The chemical composition, the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and apparent metabolizable energy corrected by nitrogen (AMEn) of six feed of vegetal origins were determined by the total excreta collection method. A total of 252 male broiler chicks of the lineage Ross with 21 days of age were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design, with seven treatments (one basal reference diet and six test diets), six replicates and six birds per experimental unit. The evaluated feeds were: corn (CO), high […]

The perfecting in the last years of augmentation lenses and that of the microscopes, as well as the development of samples preparation techniques, provided excellent tools in the several science areas. The evaluations at the microscope, electron or optical, of edible products utilized for ruminants, has helped in the cause/effect relationship understanding in animal performance. Of paramount importance are the advances obtained in the action mode of rumen microorganisms in the substrates knowledge, mainly of the particle-associated bacteria. Advances were […]

Four Corriedale wethers averaging 45 kg of body weight were randomly assigned to a 4 x 4 Latin square to evaluate the effects of two carbohydrate sources (soybean hulls and corn grain) and two dietary forage levels (40 and 70%) on nutrient digestibility, N balance, and portal nutrient flux. Animals were fitted with catheters in the mesenteric and portal veins and in the mesenteric artery. Digestibility of nutrients and N balance were determined by total collection of feces and urine. […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of rumen-degradable protein (RDP = 47, 52, 57 and 62%) associated to starch sources of low (corn) and high (cassava by-product (CBP) ruminal degradability on in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) and average daily gain of growing steers. In vitro DM digestibility was determined by using the Tilley and Terry (1963) technique. The in vitro data was submitted to analysis of variance and regression analysis in function of […]

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 […]

The objectives of this trial were to evaluate the effects of two carbohydrate sources (soybean hulls and corn grain) with and without monensin on digestibility, nitrogen balance and portal nutrient flux in sheep fed high vegetable oil diets. Four Corriedale wethers averaging 54 kg of body weight and fitted with catheters in the mesenteric and portal veins and also in the mesenteric artery were used. Digestibility and nitrogen balance were determined using total collection of feces and urine. Net nutrient […]

Four castrated sheep averaging 38.5 kg of body weight were randomly assigned to a 4 x 4 Latin square to evaluate the apparent digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen balance (NB) on diets containing different levels of rumen degradable protein (RDP): 46, 50, 54, and 58% and ground corn. The four experimental diets were composed by 75% of forage (oat hay) and 25% of concentrate containing ground corn (GC), soybean meal (SM), cottonseed meal (CM), fish meal (FM), urea, and mineral […]

Thirty-six lactating Holstein cows averaging 258 days in milk were used to study the supplementation of yeast culture (Levucell SC20 – Lallemand) in dairy diets with two starch contents (22 vs. 32%). The lowest starch content was obtained by partial (50:50) replacement of finely ground corn by dried citrus pulp. A replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design was used with four periods of 24 days each. The first 20 days were used for diet adaptation and the last four […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of different levels of supplementation on performance of grazing steers in the growing phase. The experiment was carried from March to November 2003. Fifty-five steers averaging 10 months old and initial body weight of 226 kg were assigned to a completely randomized design. The treatments were as follows: control (mineral salt) and supplements fed at different levels (0.125, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0% body weight/animal/day) and contained corn and soybean meal […]

Two experiments were carried out to study the digestibility of starch and the specific activity of amylase (ACAMY) and maltase (ACMAL) enzymes in two portions of small intestine (jejunum and ileum), in rabbits with initial ages of 28 and 49 days, fed with four sources of starch (corn, sorghum, triticale and cassava) processed or not by extrusion. Sixty-four White New Zealand rabbits were used in each experiment, distributed in a completely randomized design with eight treatments and eight replications. At […]