This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of microbially inoculated alfafa silage on total digestibility in wethers. Twelve wethers were randomly assigned to two treatments: alfalfa haylage (35.7% DM and 19.6% CP, on average) control or microbially inoculated with Silobac product (Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus). The experimental period extended for twenty-one days, the last five used for feces and urine collection. The inoculation increased total digestibility of DM (inoculated = 62.5% vs. control = 59.5%), NFE (70.9% vs. […]

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of sex (males x females) and four slaughter weights (28, 32, 36 and 40 kg), on carcass morphometry, cuts weights, tissues and offals percentages, from crossbred lambs Ile de France x Corriedale, finished in feedlot. Fourty lambs (20 males and 20 females), were weaned at 60 days of age and were full fed a diet with 16.46% CP and 67.63% TDN. They were divided in 4 male groups (G1M, G2M, G3M […]

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of sex(males x females) and four slaughter weights (28, 32, 36 and 40 kg) on the perfomance, carcass traits and economic results from crossbred lambs, finished in feedlot. Fourty ½ Ile de France x ½ Corriedale lambs (20 males and 20 females), were weaned at 60 days of age and were full fed a diet with 16.46% CP and 67.63% TDN. They were divided in four male groups (G1M, G2M, G3M […]

Forty five adult ewes were used, 15 for each of the three breeds: Hampshire Down (HD), Texel (TE) and Ile de France (IF). These animals were measured for rectal temperature (Rt), skin temperature (St), fleece temperature (Ft), temperature of the coat surface (Cst) and respiratory rate (Rr), Air temperature (At), air vapour pressure (Avp), wind speed (Ws), globe temperature (Gt) and radiant heat load (Rhl) were also recorded. The Thermal Comfort Index equation was used: TCI = 0.6678Ta + 0.4969e […]

The effect of slaughter age on non-carcass components and carcass characteristics was evaluated in 35 Suffolk lambs slaughtered at average age of 90, 130 or 170 days, fed corn silage and concentrate (19.6% CP). As the slaughter age increased, animal live weight and carcass weight linearly increased, and some non-carcass components as blood, head, legs and full viscera percentage linearly decreased, leading to a linear increase in carcass yield. As the slaughter age increase, it was observed change in the […]

The objective of this experiment was to compare qualitative carcass characteristics of 36 lambs that were finished in coastcross pasture, being 13 Corriedale, 14 Bergamacia x Corriedale, and 9 Hampshire Down x Corriedale, and 29 lambs tha twere finished in a dry-lot system, being 10 Corriedale, 11 Bergamacia x Corriedale, and 8 Hampshire Down x Corriedale. The average of the variables (scale ranging from 1 to 5), body condition score (2.70 vs 3.13.), conformation (2.65 vs. 3.35) and subcutaneous fat […]

The orange peel silage additives, with or without the additives microbial enzymatic additive, formic acid and acetic acid, was evaluated to determine the apparent digestibility of the dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ether extract (EE) and nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC). The orange peel was ensiled for 70 days, in concrete tubes with capacity for 700 kg, in a trial with male sheep, housed in metabolic cages. The diet constituted […]

Eight rumen fistulated rams were delineated in two Latin Squares in four periods of 35 days each and four treatments consisted of increasing levels of sugar cane (SC) in substitution to the corn silage (CS): A) 100% CS, B) 67% CS and 33% SC, C) 33% CS and 67% SC and D) 100% SC, to evaluate the population of ciliate protozoa in the rumen. The total concentrations of rumen ciliate protozoa and of Entodinium decreased and the values of pH […]

The objective of this experimental work was to evaluate the influence of different levels of sorghum grain, as a source of starch, on the plasma parameters of sheep fed elephant grass hay (Pennisetum purpureum Schum). Sorghum grain was included in the diet at four levels: 0, 15, 30 e 45%. Twelve castrated male sheep were assigned to four treatments with three replicates. Six samples of blood per animal were collected just before the morning feeding (zero hour) and after 1, […]

The objective of this experiment was to study the carcass traits and their correlation with the tissue composition. Twenty-two intact male lambs, sired by Texel males, from crossbreed Texel -Ideal dams were used. At the beginning of the experiment (24 hours after birth), four lambs were slaughtered to serve as reference and a group of six lambs were slaughtered at weaning time and at 28 and 33 kg LW. The lambs were confined in individual stall with their respective mothers […]