Maria Izabel Vieira de Almeida

Estimativa da digestibilidade aparente de nutrientes em dietas para eqüinos, com o uso de óxido crômico e indicadores internos

Two assays were performed to evaluate the apparent digestibility of nutrients in horses diets, using the total collection of feces method and the markers chromic oxide, indigestible acid detergent fiber (iADF), indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF), indigestible cellulose (iCEL), lignin (LIG), and insoluble acid detergent ashes (ADTA), as markers. In the first assay, five crossbred colts were used, fed five diets with different levels of crude protein, maintaining the relationship 50:50 concentrate to forage. The chromic oxide was used as external marker. In the second assay, four crossbred colts were fed diets composed by coastcross hay as forage and concentrate in the proportions of 40:60, 60:40, 80:20 and 100:00. In both assays, the cotents of indigestible acid detergent fiber, indigestible neutral detergent fiber, indigestible cellulose, lignin and acid detergent insoluble ash were obtained after in vitro incubation. In the first assay, the FDAi showed to be appropriate as internal marker to estimate the digestibility, and in both assays the CELi showed to be appropriate as internal marker for the estimate of apparent digestibility of nutrients of horses diets. The chromic oxide showed low fecal recovery in the first assay and the LIG showed low fecal recovery in both assays, underestimating the apparent digestibility coefficients of nutrients, and was inadequate to estimate the digestibility. ADIA, compared to the total collection of feces method, also showed to be inadequate to estimate the nutrient digestibility in equine.

Valor nutritivo do capim-elefante (Penninsetum purpureum, Schum), do feno de alfafa (Medicago sativa, L.) e do feno de capim coast-cross (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) para eqüinos

The objective of this work was to evaluate the intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients of elephant grass forages, alfalfa and coast-cross grass hays in adult horses. Eighteen adult Mangalarga Marchador mares were allotted to a completely randomized design with three treatments that consisted on diets with the following forages: T1 - elephant grass, T2 - alfalfa hay, T3 - coast-cross grass hay. The animals were ad libitum fed twice a day. The experimental period was constituted by a phase of eight days for diet adaptation and a phase of five days for total collection of feces. There were no differences of forage dry matter intake, with average values of 6.27 kg DM, 68.41 g DM/kg0,75 or 1.51% LW. The average coefficients of apparent digestibility of elephant grass and alfalfa and coast-cross grass hays were 43.10, 55.20, and 49.80% for DM, 4160, 53.40, and 47.90% for gross energy, 24.60; 71.20 and 56.10% for crude protein and 40.60, 35.50, and 63.30% for neutral detergent fiber.

Composição química e predição do valor nutritivo de dietas para eqüinos

The objetive of this experiment was to obtain data from literature about diet composition for horses and to estimate the digestible energy and digestible protein contents by regression equations from chemical composition of these diets. Data we re submitted to a correlation study among the content of nutrients in experimental diets and apparent digestibility coefficients, selecting the best correlation among DE, EAD, OMAD, CPAD and nutrients of diets. The values of EAD, OMAD and CPAD and digestible energy contents were fitted to simple and multiple linear regression equations in function of the nutrients contents fo the diets and in two classes of diets, roughage and mixed (roughage plus concentrate) diets. The best prediction equations for DE contents, in Mcal/kg DM, t o all horses diets were: ED = 0.104 + 0.0416 OMAD (r2 = 0.85), DE = 5.0285 0.0144 OM 0.0424 ADF (R2 = 0.89) and DE = 3.7868 0.044 A DF (R2 = 0.87). The most appropriate equation in roughage diets was: DE = 0.2273 + 0.0352 OMAD (r2 = 0,70) and in mixed diets was : DE = 0.3803 + 0.0459 OMAD (r2 = 0,86). Prediction equation of apparent digestibility coefficient for crude protein in roughag e diets was, CPAD (%) = 38.2446 + 1.7381 CP (r2 = 0.53), appropriate to estimate the contents of digestible protein in alfalfa and coast-cross grass hays.O objetivo deste trabalho foi reunir informacoes da literatura sobre a composicao de dietas para equinos e estimar, por meio de equacoes de regressao, os conteudos de energia e proteina digestivel, a partir da composicao quimica dietetica destas dietas. Foi feito um estudo de correlacao entre o conteudo e os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes, nas dietas experimentais, selecionando-se as melhores correlacoes entre ED, CDE, CDMO e CDPB e os componentes quimicos das dietas. Os valores de CDE, CDMO, CDPB e do teor de energia digestivel foram submetidos a analise de regressao linear simples e multipla, em funcao dos componentes quimicos das dietas e de duas classes, dietas simples com alimentos volumosos e dietas mistas com alimentos volumosos e concentrados. As melhores equacoes de predicao do conteudo de ED, expressas em Mcal/kg MS, para dietas em geral foram: ED = - 0,104 + 0,0416 CDMO (r² = 0,85), ED = 5,0285 - 0,0144 MO - 0,0424 FDA (R² = 0,89) e ED = 3,7868 - 0,044 FDA (R² = 0,87). Em dietas volumosas, a equacao mais adequada foi: ED = 0,2273 + 0,0352 CDMO (r² = 0,70) e em dietas mistas, ED = - 0,3803 + 0,0459 CDMO (r² = 0,86). A equacao de predicao do coeficiente de digestibilidade da proteina bruta para alimentos volumosos, CDPB (%) = 38,2446 + 1,7381 PB (r² = 0,53), mostrou-se adequada para a estimativa do conteudo em proteina digestivel dos fenos de alfafa e capim coast-cross.

