, propionate, butyrate, total volatile fatty acid (VFA) and acetate:propionate ratio values were not influenced by the supplementation of yeast culture. There were interaction between sampling time and treatments for pH, and molar concentrations of acetate and propionate. Ruminal pH, ruminal concentrations of acetate, propionate, total VFA and acetate:propionate ratio showed a quadratic response related to collection time. In diets with 50:50 forage to concentrate ratio, the supplementation of yeast culture did not influence the ruminal fermentative parameters.

Intoxicação espontânea por Senna obtusifolia em bovinos no Pantanal Sul-Mato-Grossense

Senna sp. poisoning in livestock has been reported in several occasions in Brazil usually from southern Brazil and involving S. occidentalis as the culprit. The objective of this study is to report the occurrence of an outbreak of S. obtusifolia poisoning in cattle in the Pantanal Region of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. In a herd of 313 heifers, 165 were affected and died (morbidity rate of 52.7% and lethality rate of 100%). The 313 heifers remained in the paddock infested by S. obtusifolia for 37 days. Clinical signs consisted of reluctance to move, incoordination, permanent sternal recumbency, decrease in the tonus of the tongue, alertness, myoglobinuria characterized by dark brown urine, and dry stools with or without mucus; or occasionally diarrhea with streaks of blood. The main gross findings in 12 necropsied cattle were in the skeletal muscles of the hind limbs, and were characterized by varying degrees of paleness of muscle groups. Histologically, the most relevant lesion was segmental multifocal degeneration and necrosis in striated skeletal muscles (multifocal lypolyphasic toxic degenerative myopathy). The epidemiological, clinical and pathological data allowed to conclude for the diagnosis of poisoning by S. obtusifolia in this outbreak.

Effects of dietary brown propolis on nutrient intake and digestibility in feedlot lambs

The present study tested brown propolis in crude or extract form as a feed supplement for feedlot lambs to identify the type that most improves in vivo nutrient digestibility. Digestibility was assessed by both total fecal collection and internal markers and the results obtained by these techniques were compared. The completely randomized design was used to compare feed intake and nutrient digestibility of 24 male lambs aged seven months among four dietary treatments (crude brown propolis, propolis ethanol extract, monensin sodium, and control). Methods of feces collection were compared using a completely randomized split-plot design, with experimental diets corresponding to the main factor and the methods to estimate fecal production as the sub-factor. The diets had a roughage:concentrate ratio of 50:50, with Tifton-85 bermudagrass hay (Cynodon spp.) as roughage, and ground corn, soybean meal and minerals as concentrate. The lambs fed diets with crude propolis had higher feed intake than those fed diets containing monensin sodium. The different diets did not affect dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, or acid detergent fiber digestibility, but crude propolis supplementation provided higher ether extract digestibility than monensin sodium. Nutrient digestibility, as indicated by indigestible neutral detergent fiber, indigestible acid detergent fiber and sequentially-determined indigestible acid detergent fiber, was lower than that found with the fecal collection method. The addition of brown propolis has the same effect as monensin, but neither maximized nutrient availability in the diet of feedlot lambs at 7 months of age. Digestibility assessment using the internal markers indigestible neutral detergent fiber, indigestible acid detergent fiber and sequentially-determined indigestible acid detergent fiber is not an efficient method compared with total feces collection.

Influence of the diet on in situ disappearance of dry matter, organic matter, and neutral detergent fiber of hydrolysed sugar cane bagasse

The effects of two diets based on hydrolysed sugarcane bagasse (HSB) and whole cottonseed (WCS), with or without oat hay, were analyzed for the in situ disappearance of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of HSB. Six mature castrated rams with a permanent T ruminal cannula were used in a complete randomized split plot design. The incubation times were 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48 and 72h. The diet with oat hay showed higher disappearance indexes for the NDF fraction. Furthermore, the maximum degradation of HSB constituents was reached around 48h of incubation. The diets were T1=64% hydrolyzed sugarcane + 36% whole cottonseed and T2=14% hydrolyzed sugarcane bagasse + 36% cottonseed + 50% oat hay.

Fatty acids profile of milk from cows fed different maize silage levels and extruded soybeans

