In order to compare the effects of addition of fluorine (F) in diets differing in protein content on the urinary F excretion, blood profile and thyroid hormones, 30 crossbred calves (6-8 months) initially exposed to different protein levels were allotted into six groups in a 3 × 2 factorial design. The factors included three different levels of protein: normal (NP; 100%), low (LP; 75%), and high (HP; 125%) besides two levels of supplemental fluorine (as sodium fluoride) at 0 or […]

The effect of replacing increasing levels of high-energy cottonseed meal (0, 8.7, 17.4, 26.1 and 34,8% DM) with soybean meal in concentrate for cows in the final lactation third on intake, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen efficiency and milk yield was assessed. Five crossbred 5/8 Holstein × 3/8 Gir cows were allotted to a 5 × 5 Latin square design, with five 18-day periods (eight days for adaptation and 10 days to determine intake and collect samples). The diets were formulated to […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the replacement of soybean meal by cottonseed meal in the diet of dairy cows fed diets based on spineless cactus. Five Girolando lactating cows were used, with average live weight of 490 kg and average production of 11.5 kg of milk/day, distributed in a 5 × 5 Latin square design (5 animals, 5 treatments and 5 experimental periods). Each experimental period lasted 15 days, 10 days being for the adaptation of the […]

The Brazilian semi-arid region has 928 km2 ranging from the northern portion of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo States, the semi-arid lands of Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, and Piauí States, and 45 counties from southeastern Maranhão State. Population is mainly concentrated in rural areas and the major occupation is agriculture and livestock production. Dairy production is one of the few options in these areas, mainly in northeast Brazil, where the feeding systems are based […]

The experiment was carried to evaluate the effect of different levels of fiber in the diet on the nutrients intake, daily milk yield and composition of ewes. Eighteen multiparous ewes, housed in individual cage 24 hours postpartum, were randomly assigned to three levels of dietary NDF (treatment): 34, 43 and 52%. The diets constituted by a total mixed ration of corn silage, and a concentrate mix (ground corn, soybean meal and mineral mix) were formulated to be isoproteic (13% CP). […]

The objective of this trial was to determine the intestinal digestibility of nutrients using an in vitro three-step enzymatic procedure. Eight concentrate feeds were evaluated: whole sunflower (WSF), mechanically pressed sunflower cake (SFC1x; one press extraction), mechanically pressed sunflower cake (SFC2x; two press extractions), whole soybean (WSB), partially degreased soybean (DSB), soybean meal (SBM), degreased corn germ meal (CGM), and a commercial concentrate with 36% of CP (CC). Feeds were incubated in the rumen of bovines for 33, 20 and […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal with urea on performance, carcass traits, and intake and digestibility of nutrients in steers. Microbial protein synthesis and efficiency were also measured in this trial. Sixteen steers averaging 286 kg of BW were assigned to a completely randomized design with a 2×2 factorial approach: two protein sources (soybean meal and urea) and two levels of concentrate (0.75 and 1.25% of BW); four replicates per treatment were […]

Economic and animal performance of feedlot beef young bulls and heifers fed finishing diets were evaluated in this trial. Twenty-eight Santa Gertrudis bovines (14 young bulls and 14 heifers) were assigned to a completely randomized design and maintained in individual pens. Diets were formulated to fulfill the weight gain requirements of finishing animals. The measured variables were affected by sex. Daily weight gain (DWG), feed conversion, carcass yield, and dry matter (DM) intake were: 1.80 and 1.22 kg/day, 5.61 and […]

The objective of this trial was to investigate the effects of replacing corn by coffee hulls on intake, apparent digestibility, and milk production and composition of lactating dairy cows. Treatments contained one of the following four levels of coffee hulls: 0, 5, 10 or 15% of the total dietary DM. Twelve Holstein dairy cows were blocked by days in milk and randomly assigned to three replicated 4 x 4 Latin squares. Diets were isonitrogenous averaging 15.5% of CP and composed […]

This research was developed to estimate the energy values (TDN) of feeds, concentrate and roughage, through equations proposed by NRC (2001) and validate from the comparison among TDN values estimated by these equations and those observed in the total collection feces. Five concentrate feeds (wheat bran, soybean meal, corn ground, whole soybean and whole cotton seed) an five roughage feeds (brachiaria hay, corn silage, tifton haylage, elephant grass silage and elephantgrass) were evaluated by using 20 crossbred Holstein x Zebu […]