Conteúdo corporal e exigências líquidas de energia e proteína de novilhos mestiços Holandês-Gir em ganho compensatório

Thirty-three 39 crossbreed Holstein-Gyr steers were used in a research aiming to evaluate the effects of feed restriction prior to the confinement on the changes in body composition and in the net requirements of energy for maintenance and weight gain, and protein for weight gain. Thirty animals were submitted to a high grazing pressure, while the remaining nine steers had unrestricted access to forage (continuous gain group), after what, six animals from the first group and three from the second group were slaughtered, and the remaining animals were confined. From 24 animals of the compensatory growth group, 12 were fed ad libitum (compensatory growth group) and 12 were fed 15% above the maintenance level (maintenance group), while six animals from continuous gain group were fed the same ad libitum diet. The diet was constituted by corn silage and 26% of concentrate. The net energy requirement for maintenance was determined by regression of the heat production, in function of the metabolizable energy intake (ME), adjusting for heat production at zero level. Regression equations of the log of the body contents of fat, protein and energy in function of the log of the empty-body weight (EBW) were fitted. The average maintenance net energy requirements for the animals in the compensatory growth group was 47,50 kcal/kg0.75/day. The total fat and energy content in body-weight-gain increased as body live weight increased. The net requirements of energy and protein for 1 kg of EBW gain were 3.13 Mcal/day and 189.4 g/day, respectively, for a 300 kg live weight steer.

Avaliação do ganho compensatório em novilhos mestiços Holandês-Gir: consumo e desempenho

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of feed restriction during a grazing period of 104 days (phase I) on intake, feed conversion, and digesta load as well as body weight (BW) change and weights of carcass and non-carcass components during a feedlot period (phase II) in crossbred steers. Thirty nine crossbred Holstein-Gyr steers averaging 19.3±5.1 months of age and 202.0±49.1 kg of BW at the beginning of the study were used. Animals were assigned to one of the following three treatments: 1 - control - ad libitum grazing in phase I and ad libitum concentrate in phase II (nine animals); 2 - compensatory growth - restricted grazing in phase I and ad libitum concentrate in phase II (15 animals); or 3 - maintenance - restricted grazing in phase I and protein and energy supplementation 15% above maintenance in phase II (15 animals). At 1, 28, and 112 days of feedlot, three animals from treatments 1, 2 and 3 were slaughtered. In addition, three animals from treatments 2 and 3 were also slaughtered at 56 and 84 days of feedlot. Animals from the compensatory growth treatment gained more BW than those from the control during the first 28 days of feedlot because of the greater weight gain of non-carcass components. However, carcass weight gain did not differ between both treatments. Gut fill as percentage of BW decreased in all three treatments when animals were fed concentrate in phase 2 but no significant differences were observed across treatments. Animals on control and compensatory growth treatments had improved feed conversion during the first 28 days of feedlot, which was associated to greater intake either expressed per unit of metabolic size or as percentage of BW.

Avaliação do crescimento de tecidos e órgãos de novilhos mestiços Holandês-Gir durante o ganho compensatório. 2. Tecidos e órgãos

The research aimed to analyze the effects of feed restriction prior to the confinement on growth and chemical composition of the tissues and organs in cattle. Twenty-four Holstein-Gyr crossbred steers, with 19,3 ± 5,1 months of age and 202,1 ± 49,1 kg LW, at beginning of the trial were used. Fifteen of the animals were confined after a 104-day period of forage restriction, in which it was intended to keep body weight unchanged (compensatory gain group), while nine of them had free access to pasture (continuous gain group). At beginning of the experiment and at days 28 and 112 of confinement, three animals of each group were slaughtered, and at days 56 and 84, three animals of compensatory gain group were slaughtered. During confinement, the animals from the compensatory gain group and continuous gain group were fed ad libitum; composed b y corn silage and 26% of concentrate, as dry matter basis. The relative growth rates were evaluated through allometric equations. The rates of protein, fat and energy deposition in the carcass did not differ between treatments, in relation to empty-body weight gain (EBW). The protein deposition in the organs, in relation to EBW gain, was greater in compensatory growth group than in the continuous gain group, being the high values observed in all body parts. The growth rates of the muscles Biceps femoris and Tensor fascia latea were not affected by the feed restriction prior to the confinement, as well as the growth rate and the content of protein, calcium and phosphorus in the femur and 8th rib.

