Marcos Vinicius Biehl

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.

Qualitative characteristics of meat from confined crossbred heifers fed with lipid sources

Lipids have been used in ruminant feed to replace high amounts of grain for increasing the diet energy density, performance and meat quality. This study evaluated the qualitative characteristics of meat from feedlot heifers fed with sources of lipid supplements. Twenty-one crossbred heifers (1/4Nelore × 1/4Santa Gertrudis × 1/2Braunvieh) were used. Each heifer received 60 % forage with a base of corn silage and 40 % concentrate, resulting in 5.8 % lipid content in the total diet. The following sources of lipids were used: soybeans, protected fat and soybean oil. There were no differences on physical characteristics of meat samples from heifers fed with the lipid sources. Soybeans increased the concentration of linoleic acid, content of polyunsaturated fatty acid and activity of the Δ9-desaturase C16 enzyme in the Longissimus muscle. The use of soybean oil in the diet increased the oleic acid, monounsaturated fatty acid, total cis- and trans-fatty acids (C18:0) and the activity of the Δ9-desaturase C16 enzyme in the subcutaneous fat. Diets with soybean grain had greater deposition of linoleic and linolenic acids than diets with fat protected and greater presence of these essential fatty acids are associated to a better composition and meat quality.

Luteal changes after treatment with sub-luteolytic doses of prostaglandin (cloprostenol sodium) in cattle

This study characterizes the physiological and morphological changes related to partial luteolysis in bovine corpus luteum (CL) after challenges with sub-doses of cloprostenol sodium on Day 6 (D6) of the estrous cycle. Cows (n = 12/treatment) were treated as follows: Control (2 mL, saline, i.m.); 2XPGF (two treatments i.m. 500 μg of cloprostenol sodium 2 h apart) and 1/6PGF (83.3 μg of cloprostenol sodium, i.m., once). Plasma progesterone (P4) concentration, CL volume and blood flow were measured immediately before the treatments, then every 8 h (h) for 48 h. In the Control, P4 concentrations were higher at 48 h than at 0 h. P4 decreased 8h after 2XPGF treatment (P < 0.05), and remained low until the end of the trial. P4 decreased in 1/6PGF between 8 and 16 h (P < 0.05), then began to rebound at 24 h. Luteal volume was higher in Controls at 48 h than at 0 h. Under 1/6PGF, luteal volume decreased at 24 h (P < 0.05) and began to rebound at 32 h. Luteal volume and blood flow were reduced starting at 24 and 32 h, respectively, after 2XPGF treatment (P < 0.05). In this study, we were able to describe the partial luteolysis phenomenon, induced by a treatment of a D6CL with cloprostenol sub-dose.

Desempenho, características da carcaça, digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes, metabolismo de nitrogênio e parâmetros ruminais de cordeiros alimentados com rações contendo polpa cítrica úmida semidespectinada e/ou polpa cítrica desidratada

ABSTRACT - The objective of this study was to determine the effects of partial replacement of dried citrus pulp (DCP)by wet low pectin citrus pulp (WLPCP), wet low pectin citrus pulp silage (WLPCPS) or wet low pectin citrus pulp silagewith sodium benzoate (WLPCPS+B) on performance and carcass characteristics, apparent digestibility of nutrients, ruminalmeasures, and nitrogen metabolism of lambs. In the performance trial, 64 Santa Ines ram lambs were fed 95% concentrateand 5% sugarcane bagasse diets during 56 days. The experimental design was a randomized complete block (RCB). The controldiet contained 69.5% DCP, while in the other treatments fresh or ensiled WLPCP replaced DCP by 30% on a DM basis.There were no differences in DMI, ADG or carcass characteristics. However, feed efficiency was greater for lambs fedWLPCP compared with lambs fed DCP. In the digestibility trial, 16 Santa Ines ram lambs, canulated in the rumen, wereassigned to a RCB design. Animals were fed diets containing 85% of concentrate and 15% of sugarcane bagasse. The controldiet contained 75.3% DCP. A portion (30%) of the DCP DM was replaced by WLPCP, WLPCPS or WLPCPS+B. Therewas no difference in DM, organic matter or crude protein apparent digestibilities, except for neutral detergent fiberdigestibility. Additionally, ruminal ammonia concentration was higher in diets containing DCP compared with WLPCPSand WLPCPS+B. Nevertheless, no effects of treatments were seen on the other ruminal measures. Fresh or ensiled WLPCPcan partially replace DCP in rations with high level of concentrate for feedlot lambs.Key Words: byproducts, feedlot, pectin, Santa Ines, silage

