The effects of starch or neutral detergent soluble fiber associated with two dietary levels of NDF on performance of finishing feedlot beef steers were evaluated in this trial. Twenty-four crossbred ½ Angus x ½ Nellore steers averaging 18 months of age and 329 ± 24 kg of body weight at the beginning of the trial were used. All four diets were balanced to supply the crude protein requirements for a daily weight gain of approximately 1.4 kg. Diets were composed […]

The chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of corn and sorghum silages with and without microbial inoculants after several fermentation periods were evaluated in laboratory silos. A 6 x 2 x 3 factorial treatment combination (6 fermentation periods x 2 silages x 3 inoculants) was assayed in a completely randomized design to evaluate the dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) contents and a 4 x 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments (4 fermentation periods x […]

The objective of this trial was to study the effects of different dietary levels of crude protein (CP) on intake and apparent total tract, intestinal, and ruminal digestibilities of nutrients in Holstein x Zebu steers. The diets contained [dry matter (DM) basis]: 10.5, 12, 13.5, or 15% of CP and a forage (Tifton 85):concentrate ratio of 65:35. Four castrated animals averaging 487.3 kg of body weight at the beginning of the trial and fitted with both abomasum and rumen cannulas […]

This trial was carried out from June 1999 to March 2000 to evaluate the chemical composition of samples of sabiá legume (Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth.), with and without thorns, collected in the rainy and dry seasons and to compare the botanical composition of sabiá pasture with that of the diet selected by the grazing animals. No significant difference was observed in chemical composition between samples of sabiá with and without thorns. The mean values obtained in the rainy samples were: 26.45% […]

A mixture of two winter forages: black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb. cv. Common) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. cv. Common) was introduced in a pasture of aruanagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Aruana), grazed by sheep in an intensive production system (irrigation, fertilization and rotational stocking) with the objective of increasing the forage nutritive value during the dry winter period. From 04-14-00 to 01-18-01 and 06-07-01 to 02-22-02, the chemical composition and digestibility of pre-grazing forage were evaluated in six […]

An experiment was carried out to evaluate supplementation of sorghum straw (SS) with poultry litter (PL) in a single offering/day, and minerals and their effects on feed intake, sorghum straw dry matter disappearance (DMD) in nylon bags and rumen liquid ammonia N concentration. A 4×4 latin square design with 17-day periods and four rumen fistulated stalled cows was used to compare four treatments: (0) SS alone, (M) SS + mineral mixture offered ad libitum (P) SS + 1 kg/day of […]

The experiment was performed to evaluate plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) level of crossbred cows under two rotational grazing areas, one of elephantgrass cv. Guaçu (Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cv. Guaçu) and other one of Tanzaniagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzania). Forage production, stem, leaf and dead material were also evaluated, on dry matter basis (DM), as well as the crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in the forage samples. Blood was collected four times, using 16 cows for grass […]

Crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) contents were assessed in the leaf blade and stem + leaf sheath fractions of Tanzaniagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzania-1) managed at four sward heights (20, 40, 50 and 65 cm). The grazing method was the continuous stocking and variable stocking rate, and used Nelore steers with an average weight of 340 kg. The […]

The objective of this work was to evaluate the intake of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) by fedlot cattle, the principal factors that influencing this variable, and to correlate the NDF to total dry matter (DM) intake. The data published at the Brazilian Journal of Animal Science Society and Brazilian Journal of Animal Science among the years of 1991 and 2000, totaling 45 scientific works and 181 averages of treatments, were evaluated. The level of total digestible nutrients was negatively correlated […]

The objectives of this experiment were to determine dry matter intake (DMI), apparent digestibility of dry matter (ADMD), organic matter (ADOM), neutral detergent fiber (ADNDF), in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) and protein and carbohydrate fractions of Bermuda grass hay harvested at 21, 42, 63 and 84 days. The experimental design used to estimate the feed intake and the apparent digestibility was a 4 x 4 Latin square and to evaluate age effect was used regression analysis. Dry matter intake (DMI) […]