Uso de probiótico composto por Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus faecium e Sacharomyces cerevisae na dieta de vitelos bovinos: efeitos sobre o desempenho e a qualidade da carne

Fourteen Holstein-Zebu calves were used to evaluate the effects of probiotic with Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus faecium and Sacharomyces cerevisae in diet on performance and meat quality of veal calves. Calves were randomly assigned in two treatments: whole milk and whole milk with probiotic. Calves were weight at birth and every fifteen days until slaughter, between 160 and 190 kg body weight. Body weight daily gain, dry matter intake, feed efficiency, dressing percentage of carcass, fecal score and sensorial analyses in Longissimus dorsi muscle were evaluated in a completely randomized block design. Data were interpreted by variance analysis and means compared by F test. Weekly fecal scores were interpreted by non-parametric variance analysis, by Wilcoxon test. Any differences were observed in sensorial analysis of meat samples, and data indicate a quite clear coloration, with compatible intensity of red color wanted by market. Average values of body weight daily gain, feed efficiency, weight and dressing percentage of carcass for both treatments were 892 and 945 g, 1.41 and 1.30, 90.9 and 98.8 kg, 57.1 and 58.3%, respectively, for calves fed whole milk and whole milk with probiotic (p > 0.05).

Conteúdo corporal e exigências líquidas e dietéticas de macroelementos minerais (Ca, P, Mg, Na e K) de novilhos mestiços Holandês-Gir em ganho compensatório

Thirty-nine crossbreed Holstein-Gyr steers were used aiming to evaluate the influence of compensatory growth on body content and on net and dietary requirements of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and potassium of bovines. Thirty animals were submitted to a high pasture stocking rate, while nine had free access to the pasture (continuous growth group), during 114 days. After that, six animals from the first group and three from the second group were slaughtered, and the remaining animals were feedlot confined. From the animals of the first group, twelve animals were full fed (compensatory growth group) and twelve animals were fed 15% above the maintenance level (maintenance group), while the six animals from continuous gain group were full fed the same diet. Regression equations of log kg body contents of each mineral as a function of log empty-body weight (EBW) were fitted. The macrominerals requirements did not differ regarding to the treatments, and the net requirements for 1 kg of EBW gain ranged from 10.04 to 12.38 g for calcium; 9.33 to 9.41 g for phosphorus; 0.50 to 0.38 g for magnesium; 1.22 to 1.07 g for sodium; and 2.24 to 2.75 g for potassium, for steers with weights between 150 to 450 kg, respectively. The dietetic macrominerals requirements, for 1 kg of liveweight of gain, ranged from 15.88 to 25.68 g for calcium; 16.62 to 10.35 g for phosphorus; 5.12 to 9.82 g for magnesium; 2.25 to 4.35 g for sodium; and 18.23 to 49.18 for potassium.

Avaliação do crescimento de tecidos e órgãos de novilhos mestiços Holandês-Gir durante o ganho compensatório. 1. Carcaça

The research aimed to analyze the effects of feed restriction prior to confinement on growth and chemical composition of the carcass and carcass components in cattle. Twenty-four Holstein-Gyr crossbred steers, with 19,3 ± 5,1 months of age and 202,1 ± 49,1 kg LW, at the beginning of the trial were used. Fifteen animals were confined after a 104-day period of forage restriction, in which it was intended to keep body weight unchanged (compensatory gain group), while nine of them had free access to pasture (continuous gain group). At beginning of the experiment and at days 28 and 112 of confinement, three animals of each group were slaughtered, and at days 56 and 84, three animals of compensatory gain group were slaughtered. During confinement, the animals from the compensatory gain group and continuous gain group were fed ad libitum; composed by corn silage and 26% of concentrate, as dry matter basis. The relative growth rates were evaluated through allometric equations. The rates of protein, fat and energy deposition in the carcass did not differ between treatments, in relation to empty-body weight gain. The protein deposition, in relation to empty body gain, was greater in compensatory growth group than in the continuous gain group. The compensatory weight gain cause a reduction in the protein deposition rate in carcass adipose tissue and an increase in the fat deposition rate in the bones of the carcass.