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar os efeitos de dois teores de silagem de milho e da suplementacao com soja extrusada sobre o perfil de acidos graxos na gordura do leite. Oito vacas da raca Holandesa foram distribuidas em um quadrado latino duplo 4 x 4, em arranjo fatorial. Os tratamentos foram: alta silagem de milho e baixo lipidio, alta silagem de milho e alto lipidio, baixa silagem de milho e baixo lipidio e baixa silagem de milho e alto lipidio. Os periodos experimentais tiveram duracao de 21 dias cada. As amostras de leite foram coletadas nos dias 18 e 19 de cada periodo experimental. O aumento dos teores de lipidios nos dois niveis de silagem diminuiu as concentracoes de acidos graxos de cadeia curta (C4:0 - C12:0). O teor de acido linoleico conjugado (cis-9 trans-11 C18:2) aumentou de 3,72 para 4,85, e de 4,60 para 5,89mg/g, quando a soja extrusada foi utilizada em dietas com alto e baixo nivel de silagem de milho, respectivamente. O aumento no teor de lipidios na dieta resultou em maior concentracao de trans-11 C18:1. O acido graxo trans-10 C18:1 tendeu a aumentar com a elevacao do teor de lipidios na dieta. Houve correlacao significativa entre trans-10, cis-12 C18:2 e percentual de gordura do leite. A suplementacao com soja extrusada diminuiu os acidos graxos de cadeia curta e o acido palmitico no leite. Alem disso, esta oleaginosa aumentou a concentracao de acido linoleico conjugado (C18:2 cis-9 trans-11) e vacenico, com o aumento da qualidade do leite para o consumo humano.

Mortalidade de bovinos zebuínos por hipotermia em Mato Grosso do Sul

This study describes the periodic mortality of cattle due to hypothermia after thermal inversion in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Sixteen outbreaks, reported to the Laboratory of Animal Pathology FAMEZ/UFMS, occurred from August 2000 to July 2010 in 13 municipalities of the state. The diagnosis of hypothermia was based on the occurrence of deaths after a sudden decrease in temperature accompanied by rain and wind in several farms simultaneously, on clinical signs and on the absence of significant macroscopic and microscopic lesions. In all outbreaks was a sudden fall of temperature up to29°C at intervals of one to four days together with rain and wind. Most deaths occurred in places with scarce pasture and lack of natural or artificial shelters. The affected cattle were lean, with low body score, and in most cases on the morning following sudden fall in temperature, they were found dead in the corners of wintering and near the fences. Cattle of different ages were affected. Clinical signs were characterized by apparent blindness, incoordination, dysmetria, weakness, sternal recumbency, paddling, opisthotonus, muscle tremors, difficulty in breathing and death. In 30 necropsied animals the main macroscopic findings were subcutaneous, cavity and pulmonary edema. Histologically in some cases neuronal eosinophilia was observed. Hypothermia is an important cause of mortality when cattle, not acclimated, with poor nutritional status, low availability and quality of pasture, and lack of natural shelter, are subjected to climate change with sudden fall in temperature combined with high winds and rain.

Intake, feeding behaviour, digestibility, performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of lambs fed different levels of semi-purified glycerine in the diet

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different inclusion levels of semi-purified glycerine in the diet of feedlot lambs on feeding behaviour, nutrient intake and digestibility, carcass characteristics, meat quality and in vitro degradability. Thirty-two Dorper × (Texel × Suffolk) crossbred intact male lambs (22.2 ± 5.51 kg) were fed glycerine (90% purity) at 0, 120, 240 or 360 g/kg dry matter (DM) in a total mixed ration with a roughage to concentrate ratio of 40:60 for 84 d. In vitro degradability was not affected by glycerine supplementation. Feeding behaviour and digestibility of DM, crude protein and fibre and production performance were similar among treatments. Ether extract digestibility was lower at the highest inclusion level. Glycerine level had no effect on ruminal pH, carcass characteristics and meat quality, except for subcutaneous fat thickness which was lower for lambs fed glycerine at 240 and 360 g/kg DM. Scores for unpleasant taste, unpleasant odour, succulence and softness of meat were not affected by dietary glycerine level. These data suggest that there are no adverse effects on carcass quality and performance when semi-purified glycerine is provided up to 360 g/kg DM in the diet of growing lambs fed a forage to concentrate ratio of 40:60.

Avaliação bioeconômica de estratégias de suplementação de novilhos zebuínos mantidos em pastagens diferidas de capim-marandu no período seco

The objective of this work was to evaluate different supplementation strategies on supplement intake, behavior, and performance of beef steers grazing stockpiled palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu) pastures. There was used a completely randomized design trial to test five supplementation strategies: commercial mineral (SM), mineral plus25% of urea (SP), and three multimixtures (45.5% TDN) with 10% (MM10), 15% (MM 15), or 20% (MM20) of urea. Twenty zebuine steers weighting 300±24.9 kg of initial body weight, being four animals per treatment, were raised on five paddocks of 3.4 hectares under weekly rotation, from July to October of 2010. Data were submitted to ANOVA, using Tukey′s test to compare average values (P≤0.05); however, economic analysis determined the best strategy. Supplementation did not affect the grazing or rumination/resting time (P>0.05). The intake of supplements was affected (P<0.05) by supplementation strategy, being 106, 196, 852, 666, and 400 g/day for SM, SP, MM10, MM15, and MM20, respectively. SM resulted in losing weight (-137 g/animal/day). Using SP practically maintained the cattle weight. However, if gains are desired, multimixtures should be used (P<0.05). In those cases, daily weight gain reached 324 g/animal (MM10). Based on economic analysis, the best strategy was MM20, followed by MM10.