The research aimed to evaluate the use of additives on the nutritional value of the sugarcane silage. Treatments were expressed by additive type and amount added to the sugarcane silage at ensiling (fresh matter basis), as follows: urea 1.5%; urea 0.5% and corn meal 4%; urea 0.5% and dehydrated cassava 4%; starea 1.5%; sugar cane only. Sugarcane variety RB-72454, at 18 months of regrowth was stored for 180 days in experimental concrete silos (500 kg capacity). An in vivo digestibility […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of three different dietary levels of urea on milk yield and composition. Nine lactating Holstein cows were randomly assigned to three replicated 3 x 3 Latin squares with three periods of 21 days each. Treatments were: A) control diet formulated to meet 100% of the requirements of crude protein (CP), rumen undegradable protein (RUP) and rumen degradable protein (RDP) according to the NRC (2001) model by feeding soybean meal and […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate performance, thermal comfort and behavior of crossbred Holstein x Zebu dairy calves kept in different housing systems during the rainy season (December to April). Twenty-four calves were raised from birth to 70 days of age in one of the following housing systems: hutches; shadecloth; or no shelter. Rectal temperature and respiratory rate measurements were taken twice a day (8:00 AM and 3:00 PM) when calves were 1, 4 and 9 weeks old. […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate performance and nutrient intake and digestibility in feedlot Morada Nova hair sheep fed increasing levels of dietary concentrate. Thirty-two castratated Morada Nova sheep averaging 8.11 ± 1.15 months of age and 19.67 ± 2.97 kg of body weight (BW) at the beginning of the study were used in this trial. Animals were slaughtered with 30.0 kg of BW and fed diets with the following concentrate levels: 20, 40, 60 or 80%. A […]

The present study evaluated the relationship between different dietary net energy (NE) levels and body condition score (BCS) on performance of dairy goats during the prepartum period. Forty-eight pregnant goats were kept in individual cages during the last 30 days before parturition. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments (two BCS and three levels of NE in the diet). Goats were assigned to one of two groups, based on body […]

Data from 359 Holstein and 54 Jersey cows (total of 1359 observations) collected in commercial herds in the northeast of Brazil were used to evaluate six environmental stress indexes. The selection criterion was the correlation between the index value with the rectal temperature (RT) and the respiratory rate (RR) of cows. Both Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) and Black Globe-Humidity Index (BGHI) had the lowest correlations with animal RT and RR. The selected indexes were the Equivalent Temperature Index (r = 0.293 […]

The objectives of this trial were to evaluate the effect of replacing corn meal with coffee hulls or soyhulls on intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients, milk yield and composition, and body weight (BW) change in lactating dairy cows. Twelve purebred and crossbred Holstein cows were assigned to three replicated 4 ´ 4 Latin squares. Diets were isonitrogeneous (14% of CP, DM basis) and control diet contained 60% corn silage plus 40%concentrate. Three sugarcane based diets with 60% concentrate were […]

The objective of this trial was to investigate the effects of increasing dietary crude protein levels on N balance and metabolizable protein requirements for maintenance in Nellore heifers, bulls and steers averaging 16 months of age and body weight of 254.8, 285.1, and 265.6 kg, respectively. Animals were blocked by sexual category (heifers, bulls and steers) and randomly assigned to treatments in three replicated 4 x 4 Latin squares. Diets contained the following CP levels: 7, 10, 13, and 15%. […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of different dietary fat sources on intake, digestibility, and plasma urea N in feedlot water buffalo steers. Thirteen castrated Murrah steers averaging 297±9 kg of body weigh were assigned to one of the following three treatments: no added fat (control), soybean oil or whole soybean in a completely randomized design. The experiment lasted 84 days with three experimental periods of 28 days each. Samples of feeds, orts and feces were […]

The objective of this trial was to investigate the effect of different dietary ratios of concentrate (C) to ceara rubbertree hay (CRH; Manihot Glaziovii Muell. Arg.) on performance of lambs. Thirty two intact Santa Inês lambs averaging 70 days of age and 16.02±2.371 kg of body weight were fed one of the following four treatments as total mixed rations: 80C:20CRH (diet A), 60C:40CRH (diet B), 40C:60CRH (diet C), or 20C:80CRH (diet D) in a completely randomized design (eight repetitions/treatment). Increasing […]