ABSTRACT This study aimed to establish the optimal concentration of purified Kraft lignin (PKL) in the diet of finishing lambs. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design, with four diets and LKR concentrations of 0, 6, 12, and 18 g/kg DM, with eight Poll Dorset × Texel crossbred lambs per treatment. The experiment was conducted with newly weaned lambs, aged 60 ± 10 days, with an average initial body weight of 23 ± 5 kg. The animals were […]

ABSTRACT Mathematical modeling is a systematic process that involves identifying key variables and understanding how they interact. This review provides a comprehensive pedagogical framework for new researchers in animal science modeling, addressing the critical gap between general modeling theory and domain-specific applications. While modeling typically begins with conceptualization using visual aids such as causal loop diagrams, stock and flow diagrams, mind maps, and flowcharts to organize relationships among variables, there is a notable lack of resources that effectively bridge theoretical […]

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dried or rehydrated corn and sorghum grains on nutrient intake, performance, and economic analysis in high-grain diets (30:70) of Nellore bulls finished in a feedlot system. The experiment was completely randomized and replicated four times (two animals/pen), in which 32 Nellore bulls with an initial body weight (IBW) of 324.8±4.42 kg were fed in 16 pens according to the following treatments: rehydrated corn silage (RCS), rehydrated sorghum silage, dry corn grain, […]

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to determine the effects of adding pomegranate peel and oregano pulp at different levels (2, 4, 6, and 8%) on a dry matter basis to sheep rations on methane production and rumen fermentation using the in vitro gas production technique. In the study, nine experimental groups were formed by adding different levels (2, 4, 6, and 8%) of pomegranate peel and oregano pulp to the total ration mixture (control ration). Each treatment group was designed […]

ABSTRACT The objective was to evaluate the effect of delivery frequency of loose mineral mixtures (LMM) offered to grazing steers on the physicochemical characteristics of the mixture and animal performance. Two experiments were carried out both during the wet-to-dry transition period (March 2021 to June 2021) and during the rainy season (November 2021 to March 2022). Brangus steers (n = 120, distributed in 24 paddocks) were used in experiment 1 and Nellore steers (n = 96, distributed in 20 paddocks) […]

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of snaplage on fecal characteristics, feeding behavior, and performance of finishing bulls. Seventy-two single-sourced Nellore bulls (initial body weight [BW] = 400 ± 27.4 kg; 2.4 years old) were randomly assigned to one of three treatments (three bulls/pen; eight pen replicates/treatment). Treatments consisted of finishing diets with the following sources of fiber and energy: corn silage, reconstituted corn grain silage, and dry-ground corn (control; inclusion of 22.9, 42.1, and […]

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the substitution of corn grain with white oat grain in finishing yearling bulls (initial weight of 259.4±31.7 kg and 18.0±0.2 months of age). The experimental design was completely randomized. The substitution levels of corn grain for white oat grain were 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%. Diets comprised 85% of grains + 15% of a protein-vitamin-mineral pelleted supplement. The adaptation program consisted of ad libitum feeding of five diets over the adaptation period of 14 days, […]

ABSTRACT This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of corn dried distillers’ grains (DDG) levels in non-forage diets by in vitro, in situ (0 to 50%), and in vivo (0 to 40%) trials on kinetic parameters of gas production (GP) on rumen-degradable protein (RDP) and rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) as well as on nitrogen (N) metabolism in Nellore cattle. For in vitro and in situ studies, three rumen cannulated Nellore males with body weight of 340.48 ± 22.22 kg […]

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship among digestibility, residual feed intake (RFI), and enteric methane emission in growing Nellore cattle (Bos indicus) divergently classified based on RFI phenotype and breeding value (EBV-RFI). Animals (n = 122) subjected to performance testing (forage:concentrate ratio of 60:40) in two test groups were classified based on RFI. A sample of 80 animals classified as low (−0.748±0.076 kg DM/day) or high (0.775±0.075 kg DM/day) RFI was evaluated regarding feed compounds digestibility, fecal […]

ABSTRACT Our objective was to compare performance and carcass characteristics of backgrounding steers grazing poor quality pasture, receiving energy or protein supplements during summer, and on subsequent finishing period. Sixty Hereford steers (14 months; 348±33 kg body weight [BW]) were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to one of three treatments (n = 20 per treatment): control (non-supplemented) and supplemented at 0.8% BW with whole grain of corn (CS) or lupin bean (LS) (phase I; 77 days). Over the following […]