ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to assess the effect of corn silage particle size on feeding behavior, blood parameters, fecal characteristics, and growth performance of beef heifers. Corn silage was harvested at 37.9 ± 1.6% dry matter (DM) using a self-propelled harvester containing shredding rolls and set to either a 13-mm theoretical length of cut (TLC), designated as conventional particle size (CPS), or a 24-mm TLC, designated as long particle size (LPS). Ninety-six Nellore heifers (initial shrunk body […]

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of the content of total mixed rations (TMR) offered to high-producing cows from 20 dairy herds of Castro, Paraná State, Brazil. The average milk yield during the sample collection period was 38.0±6.8 kg/day, with 3.47±0.25% milk fat and 3.05±0.18% milk protein. The particle size distribution of samples of fresh diet and leftovers was evaluated using the Penn State Particle Separator (PSPS) and chemical analysis was also conducted. The TMR […]

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate estimates of concentration of indigestible dry matter (iDM), indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF) and indigestible acid detergent fiber (iADF) in samples of cattle feed and feces processed at different particle sizes (1-, 2-, and 3-mm) using bags made from nylon (50 μm), F57 (Ankom®), and non-woven textile (NWT – 100 g/m2) in a in situ evaluation procedure. Eight samples of concentrates, seven samples of forages and two samples of cattle feces were […]

This study was carried out to evaluate intake, apparent nutrient digestibility and water balance in horses fed on different forms of coast-cross hay. Four crossbreed horses, 30 months of age and 200 kg body weight were used. Horses were fed coast-cross hay in four physical forms: long hay; chopped hay (5 cm); ground hay (5 mm) and ground hay (3 mm). The experiment was performed in a 4 × 4 Latin Square design with 15 days for each experimental period […]

Two experiments were carried out to determine the nutritional values of sticky (SC) and dry coffee hulls (DC) and their effects on the performance and carcass quality of growing and finishing pigs. The hulls were ground in 2.5 mm (for SC2 and DC2) and 4.0 mm (SC4 and DC4). In Exp 1, two digestibility assays were carried out with 15 barrow pigs weighting 45.7 ± 4.12 kg and 77.5 ± 6.28 kg for growing and finishing phases, respectively. The digestible […]

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of calcium levels and particle sizes of limestone on egg production. Six hundred Lohman LSL laying hens were randomly assigned to 10 treatments: two particle sizes of limestone (DGM = 0.135 mm and 0.899 mm) combined with five dietary calcium levels (0.60, 0.75, 0.90, 1.05, and 1.20% Ca), supplemented with phytase (500 FTU/kg). This experiment was analyzed as a 2 x 5 factorial arrangement with five replicates, with 12 hens per experiment […]

Two experiments using New Zealand White x Californian rabbits were carried out with the objective of evaluating the effect of fiber source particle size on digestive traits of growing rabbit and the production, chemical composition and cecotrophes nutritive contribuition on dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) base. Four diets were prepared with different particle size of sugar cane bagasse with average geometric diameters of .231, .506, .616 and .833 mm. The productive performance and weight of the full and […]

The average particle size (PS) and module of fineness (MF) of the diet, ruminal digesta and feces of steers, as well as relative resistance (RR) of the particles to escape of the reticulum-rumen, were studied in a native pasture of the Zona da Mata – Minas Gerais State, during the Season 1 (S1), that corresponded to the months of February/March/April, and Season 2 (S2), that corresponded to the months of August/September/October. The PS and MF of the diet selected by […]

To evaluate the use of rations with different corn and soybean meal eparticle size in productive performance, 384 Japanese quails in laying period with 13 weeks of age were allotted to laying cages. The traits consisted of different particle size of diets according to grinding size of corn (C) and soybean meal (SBM), with the use of sieve diameter of 1/8, 2/8 inches or 6 mm resulting in a GMD of 1420, 1161 and 1047 mm, respectively, and for soybean […]

The objective of this work was to determine the nutritional requirement of available P and the effect of the particle size in the P bioavailability from meat and bone meal for broiler chicks. Two hundred and fifty and 450 Hubbard broiler chicks from 1 to 21 days of age, respectively, were allotted to a completely randomized design, with five (requirement) or nine (bioavailability) treatments, with five replicates and ten birds per experimental unit. The P requirements was determined by means […]