One experiment was run to study the chemical composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility and the dry matter mass of elephantgrass pasture cv. Napier. Estimates of forage mass were accomplished monthly according to the hand plucking technique with samples being taken one day before the cows were turned into the paddocks. Forage samples were taken observing the stubble height of the pasture in the former grazing cycle. Six samples per treatment were collected from high, medium and low representative tuffs […]

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%. […]

Body composition and net and dietary requirements of macrominerals (Ca, P, Mg, Na and K) of genetically selected Caracu (CaS) and Nellore (NeS) for yearling weight (378 days of age) as well as of ordinary Nellore (control; NeC) were investigated in this trial. Fifty-six young bulls averaging 18 months of age were used. Twelve animals were slaughtered after an adaptation period and were used as reference. The 44 remaining animals, 16 NeS, 16 CaS and 12 NeC, with initial average […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of non-dietary factors on the concentration of milk urea nitrogen (MUN), as an indicator of efficiency of nutrient utilization by lactating dairy cows. A dataset containing 7,006 observations from 855 lactating Holstein cows were used. Milk yield, body weight, days in milk and number of lactation were collected on the milk sampling days. Monthly samples of milk were collected to determine contents of milk fat, protein, lactose, total solids, MUN […]

Kinetics of particle and fluid ruminal passage were studied in steers grazing signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.). Analyses of variance were performed according to a completely randomized block design including treatment (dry and rainy seasons) and block effects (animals) in the model. The first analysis was done based on the effects of the particle phase markers (chromium, ytterbium and europium) while the second analysis relied on the mathematical model effect that make up the sub-plots. For fluid kinetics, treatments (four […]

The experiment was conducted with the objective of evaluating chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility of sugar-cane bagasse containing 60% dry matter submited to increasing sodium hydroxide concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5% NaOH on a dry matter basis). NaOH was applied as a 2:1 water:NaOH solution, over different treatment times (1, 3, 5, and 7 days). Plastic pails with 10 L capacity were utilized and stocked in climatic chamber at 25ºC constant temperature. The experimental treatments had […]

The experiment was carried out in a leveled lowland area cultivated with Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). The objective was to compare the effect of nitrogen (N) and different energy supplementation levels on the following parameters: herbage quality, herbage yield, and animal production. The treatments were: 300N + 0.8S – Italian ryegrass pasture plus 300 kg.ha-1 of N and supplementation with ground corn (0.8% LW/day), 200N + 0.4S – Italian ryegrass pasture plus 200 kg.ha-1 of N and supplementation with […]

The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of three sowing dates: October (early), November (normal) and December (late), on the phenological, yield and qualitative traits of four sunflower hybrids: Rumbosol-91 (forage), M-734 (double purpose), C-11 (double purpose) and BRS-191 (grain) grown for silage making. A 4 x 3 factorial treatment combination (four hybrids x three sowing dates) was allocated in a randomized block design with four replications. The October sowing brought about longer cycle, higher plant height, […]

The objective of this trial was to study the effects of increasing dietary levels of crude protein (CP) on microbial protein synthesis of lactating dairy goats. The microbial markers purines bases and purine derivatives (PD), measured in spot urine samples or in urine samples from total collection, were used to estimate microbial protein synthesis. Sixteen lactating goats (four fitted with ruminal cannula) were randomly assigned to four replicated 4 x 4 Latin squares and were fed the following dietary CP […]

This trial was conducted to investigate the replacement of soybean meal with a mixture of urea plus cassava scrapings on nutrient intake, digestibility, and production of crossbred lactating cows fed diets containing forage cactus (Opuntia ficus indica, Mill), sorghum silage, and concentrate. Eight crossbred holstein:zebu cows averaging 60±30 days in milk and initial body weight (BW) of 491 kg were randomly assigned to two replicated 4 × 4 Latin squares and were fed diets with increasing levels of urea plus […]