Seven sheep fed S. guianensis hay were used to evaluate ruminal amino acid degradability, nitrogen balance and rumen volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations. Nylon bags technique was used for determination of the in situ degradabilities of amino acids. Bags were collected at 6, 24 and 48 hours after insertion. Duodenum and feces samples were used to determine amoniacal-N and non-amoniacal-N. To determine ruminal VFA concentrations, samples of 80 mL were collected immediately before feeding and 2, 4, 6 and 8 […]

Effects of adaptation periods to sodium lasalocid and its ionophorum levels were evaluated on ruminal fermentation, using four Holstein-Zebu cross-breed cows. Latin square was the experimental design used, with four periods of six weeks, in which isolated data from the first, second, third and fourth weeks were used to evaluate periods of adaptation, and the last two destined to eliminate residual effects. Treatments were no supplementation and supplementation with 50, 100 and 200 mg of sodium lasalocid/ head/day, and rumen […]

The results of using lactic acid bacteria in ensiling has been conflicting. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of microbially inoculated corn plant for silage production on total digestibility in wethers. Eight wethers were assigned to a cross-over design, with two periods (8 animals/treatment) and treatments were: control corn silage (28.6% DM and 9.6% CP, on average) or under inoculation with Pioneer 1174 product (Streptococcus faecium and Lactobacillus plantarum). Each period extended for twenty-one days, the last five […]

Effects of feeding textured soy protein (TSP), in liquid form (through esophageal groove), or solid form (throughout concentrate) were studied in a Latin-square changeover 4 x 4 design. Four Holstein steers fitted with ruminal cannulas were used, weighting 100 kg of live weight at the beginning of the trial, to evaluate treatments consisting of increasing TSP levels in liquid form (0%, 33%, 66% and 100%) offered through nipple-pail, and decreasing levels in concentrate to keep the same amount of nitrogen […]

The localization of acid phosphatase at distal small intestine and its morphology were studied f0rom birth to intestinal closure from fifteen male dairy calves aged: unsuckled neonatal, three hours after colostrum ingestion and three days old. At birth, the presence of a large vacuole was found and it expanded all over the epithelial cells cytoplasm at distal jejunum and ileum. For colostrum fed calves, ingested material could be observed in the vacuole. The phosphatase acid reaction was detected in the […]

One type of commercial silo and three types of experimental silos were used for determination of chemical composition and fermentation characteristics of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) (33.0% DM and 4.2% CP) ensiled in two different densities (400 or 600 kg of silage/m3): 1) commercial bunker silo sampled at 30 (top) and 60 (deep) cm from the top; 2) plastic silo with bulsen valve; 3) plastic bag; and 4) concrete pipe. A completely randomized design was used. The concrete pipe silo […]

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of utilization of soybean meal or corn gluten meal on in situ ruminal degradabilities of diets, based on coastcross hay, corn and one of the nitrogen sources, fed to bulls, with average weight of 650 kg. Corn gluten meal was considered as a nitrogen source of low degradability and the SBM as intermediate ruminal degradability. They presented nitrogen potencial degradability of 39.7 and 90.3% and effective degradability of 35.7 and […]

It was evaluated the effect of four levels forage cactus in replacement of sorghum silage, in diets of lactating Holstein cows, on the apparent digestibility of dry matter (ADDM), organic matter (ADOM), crude protein (ADCP), ether extract (ADEE), neutral detergent fiber (ADNDF) and acid (ADADF), total carbohydrates (ADTCH) and nonfiber carbohydrates (ADNFC), content of total digestible nutrients (TDN) and apparent absorption of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sodium (Na). Eight Holstein cows averaging 590 kg and producing 27 […]

The effect of corn grain harvested at 87%DM or harvested at 70%DM ground and ensiled were evaluated. Diets contained different roughage sources, either corn silage (20% of the diet DM) or sugarcane bagasse (12% of the DM). Thirty two Santa Gertrudis bulls with initial average age of ten months and initial average weight of 245 kg were fed an adaptation diet for 33 days. After that period four animals were slaughtered to obtain initial body composition. The other 28 animals […]

Thirty two Santa Gertrudis bulls with ten months of age and 245 kg average live weight were fed 88% concentrate diets with corn silage or sugarcane bagasse and dry corn or high moisture corn. Four animals were slaughtered in the beginning of the experiment for initial body composition determination. Other 28 animals were distributed on four treatments. The experimental design was randomized blocks in 2 X 2 factorial (two roughage X two corn sources) with seven replicates. Regression equation of […]