The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of diets with different neutral detergent fiber levels derived from the forage (NDFf), on ruminal parameters (pH and ammonia) in dairy goats. Five non-lactating goats were used, with fistulae in the rumen. The animals were arranged in a 5 × 5 Latin square using the NDFf levels (19, 27, 35, 42 and 18%), as independent variables. The increase in the NDFf levels of the rations reduced linearly the coefficients of […]

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the intake, apparent digestibility and the milk yield of goats fed elephant grass silages containing industrial by-products. Eight Saanen breed goats were used, distributed in two 4 × 4 Latin squares, with four 14-day periods (ten days of adaptation and four days for data collection). The treatments were: elephant grass silage + concentrate; elephant grass silage containing 15% cassava meal + concentrate; elephant grass silage containing 15% coffee hulls + concentrate; elephant grass […]

The objective of this study was to assess the variation in the pH, ruminal ammonia, nitrogen compound balance (BN) and microbial synthesis (Nmic) of 12 Holstein cows distributed in three 4 × 4 Latin squares, fed diets containing soybeans in different forms: only soybean meal (SM – control diet), raw soybeans (RS), toasted soybeans (RST) and soybean meal plus 5% urea (SMU), using corn silage as bulk. The microbial protein synthesis was estimated using the purine derivatives in the urine […]

The objective of this research was to evaluate the dry matter intake (DMI) and nutrient consumption in Nellore and Red Norte steer finished in a feedlot and compare the actual and predicted values by NRC (2000), CNCPS 5.0 and BR-CORTE systems. Forty-one animals, 19 Nellore and 22 Red Norte steers, with initial live weight of 361 ± 31 kg and 367 ± 30 kg, respectively, were used. The experiment lasted 84 days, with 28 days for adaptation and 56 experimental […]

A simulation model was developed and validated with the objective of evaluating and predicting the productive performance of steers with different weights and initial ages kept on Panicum sp. or Brachiaria sp. cultivated pastures in tropical and subtropical regions. The model established the direct relationships between two main components (animal and fodder plant) and two indirect components (climate and soil). The animal component included: intake of forage dry matter, supplement intake, stocking rate, initial weight and age of the animals, […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of ewes supplemented with organic or common mineral salt in the breeding season, and the effect on metabolic constituents of the blood. The experiment was carried out from November 2005 to May 2006 using 40 Ile de France breed ewes. During the breeding season, sheep grazed on two native pasture areas of 15 ha each and were distributed in two groups, depending on the supplementation: submitted to treatments: receiving […]

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the use of sugar cane at two concentrate levels as a replacement for sorghum silage in the diet of crossbred young bulls in feedlot. Thirty-six young crossbred males were maintained in individual stalls in a randomized complete experimental design with three diets: sorghum silage with 1.0% of the live weight (LW) in concentrate, sugar cane with concentrate (1.0% LW) and sugar cane with concentrate (1.2% LW). The diets were calculated to have approximately 12% […]

The effect was assessed of including licuri and castor oils in the diet on the production and chemical composition of milk from goats and the economic viability of the diets. Crossbred Moxotó goats in a 5 × 5 Latin square design were used with two replications consisting of five diets: a control treatment without supplementary oil (control), and the others with 3% or 5% licuri or castor oil. Milk production decreased with the inclusion of 5% licuri oil, but it […]

This study evaluated body fat, protein and energy contents and nutritional requirements for body weight (BW) gain of lambs in tropical semiarid conditions. Thirty-two castrated Santa Inês 3-to-4-month old lambs (initial BW: 15.8 kg ± 1.4 kg) were used. Eight lambs were initially slaughtered to serve as the reference for initial body weight composition. The remaining 24 animals were placed in a randomized block with three treatments and eight replications. Each one of the eight experimental blocks consisted initially of […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the availability of pasture components, average daily gain and carcass characteristics of Nellore steers receiving supplements in the finishing phase during the dry season. The experiment was carried out on Brachiaria brizantha, cv. Marandu pasture, in six nine-hectare paddocks. Forty-eight 30 month old Nellore steers with 412 + 16 kg initial weight were randomly distributed in six groups of eight animals. Each group was placed in a paddock and was weighed at […]