Feeding the combination of essential oils and exogenous α-amylase increases performance and carcass production of finishing beef cattle

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance responses of finishing feedlot cattle to dietary addition of essential oils and exogenous enzymes. The treatments in each experiment consisted of (DM basis): MON-sodium monensin (26 mg/kg); BEO-a blend of essential oils (90 mg/kg); BEO+MON-a blend of essential oils plus monensin (90 mg/kg + 26 mg/kg, respectively); BEO+AM-a blend of essential oils plus exogenous α-amylase (90 mg/kg + 560 mg/kg, respectively); and BEO+AM+PRO-a blend of essential oils plus exogenous α-amylase and exogenous protease (90 mg/kg + 560 mg/kg + 840 mg/kg, respectively). Exp. 1 consisted of a 93-d finishing period using 300 Nellore bulls in a randomized complete block design. Animals fed BEO had higher DMI (P < 0.001) but similar feed efficiency to animals fed MON (P ≥ 0.98). Compared with MON, the combination of BEO+AM resulted in 810 g greater DMI (P = 0.001), 190 g greater average daily gain (P = 0.04), 18 kg heavier final body weight (P = 0.04), and 12 kg heavier hot carcass weight (P = 0.02), although feed efficiency was not significantly different between BEO+AM and MON (P = 0.89). Combining BEO+MON tended to decrease hot carcass weight compared with BEO alone (P = 0.08) but not compared with MON (P = 0.98). Treatments did not impact observed dietary net energy values (P ≥ 0.74) or the observed:expected net energy ratio (P ≥ 0.11). In Exp. 2, five ruminally cannulated Nellore steers were used to evaluate intake, apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients, and ruminal parameters in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Feeding BEO increased the total tract digestibility of CP compared to MON (P = 0.03). Compared to MON, feeding the combination of BEO+MON increased the intake of CP (P = 0.04) and NDF (P = 0.05), with no effects on total tract digestibility of nutrients (P ≥ 0.56), except for a tendency (P = 0.09) to increase CP digestibility. Intakes of all nutrients measured, except for ether extract (P = 0.16) were greater in animals fed BEO+AM when compared with MON (P ≤ 0.03), with no differences on total tract nutrient digestibilities (P ≥ 0.11) between these two treatments. In summary, diets containing the BEO used herein enhanced DMI of growing-finishing feedlot cattle compared with a basal diet containing MON without impair feed efficiency. A synergism between BEO and AM was detected, further increasing cattle performance and carcass production compared to MON.

Functional and structural changes in bovine corpus luteum during partial luteolysis

Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Clin Surg & Anim Reprod, Fac Vet Med, UNESP, Sao Paulo, BrazilUNESP, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Dept Anim Reprod, Lab Adv Reprod & Cell Therapy LAN A, Botucatu, SP, Brazil

Utilização de monoamônio fosfato em rações com elevado teor de polpa cítrica para cordeiros em confinamento

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of adding monoammonium phosphate (MAP) in high concentrate diets containing citrus pulp on feedlot lamb performance and carcass characteristics. Twenty four Santa Ines lambs (26.4 kg of initial body weight and 125 d old) were penned individually and used in a randomized complete block design according to body weight and age at beginning of the trial. Diets were formulated to provide a similar amount of crude protein and contained 70% of citrus pulp on a DM basis. MAP was added at 0, 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9% of the diet DM corresponding to the experimental treatments CON, 0.3MAP, 0.6MAP, and 0.9MAP, respectively. There was a linear decrease in dry matter intake and average daily gain, although no changes on carcass measures were observed. The use of MAP in citrus pulp diets affects lamb growth negatively.