Rildson Melo Fontenele

Composição corporal e exigências líquidas proteicas de ovinos Santa Inês em crescimento

This study evaluated the effect of different dietary levels of metabolizable energy on the body composition and net protein requirements of 24 Santa Ines non-castrated growing sheep at average age of 50 days and average body weight of 13.00 ± 0.56 kg. After a ten-day adaptation period, four animals were slaughtered to be used as a reference for estimates of empty body weight (EBW) and initial body composition of the other animals. The remaining animals were assigned into a randomized block design with diets containg different levels of metabolizable energy (2.08; 2.28; 2.47 and 2.69 Mcal/kg of DM) and crude protein (12.74; 14.36, 15.97 and 17.65% CP of DM) with five replicates. The N daily excretion was estimated by extrapolating regression equations of N intake (g/kg BW0.75/day) in function of retention (g/kg BW0.75/day) for zero intake. The derivative regression of the logarithm of protein content in function of the logarithm of EBW enabled the estimation of net protein requirement for empty body weight gain (EBWG). Daily nitrogen excretion was 277 ± 0.05 mg/kg BW0.75/day and net protein requirement for maintenance was 1.73 g/kg BW0.75/day. Protein content of EBW of animals decreased from 157.83 to 144.33 g/kg of EBW when the BW of the animals increased from 15 to 30 kg, respectively. The amount of protein deposited in the gain decreased from 137.47 to 125.71 g/kg of EBWG with the increase of body weight of the animals from 15 to 30 kg, respectively. Nitrogen fecal excretion and protein net requirement for maintenance of Santa Ines growing lambs was lower than the values commonly cited by the main systems of feed evaluation and nutrient requirements for small ruminants.

Consumo de nutrientes e comportamento ingestivo de cordeiros da raça Santa Inês alimentados com rações com diferentes níveis de energia metabolizável

The objective of this work was to evaluate the nutrient intake and ingestive behavior of growing Santa Ines lambs fed different levels of metabolizable energy (ME). It was used 20 non-castrated lambs at 50 days of age and with 13.00 ± 0.56 kg of body weight. The animals were distributed into four experimental treatments with different levels of metabolizable energy (2.08, 2.28, 2.47 and 2.69 Mcal/kg of dry matter) in a randomized block design with five replications. It was used as roughage tifton hay added to concentrate diet. Levels of metabolizable energy (ME) linearly affected intakes of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, no-fiber carbohydrates, and total digestible nutrients, expressed in g/day. The NDF intake, expressed as % BW and kg/BW0.75, decreased linearly with the increase of levels of energy in the diet due to the reduction in NDF content in the total dietary dry matter. Feeding and total chewing time, expressed in hour/day, decreased linearly with the energy levels of the experimental diets. However, idle time increased linearly, whereas rumination was not influenced by energy levels of the diets. Number of ruminate boli, of ruminating chews, of ruminating chews per bolus and time of chewing per bolus were not influenced by levels of metabolizable energy in the diets. Increase in metabolizable energy levels of diets affects intake of nutrients and ingestive behavior of growing Santa Ines lambs.The objective of this work was to evaluate the nutrient intake and ingestive behavior of growing Santa Ines lambs fed different levels of metabolizable energy (ME). It was used 20 non-castrated lambs at 50 days of age and with 13.00 ± 0.56 kg of body weight. The animals were distributed into four experimental treatments with different levels of metabolizable energy (2.08, 2.28, 2.47 and 2.69 Mcal/kg of dry matter) in a randomized block design with five replications. It was used as roughage tifton hay added to concentrate diet. Levels of metabolizable energy (ME) linearly affected intakes of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, no-fiber carbohydrates, and total digestible nutrients, expressed in g/day. The NDF intake, expressed as % BW and kg/BW0.75, decreased linearly with the increase of levels of energy in the diet due to the reduction in NDF content in the total dietary dry matter. Feeding and total chewing time, expressed in hour/day, decreased linearly with the energy levels of the experimental diets. However, idle time increased linearly, whereas rumination was not influenced by energy levels of the diets. Number of ruminate boli, of ruminating chews, of ruminating chews per bolus and time of chewing per bolus were not influenced by levels of metabolizable energy in the diets. Increase in metabolizable energy levels of diets affects intake of nutrients and ingestive behavior of growing Santa Ines lambs.

