ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of the cactus Opuntia stricta (Haw.) in sheep diets on the feed intake, digestibility, fermentation, and physicochemical characteristics of the ruminal digesta. Five sheep cannulated in the rumen (61.5±9.5 kg body weight) were assigned in a Latin square design (5×5), with five diets and five experimental periods of 21 days each. The first 14 days were the adaptation period, and data were collected over the following […]

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of guava agroindustrial waste (GAW) on ruminal parameters (pH, N-NH3, and microbial protein), volatile fatty acid (VFA), and morphometry of the rumen and intestine of sheep. A total of forty Santa Inês sheep (120 days old and 21.3±2.62 kg) were used. The animals were fed diets with 0, 7.5, 15, 22.5, and 30% inclusion of GAW. The pH, ammonia nitrogen, microbial protein, and VFA were evaluated in the ruminal […]

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%) […]

Intake and total and ruminal digestibility, ruminal characteristics and microbial synthesis efficiency in bovine and bubaline fed sugar cane silages treated with microbial additive Lactobacillus buchneri (inoculate) and the addition of: cassava byproduct meal at 250 g/kg; soybean hulls at 250 g/kg; and urea at 33 g/kg, in natural matter were evaluated. The forage:concentrate ratio was 600:400 g/kg. Bubaline body weight (BW) was 403±49 kg and bovine BW was 492±10 kg. The experimental design consisted of two 4 × 4 […]

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of replacing corn grain by pearl millet grain in diets containing corn silage or elephant grass silage on feed intake, apparent digestibility of nutrients and ruminal parameters of beef cattle. Six cannulated Nellore steers were distributed in a 6 x 6 Latin square, in a 2 x 3 factorial scheme, with two sources of roughages (corn silage or elephant grass silage) and three levels of replacement of corn grain by […]

Nine ruminally fistulated Nellore steers were located in nine paddocks of palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) pasture under daily supplementation (seven times per week), from Monday to Friday (five times per week) or Monday, Wednesday and Friday (three times per week). Ruminal fluid was sampled on two consecutive days. On the first day, all the animals that were supplemented (D1) and other subsequent day in which only for the animals under daily supplementation received the supplement (D2). The supplementation […]

This research was carried out to evaluate the intake, total and ruminal digestibilities, microbial efficiency synthesis, nitrogen balance (NB) and ruminal parameters of beef heifers, fed sugarcane treated or not with calcium oxide (CaO – 1.0%) and different concentrate levels (CL), in feedlot. Six animals (170.0 kg BW) were allotted to a 6 × 6 Latin square design in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement (sugarcane in nature treated or not with 1.0% CaO and three CL 0.0, 0.5 and […]

Twelve Nellore of three sexual categories (four heifers, four bulls and four steers) averaging 15 months of age and body weight of 235, 249, and 239 kg, respectively, were assigned to a completely randomized design with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement (two levels of concentrate – 25 or 50% and three sexual categories) to evaluate intake, partial and total digestibility of nutrients, microbial protein synthesis and ruminal metabolism. The collection of ruminal fluid was done before and at 2, […]

This work was carried out to evaluate the effect of four dietary urea levels (0, 0.65, 1.3, and 1.95% in dry matter – DM) on ruminal pH and ammonia-N, plasmatic urea nitrogen, urea fractional excretion, creatinine and urea excretions, as well as to evaluate endogenous urinary losses, by means of creatinine excretion, in steers of four genetic groups (Holstein, ½ Holstein-Guzera, ½ Holstein-Gir and Zebu). Animals were assigned to four 4 ´ 4 latin squares (genetic groups), with four animals, […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate three different concentrate levels (CL) (23, 43 and 63%) on intake, nutrient digestibility, ruminal metabolism, and microbial efficiency in Holstein bovines and Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) fed diets containing ground corn and dry cassava by-product as energy sources. Three Holstein bovines and three Murrah buffaloes averaging, respectively, 473±54 kg and 400±33 kg of body weight (BW), fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were blocked by species and randomly assigned to two replicated […]