The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of increasing levels of CP in the total DM of diet (11.5, 13.0, 14.5 and 16.0%) on the intakes and the total digestibility of nutrients and the milk production and composition of dairy cows in initial third of lactation. The research was constituted by four experimental periods of 15 days each, seven for adaptation of the animals to the diet and eight for data collection. Eight cows, individually fed, were […]

Carcass composition related to commercial cuts and tissue composition (muscle, bone and fat) from leg, loin and shoulder of kid goats crossbred Anglo-Nubian or Boer were evaluated in 20 kids from two different genetic groups (13 ½ Anglo-Nubian × ½ Undefined Breed – UB and 7 ½ Boer × ½ UB). The animals were slaughtered at 10 months of age and average body weight of 29 kg ± 0.08. After 24 hours of cooling (2ºC), the carcasses were separated in […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of diets with different levels of fresh orange pulp in substitution to sorghum silage on eating behavior (feeding, rumination and idle)in sheep. Sixteen wethers, crossbred breeds averaging 28.27 kg BW (±2.41) were allotted to a randomized blocks design, with four treatments (0, 25, 50, and 75%), two blocks and two replicates per block. Animals were evaluated by observation during two consecutive days. In the first day, the average number of […]

A study was conducted with the objective to evaluate the effects of replacing elephant-grass by spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus indica, Mill) as a forage source on intake, apparent digestibility of the nutrients and of ruminal fermentation characteristics of sheep. Five iso-nitrogenous diets were formulated where spineless cactus replaced 0, 14, 28, 42 and 56% of elephantgrass in the diet. Five non-castrated male sheep were allotted to a 5 x 5 Latin square design (five periods, five spineless cactus levels and […]

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the dynamics of fecal excretion of the following digestion markers: indigestible dry matter (DMi), indigestible neutral detergent fiber (NDFi), and indigestible acid detergent fiber (ADFi) as internal markers and the external marker chromic oxide (Cr2O3). Five Holstein-zebu steers with 240 kg average weight were used in three 12-day experimental periods, being the first seven days for animal adaptation. Previously to the beginning of the experimental period, the animals were submitted to […]

Forty steers averaging 371 kg BW were allotted to a randomized block design, in a factorial scheme 3 x 3 to evaluate the effect of feeding different protein sources (urea, amiferm, soybean meal) and forage (sugar cane, corn silage and pasture Bracharia brizantha) on performance and carcass dressing. Diets were formulated to contain similar ME and CP protein levels. Forage and nitrogen source interaction was not significant for all studied factors. Daily live weight (LWG/day) of animal fed sugar cane […]

The aim of this work was to study the effect of the different proportions of blood Simmental and Nellore on meat and carcass characteristics of bovine young bulls. Seventy two young bulls were used (18 Nellore; 18 ½ Simmental x Nellore; 18 Simbrasil and 18 Simmental), with medium age of 8 months and with average 250 kg LW initial. The animals were weaned at 8 months of age in system creep-feeding and later confined for 150 days until they reach […]

This research aimed to estimate the maintenance requirements of net energy (NEm) and metabolizable energy (MEm), and the changes in body and gain composition of confined adults non-pregnant and non-lactant beef cows. Thirty six cows were used, 12 were Nellore (NEL), 12 F1 Brown Swiss-Nellore (BSN) and 12 F1 Red Angus-Nellore (RAN). The comparative slaughter method was utilized to estimate the changes of animal body chemical composition during the experimental period. Four animals from each breed group were randomly allocated […]

The effect of fibrolytic enzymes addition (cellulase and xylanase) on the DM, CP, NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose in situ degradability of Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon spp.) cut at 30 and 90 days and sugarcane bagasse were evaluated with six bovines cannulated on the rumen. The enzymes were extracted from Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma longibrachiatum fungi and supplied 0.75 g/kg of DM/animal.day, through ruminal cannula. The incubation times were 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. The incubation […]

Chemical composition and IVDMD of elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum. cv. Napier) and mombaçagrass (Panicum maximum, cv. Mombaça) were evaluated using samples of esophageal extrusa and hand-plucked samples. Greater DM, CP, and non-protein N concentrations were observed in the elephantgrass. Chemical composition of mombaçagrass, mainly DM and N concentration, varied with grazing day. Potentially degradable carbohydrate fraction differed between sampling techniques. No differences were observed regarding the kinetics of carbohydrates degradation for both grasses.