Body Composition and Net Energy Requirements of Brazilian Somali Lambs

The aim of this study was to determine the energy requirements for maintenance (NEm) and growth of 48 Brazilian Somali ram lambs with an average initial body weight of 13.47±1.76 kg. Eight animals were slaughtered at the trials beginning as a reference group to estimate the initial empty body weight (EBW) and body composition. The remaining animals were assigned to a randomised block design with eight replications per block and five diets with increasing metabolisable energy content (4.93, 8.65, 9.41, 10.12 and 11.24 MJ/kg dry matter). The logarithm of heat production was regressed against metabolisable energy intake (MEI), and the NEm (kJ/kg0.75 EBW/day) were estimated by extrapolation, when MEI was set at zero. The NEm was 239.77 kJ/kg0.75 EBW/day. The animal’s energy and EBW fat contents increased from 11.20 MJ/kg and 208.54 g/kg to 13.54 MJ/kg and 274.95 g/kg of EBW, respectively, as the BW increased from 13 to 28.70 kg. The net energy requirements for EBW gain increased from 13.79 to 16.72 MJ/kg EBW gain for body weights of 13 and 28.70 kg. Our study indicated the net energy requirements for maintenance in Brazilian Somali lambs were similar to the values commonly recommended by the United States’ nutritional system, but lower than the values recommended by Agricultural Research Council and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization. Net requirements for weight gain were less compared to the values commonly recommended by nutritional system of the United States.

Efficiency of metabolizable energy utilization for maintenance and gain and evaluation of Small Ruminant Nutrition System model in Santa Ines sheep

This study was carried out to estimate efficiencies of the utilization of metabolizable energy for maintenance (km) and weight gain (kg) and to evaluate the Small Ruminant Nutrition System (SRNS) model in predicting dry matter intake and average daily gain of growing Santa Ines sheep. Twenty-four non-castrated Santa Ines sheep, at 50 days of age and with average body weight of 13.00 ± 0.56 kg, respectively, were used. After a 10-day adaptation period, four animals were slaughtered to be used as reference for estimating initial empty body weight and body composition of the other animals. The remaining animals were distributed in a random block design, with the treatments consisting of diets containing different levels of metabolizable energy (2.08, 2.28, 2.47 and 2.69 Mcal/kg of DM), with five replicates. The metabolizable energy use efficiencies for maintenance and for weight gain were calculated from the relationship between the dietary net energy for maintenance and gain and ME concentration in the diets. Evaluation of the SRNS model was performed by adjustment of simple linear regression model between the predicted (independent variable) and observed (dependent variable) values. The estimated energy use efficiency for maintenance (km) was 0.70; and for gain weight (kg) it showed to be inversely proportional to the increase of metabolizable energy concentration in the diet. The dry matter intake predicted by the SRNS model did not statistically differ from that observed, but the model overestimated the average daily gain by 5.18%. Those results can contribute to the construction of a database, which could be condensed into several others in a predictive model of performance and feed planning for sheep reared in Brazil.

Effect of irrigation water salinity and cutting age on the components of biomass of Echinochloa pyramidalis

The objective was to evaluate the effect of salinity of irrigation water and different cutting ages on the biomass components of Echinochloa pyramidalis. Seedlings were planted in plastic pots (volume of 8 L) with sandy-textured Quartzarenic Neosol, under greenhouse conditions. The design was completely randomized in split plots with salinity levels (0.75, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0 dS m-1) in the main plot, and cutting ages (21, 28, 35, 42 and 49 days) in the subplots, with five replicates. After the standardization cut, the dry masses of total forage, dead forage, live forage, green leaf blade, green stem and ratios of live material/dead material and leaf/stem were determined. There was no interaction between the factors studied. Salinity decreased the dry masses of total forage, green leaf blade and green stem. Salinity had no effect on the dry masses of dead forage or ratios of live material/dead material and leaf/stem. Salinity changed the partitioning of dry matter, reducing the percentage of stems, and increasing the percentage of leaves in the dry mass of total forage. The advance in the cutting age caused increases in the dry masses of total forage, dead forage, live forage, green stem and green leaf blade. From the cutting age of 28 days, dead forage dry mass had a very sharp increase. The increase in stem dry mass rose from the 35th day. The extension of the cutting age promoted a decline in the live material/dead material and leaf/stem ratios. The cut of Echinochloa pyramidalis at 21 days, when it presents the best leaf/stem ratio is recommended.

Parâmetros nutricionais e padrões nictemeral do comportamento ingestivo de cordeiros Somalis Brasileira alimentados com diferentes níveis de energia metabolizável

The study was conducted to determine the intake, nutrient digestibility and ingestive behavior of Brazilian Somali lambs fed different levels of metabolizable energy (ME). Forty non-castrated Brazilian Somali lambs with average weight of 13.47±1.76kg were used. The animals were assigned to a randomized block design with eight replications per block and five diets with increasing metabolizable energy (1.18, 2.07, 2.25, 2.42 and 2.69 Mcal/kg DM). The quadratic effect (P<0.05) of the ME level was determined for DM, CP, NDF and FC (g/day) and DM (g/kg0,75) and NDF(%PC and g/kg0,75) intake, as well as the digestibility coefficients (P<0.05) for CP, NDF and CF. A linear effect (P<0.05) was observed for digestibility of DM, OM and NFC with the increase of ME in the diet. Eating and idle results (hours/day) were influenced by the energy levels (P<0.05) and efficiencies of feeding and rumination (g NDF/h) showed a quadratic effect (P<0.05). It is concluded that the increase of ME levels in the diet influences intatke, nutrient digestibility and ingestive behavior of Brazilian Somali lambs.