ABSTRACT We evaluated the effects of adding fungal inoculants composed of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and Trichoderma longibrachiatum to rehydrated corn silage fed to lambs receiving a tropical grass hay-based diet and their impact on financial viability. The effects of combined inoculation on dry matter intake (DMI) and weight gain were analyzed. A total of 22 male Dorper × Santa Ines crossbred lambs, with an average body weight of 14.20 ± 1.74 kg, were randomly assigned to two treatments: (1) control (CTL), […]

ABSTRACT This study investigated the occurrence of mycotoxins in wet brewers’ grains (WBG) treated with salt (sodium chloride) and the intake, nutrient digestibility, and nitrogen use efficiency in lamb diets. Two experiments were conducted: first, WBG was distributed in plastic boxes and treated with no additive (control), sodium formate (3 g/kg of WBG), or three levels of salt—25, 30, and 35 g/kg of WBG. The WBG were stored at room temperature (17.7±4.6 ℃) for 27 days. In the second experiment, […]

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of Nellore bulls finished in the feedlot and fed high-energy diets containing sodium monensin associated or not with tannins and saponins. Ninety-six Nellore bulls were used with an average initial body weight of 350.6±17.9 kg. The bulls were weight-blocked and randomly allocated to 12 pens, which were considered the experimental units. The treatments were assigned to the pens according to the blocks, as follows: sodium monensin (25 ppm; SM) […]

ABSTRACT Two studies were carried out to evaluate the effects of levels of soybean meal produced from damaged soybean grains replacing normal soybean meal on in vitro and in situ digestibility of ruminant diets as well as on intake, digestibility, and animal performance of growing/finishing lambs. In trial 1, we evaluated the in vitro digestibility of each soybean meals (normal and damaged), as well as diets containing levels of the damaged replacing the normal (0, 333, 667 and 1,000 g.kg−1) […]

ABSTRACT In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of cutting height (25 or 40 cm above ground) and bacterial inoculation (a combined inoculant of Lactobacillus plantarum and Propionibacterium acidipropionici) on the chemical and microbial compositions, fermentative profile, and aerobic stability of whole-plant corn silage and nitrogen balance, intake, and apparent nutrient digestibility by sheep. To evaluate silage characteristics and sheep metabolism, we performed analyses based on a completely randomized block design with a 2×2 factorial arrangement (two cutting […]

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to investigate the effect of selective feeding habits on the quality of the ingested diet and the effect of feed restriction on the selectivity and behavior of goats in feedlots. Differences were found only in the amount of feed given to the animals, with a difference in the amount of feed rejected as a function of the nutritional level. Higher levels of orts were measured for those animals that received the ad libitum diet. For […]

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate passive immunity transfer, health, performance, and metabolism of Holstein calves fed colostrum supplement associated with medium-quality colostrum. After birth, calves were blocked according to birth weight and date and distributed into the following treatments: high-quality colostrum (> 50 mg of Ig/mL; n = 15; 150 g kg−1 BW; positive control group); medium-quality colostrum (30-40 mg of Ig/mL; n = 14; 150 g kg−1 BW), and medium-quality colostrum (30-40 mg of Ig/mL; […]

ABSTRACT This research was conducted to investigate the effect of live and inactive sugarcane yeast on beef cattle voluntary intake, apparent digestibility of nutrients, ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations, and ruminal ammonia. Five rumen-cannulated Nellore heifers were distributed in a 5×5 Latin square design, with five experimental periods of 15 days, with seven days for adaptation to the additives and the remaining days for data records and sampling. Total mixed ration (TMR) was composed by corn silage (20%) […]

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of substituting Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon sp. cv. Tifton 85) with levels of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) byproduct (0, 8, 16, and 24%, diet dry matter basis) in the diet of 16 Holstein × Gir heifers with an average body weight of 363.0±27.7 kg on their nutrient intake, digestibility, and protein balance. The experimental period was 17 days, and the sample collection period was five days. There was no effect of cocoa […]

ABSTRACT The objective of the study was to evaluate the replacement of Tifton 85 hay (TH) for Tifton 85 silage (TS) in the diets of lactating cows. Five Holstein cows in middle of lactation were allocated in a 5 × 5 Latin square design and each experimental period lasted 18 days (12 days for adaptation and six days for collection). Treatments consisted of replacement of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of TH for TS. The intake and digestion of […]