Ivan Moreira

Utilização do farelo de germe de milho desengordurado na alimentação de suínos em crescimento e terminação: digestibilidade e desempenho

Two studies (Digestibility and Performance) were carried out to evaluate the nutritional value and the feasibility of using defatted corn germ meal (DCGM) fed to growing-finishing pigs. I) Digestibility trial: Twelve pigs with initial body weight of 42.0±5.4 kg were hold in metabolism cage. Six pigs were fed a diet with 70% of basal diet plus 30% of DCGM and six received basal diet. DCGM showed an energy digestibility coefficient of 80.98% and metabolisation coefficient of 78.04%, that means 3,060 kcal of DE/kg and 2,949 Kcal of ME/kg. II) Performance trial: A total of 32 crossbreed swine were used, half castrated males and half females, with an initial body weigh of 31.9±3.6 kg. Pigs were placed on 16 pens with two animals per pen. The animals were fed a ration containing increasing levels (0, 15, 30 e 45%) of defatted corn germ meal. It was used a randomized complete block design, with four treatments and four replicates with two animals per experimental unit. Increasing levels of DCGM impaired swine performance decreased backfat thickness and did not affected loin depth, measured on animal alive. Economical study, considering DCGM price as 80% of corn price, showed that 15% level of DCGM is the most profitable, either on growing or finishing phase.

Nutritive value and performance of growing rabbits fed rations containing extruded corn

Two experiments were carried out, with the aim of evaluating the use of corn processed or not by extrusion, in the feeding of growing rabbits. In the experiment 1, 21 White New Zealand rabbits, 12 males and 9 females, with 55 days of age, were used on digestibility assay, with the aim of determining the nutritional value of corn, extruded or not. The rabbits were distributed in a completely randomized design with three treatments and seven replications, with one reference and four test diets. In the elaboration of test diets, the evaluated feeds (corn processed or not on extrusion) replaced the reference diet in 30% in natural matter. The digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, starch and gross energy were respectively, 81.39, 88.24, 87.08, 98.63 and 90.24% for the corn not processed and 86.46, 96.96, 94.11, 98.91 and 97.54% for the extruded corn. The digestible dry matter, digestible organic matter, digestible protein, digestible starch and digestible energy, based on dry matter were respectively, 71.16, 87.27, 7.78, 60.09% and 3997 kcal/kg for the corn not processed and of 75.6, 95.9, 8.41, 60.26% and 4320 kcal/kg for the extruded corn. In the experiment 2, 80 White New Zealand rabbits were used, half of each sex, in the period from 35 to 75 days of age, with the aim of evaluating the performance of growing rabbits fed with rations containing different replacement levels of corn by the extruded corn. The rabbits were allocated in a completely randomized design with four treatments and twenty replications. The treatments consisted of four isoenergetic ration, one as reference ration, with base on common corn not processed and the other three rations where the common corn was replaced, in levels of 33, 66 and 100%, by the extruded corn. The inclusion of increasing levels of extruded corn in the rations did not affect the daily average weight gain, feed:gain ratio, weight and carcass yield, however it reduced linearly daily average feed intake. It can be concluded that corn extruded or not can replace totally the corn in rations. The use of extruded corn extruded or not in rations depends on market price and availability.

Nutritional value of recovery yeast (Saccharomyces sp), dried by rotative cylinder or by "spray-dry" for growing rabbits

Thirty rabbits from New Zealand White breed , 15 males and 15 females, with 50 days of age, were used on assay of digestibility, with the aim to determine the nutritional value of recovery yeast (Saccharomyces sp), dried in a rotational cylinder (RYRC) and by spray-dry (RYSD). The rabbits were assigned to a completely randomized experimental design with three treatments and ten replicates, with one as a reference diet and two test diets. In the elaboration of test diets, the RYRC and the RYSD replaced 25% of the reference diet dry matter, containing 15.27% of crude protein, 15.51% of crude fiber, and 4397 kcal of gross energy, respectively. The coefficients of apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, and gross energy were, 73.80%, 55.44%, 55.27% and 69.60% for RYRC and 83.33%, 79.14%, 48.24% and 87.19%, respectively, for RYSD. The dry matter digestible, crude protein digestible, crude fiber digestible and gross energy digestible, based on the total dry matter were, 68.06%, 18.25%, 0.80% and 3,448 kcal/kg for RYRC and 75.57%, 25.22%, 0.20% and 3,858% kcal/kg, respectively, for RYSD. The results showed that RYSD was nutritionally better than RYRC.