It was evaluated four levels of silk flower (Calotropis procera S.W.) hay (SFH) as a substitute of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) hay (SBH) in diet for lambs. Nutritional value of silk-flower hay was determined based on aparent digestibility and on metabolic, productive and economical performance of Santa Inês lambs. It was used twenty-four castrated males at 15.72 ± 1.92 kg body weight randomly distributed in four diets with silk-fklower and sorghum hay ratios (100:0, 66:33, 33:66, 0:100), and supplemented with a […]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of self-control supplements on nutritional parameters of steers grazing Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. during the rainy-dry season transitional period. Four crossbred steers fistulated in rumen, abomasum and esophagus were used. Mineral salt (SAL) and supplements based on: mineral mix, salt, and ground corn grain (GCG); mineral mix, urea and ground corn grain (UGCG); and mineral mix, urea, grounded corn grain and soybean meal (UGCSM), with different protein contents were given. The […]

This study aimed at evaluating plasma concentration of urea nitrogen, the number of ovulations and the diameter of ovulatory follicle of Santa Ines ewes submitted to flushing with sources of protein with different ruminal degradabilities. Forty-four estrus-synchronized ewes were fed isoprotein diets composed of soybean meal (n = 24) or corn gluten meal and cottonseed meal (n = 20) for 28 days before ovulation. Animals were distributed in a block design in which the blocks were formed by three score […]

This work was developed to evaluate intake, apparent digestibility of nutrients and the effect of time (days) of total collection (two and four days) in apparent digestibility estimate in goats fed diets containing sugar cane treated with calcium oxide (CaO). Eight castrated male Saanen breed goats, at 22.6 kg average body weight and at four months of age were used, distributed in two 4 × 4 Latin squares, with four 14-day experimental periods. The diets were formulated to be isoprotein […]

This study was developed to evaluate the intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients in dairy heifers fed diets containing sugar cane treated with calcium oxide (CaO). It was also evaluated the prediction efficiency of dry matter intake and food energy value. Twenty Holstein-zebu crossbred dairy heifers, at 200 kg average initial body weight were used, distributed in a completely randomized design, with four diets and five repetitions. The diets were formulated to be isoprotein and to supply 14% crude protein […]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of supplements with three combinations of energy and protein on milk production, milk physical and chemical characteristics, body weight, body condition score and blood biochemical profile of the cows. It was used, in this experiment, 24 lactating cows on natural fields distributed in a complete random design, receiving one of the following supplements: low levels of energy and protein, low level of energy and high level of protein or high […]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the manner in which diet is supplied and spineless cactus forage is processed on intake, nutrient digestibility, milk production and composition, concentration of plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) in the milk urea nitrogen (MUN) and production of microbial protein in Holstein cows in lactation. Eight cows (453 ± 75.8 kg) yielding 14 kg milk/day were allotted to a factorial design, with two manners of cactus processing (knife-chopped or forage machine) […]

This experiment aimed at evaluating the productive performance, intake and the apparent digestibility in the raising of beef heifers on Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. pastures under supplementation with starch or fibrous energy sources during the dry season. It was used 40 newly weaned heifers (20 Nellore and 20 crossbreed), at 8.5 months of age and 197.9 ± 3.74 kg initial weight. Two supplements were formulated: the first was corn meal- and soybean meal-based diet (high in starch) and the second was […]

The objectives of this paper were to generate data on physical composition and muscle:bone, muscle:fat and edible portion:bone ratios of the loin of ewes slaughtered at different physiological stages in addition to the possible correlations among the variables analyzed in this study. Twenty-one Santa Inês ewes were distributed to the following physiological stages: EL = ewes which remained in lactation for 60 days with their respective lambs and slaughtered at one day after weaning of the lambs; EWL = ewes […]

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of increasing levels of concentrate and crude protein in the diets, in which intakes of dry matter and nutrients, coefficients of digestibility, milk production and composition and efficiency of food use were evaluated. Twenty cows in lactation were distributed in a random block design, with five replicates per diet, defined according to milk production. The experimental diets were constituted of sorghum silage as roughage and concentrate at the following levels: […]