The effects of feeding elephantgrass silage ammoniated or not with urea (5% DM basis) and the concentrate replacement (corn and soybean meal) by cocoa meal (CM) or palm cake (PC) on the ingestive behaviour of 18 Santa Inês non-castrated male sheep averaging 22.62 kg of initial body weight were studied. The animals were allotted to individual pensas a completely randomized design with six treatments, two roughages (elephantgrass silage ammoniated with urea or not) and three concentrate replacement level with by […]

Chromium oxide and n-alkanes (C31:C32 and C33:C32) were used to estimate the dry matter intake (DMI) of lactating Holstein x Zebu cows grazing elephant grass. Extrusa samples of forage were obtained from a cow with esophageal fistula. Fecal grab collection was done twice a day at 7:30 and 14:30 h during 9 days in each experimental period. A randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement was used. Both pairs of n-alkanes estimated similar DMI, independent of time of fecal […]

The objectives of this trial were to evaluate carcass characteristics and production costs of ½ Dorset Santa Inês lambs finished at two finishing systems. Forty-four weaned ½ Dorset Santa Inês lambs were distributed to one of the following two finishing systems: 1) feedlot lambs were fed concentrate (4% BW) containing 15.56% CP and 4.32 Mcal GE/kg DM or 2) lambs were on pasture and received a supplement (1.5% BW) containing 27.01% CP and 4.51 Mcal GE/kg DM. Concentrate and supplement […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate nutrient intake, blood parameters and digestibility of nutrients on 20 feedlot Saanen goats (70.65±7.39 kg) at 21 days prepartum. Diets with the following energy levels and forage:concentrate ratios were fed: 2.95, 2.83, 2.70, 2.58, and 2.44 Mcal of ME/kg of DM and 40:60, 50:50, 60:40, 70:30, and 80:20, respectively. A completely randomized design with four replications per treatment was used. Animal body weight and blood samples were taken weekly. The different dietary […]

The objective of this trial was to investigate ruminal, intestinal and total tract digestibility of acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) in grazing cattle. Five Holstein x Zebu steers averaging 304 kg of body weight and 24 months of age and fitted with esophageal, ruminal and abomasal cannulas were used in this study. Animals were maintained in five 0.34-ha paddocks of Brachiaria decumbens with or without concentrate supplementation. The experiment was conducted from August to November of 2000 using four 21-days […]

The effects of replacing ground corn with coffee hulls on N balance and microbial protein synthesis of lactating dairy cows were evaluated in this trial. Twelve crossbred Holstein-Zebu cows yielding on average 23.4 kg/day of milk were used. The microbial protein synthesis was estimated by excretion of purine derivatives in urine and milk. Animas were fed diets containing the following coffee hulls levels (% DM): 0.0, 3.5, 7.0 or 10.5%. Spot urine samples were collected approximately 4 hours post-feeding. Regression […]

Two trials were conducted to investigate different protein and energy sources in multiple supplements fed to growing crossbred bulls. In the first experiment, performance of 20 crossbred growing bulls averaging 17 months of age and 265±18 kg of body weight was evaluated in the dry season. Animals were maintained in 1.5 ha paddocks of Brachiaria brizantha with supplements being offered daily in a proportion of 0.75% of the body weight. A completely randomized design with a 2 x 2 factorial […]

The objective of this trial was to study the effects of different forms of concentrate processing on intake, apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients, ruminal degradability of DM and CP, and milk yield and composition. Sixteen dairy cows, pure Holstein and crossbred, were blocked by production level (30.0 and 20.0 kg/day) and randomly assigned to two Latin squares with four periods of 15 days each. Diets were isonitrogenous and contained the following forage (corn silage):concentrate ratios: 50:50 and 60:40 (% […]

The objective of this trial was to estimate the efficiency of utilization of metabolizable energy (MEEU) for maintenance (Km) and weight gain (kg) of feedlot purebred and crossbred Nellore. Seventy-two young bulls averaging 10 to 11 months of age from four genetic groups: Nellore, F1 Nellore x Angus, F1 Nellore x Brown Swiss and F1 Nellore x Simental and initial average body weights of 286, 309, 333 and 310 kg, respectively, were used in this study. A completely randomized design […]

This study was conducted to evaluate replacement of ground corn grain with cassava scrapings on nutrient intake, digestibility, and production of primiparous Holstein lactating dairy cows receivind diets containing forage cactus (Opuntia ficus indica, Mill), sorghum silage and concentrate. Five cows averaging 60±15 of days in milk and initial body weight (BW) of 448 kg were randomly assigned to a 5 × 5 Latin square with increasing levels of cassava scrapings in the diet: 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100%. […]