Rafael de Paula Xavier de Andrade

Performance of lambs fed alternative protein sources to soybean meal

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of alternative protein sources (castor bean cake, sunflower cake, and sunflower seed) to soybean meal on the intake and performance of 40 lambs, initially weighing 19.8±1.84 kg, fed diets based on Tifton grass hay. The experimental design was completely randomized blocks. There were no differences in the nutrient intake of castor bean diets compared with soybean meal. The intake of nutrients in the sunflower cake and sunflower seed diets was decreased compared with soybean meal. The apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber of sunflower cake and sunflower seed diets were decreased compared with soybean meal. The average daily weight gain of animals fed the castor bean diet (0.190 kg) was not different from that of the animals fed the soybean meal diet (0.217 kg). The sunflower cake and sunflower seed diets provided less weight gain (0.171 and 0.135 kg d-1, respectively) than soybean meal due to the lower nutrient intake. The hot carcass yield and true yield were not affected by the protein sources. The neck, ribs, and ham weights were similar in lambs fed soybean meal and castor bean cake diets. It is recommended to use castor bean as an alternative protein source in the diet of lambs.

Desempenho e digestibilidade de nutrientes em ovinos alimentados com rações contendo farelo de babaçu

With the objective to evaluate the performance, voluntary intake and nutrient digestibilities, 24 NDB (no defined breed), non castrated male lambs with 20 ± 3.25 BW initial and 4.6 ± 0.8 months old were used. Animals were kept in feedlot and fed diets with babassu meal (0, 10, 20 and 30%) in substitution to Panicum maximum Jack hay. The diets, isoprotein and isonitrogenous, were fed in a complete mix ration. A completely blocks randomized design, with four treatments and six replicates was used. The dry matter intake was influenced by the inclusion of babassu meal in the diet and presented a reduction of 302 g/day for each 10% of babassu meal inclusion. Nutrient intake and performance were limited by the decrease of dry matter intake. The inclusion of babassu meal caused a linear decrease on average daily gain of lambs. Nutrient digestibility was influenced by inclusion of babassu meal in the diet, but this increase was a result of the reduction on dry matter intake. Babassu meal, used as an alternative feed for growing sheep, affect nutrient intake and weight gain of the animals.

Carcass characteristics of sheep fed with castor bean hulls in replacement of tifton 85 hay

Castor bean hulls (CBH), co-products of castor oil extraction, are high in dry matter (DM) and fiber and are emerging as alternative roughage in sheep feed. This could reduce feed costs since other sources of roughage can be more expensive. The effects of replacing Tifton 85 hay with CBH at 0, 33, 66 and 100% in the diet of sheep on the carcass characteristics, weights and yields of retail cuts and carcass measurements were studied. Twenty-eight non-castrated sheep averaging 7 ± 1.4 months of age with an initial weight of 19.5 ± 4.3 kg were slaughtered after 70 days of confinement. There was a linear decline (P ≤ 0.05) in slaughter body weight, empty body weight, hot and cold carcass weight and longissimus muscle area (LMA) as the percentage of dietary CBH increased. A linear decrease (P≤0.05) of the weights of all retail cuts and a quadratic effect (minimum yield of 9.84% with the replacement of 56.9%) of the neck yield were also detected as the percentage of CBH increased. No treatment effects (P > 0.05) on the yield of the other cuts were observed, but there was a linear decline (P ≤ 0.05) in the perimeters of the thorax, leg and rump and the carcass compactness index. Replacing Tifton 85 hay with CBH in sheep diets is not recommended because it decreases the slaughter body weight, cold and hot carcass weight, retail cut weights and morphometric measurements.

Balanço hídrico e excreção renal de metabólitos em ovinos alimentados com palma forrageira (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck)

This study aimed to assess fluid balance and renal excretion of metabolites in lambs without defined breed standard, fed different forage cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck), in natura and bran. 20 lambs were used, with initial body weight of 20 kg and were distributed in a completely randomized design, with five treatments and four repetitions. The experimental diets consisted of a control diet based on Bermuda grass hay, soybean meal, limestone and mineral supplement, other treatments aimed at testing different levels of cactus pear plus urea in two forms: fresh and mash and two levels of substitution (50 and 100%) of dry matter of hay. Blood and urine samples were collected for determination of different metabolites and minerals and use of equations to determine the rates of urinary excretion of these metabolites, rate of endogenous creatinine clearance and electrolyte reabsorption of free water, in addition to recording of water intake and urine volume. The voluntary water intake was influenced by the diets, and the animals subjected to diets containing soybean meal and hay palm and cactus meal were higher than other treatments. Water intake via food was also influenced by diet, being higher in animals fed palm fresh and bran over palm in nature. With respect to total water intake was greater for cows fed diets containing palm in nature compared to the other treatments. The experimental diets influenced the renal excretion of purine metabolites and minerals derived, without changing renal function. The presence of cactus pear both as bran as in nature provides increased urine volume without changing renal function, and to be considered as an excellent food strategy in semiarid.

Feed handling of lactating crossbred cows maintained in a semi‐arid region during the hot season: physiological parameters, ingestive behavior and performance

The effects of time of feed delivery (14.00 hours; 14.00 and 20.00 hours; 16.00 and 18.00 hours) on the physiological parameters, ingestive behavior, nutrient intake and production of lactating cows maintained in a semi-arid region during the hot season were evaluated. Regardless of treatment, all animals received the first feeding supply at 06.00 hours. Eight cows with an average body weight of 600 kg, average milk yield of 20 kg/day and 80 days in milk were utilized. The rectal temperature, respiratory rate and sweating rate were not affected (P > 0.05), with average values of 38.5°C, 53.8 movements/min and 104 g/m2 /h respectively. There was no effect (P > 0.05) on the eating time (314 min/day), ruminating time (564 min/day), drinking time (61 min/day) and idle time (502 min/day). Similarly, the intake of nutrients and performance of lactating cows were not affected (P > 0.05), with average dry matter intake of 19.8 kg/day, 4% fat-corrected milk of 20.6 kg/day and milk fat concentration of 4.03 g/100 g. Since the behavior and performance have not altered, any times of feed delivery evaluated could be used to crossbred Holstein × Zebu cows maintained on a feedlot in semi-arid regions during the hot season.

Tissue composition of the leg and meat quality of sheep fed castor bean hulls in replacement of tifton hay

The effects of replacing Tifton hay with castor bean hulls (0, 33, 66 and 100%) on the leg tissue composition, chemical composition, physicochemical parameters and sensorial traits of sheep meat were studied. A total of 28 non-castrated sheep averaging seven months in age with an average initial weight of 19.5±4.3 kg were assigned to a randomized block design with four treatments and seven replicates and were slaughtered after 70 days of confinement. At slaughter, body weight and leg, muscle and bone weights decreased linearly, whereas the muscle-to-bone ratio increased linearly according to the treatments. There was a quadratic effect on yellow intensity (maximum of 8.05 with replacement of 54.5%) and the percentage of cooking losses (minimum of 33.8% with replacement of 45.17%). The treatment employed did not affect either the chemical composition or sensorial traits of the lamb meat. Although replacing Tifton hay with castor bean hulls alters the tissue composition of the leg as well as some physicochemical parameters of the meat, the sensory analysis indicated good acceptability of the meat, regardless of the inclusion of this byproduct.