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 […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of body weight (BW) of heifers on intake, apparent digestibility of nutrients, microbial protein synthesis, ruminal metabolism, and urinary excretion of nitrogenous compounds. The spot urine sampling and the total collection of urine techniques were used to estimate microbial N flow. Twenty-two heifers with different body weights (523, 453, 315, 235 and 118 kg) were used in a completely randomized design and assigned to the following treatments: BW523, BW453, BW315, […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of replacing coastcross (Cynodon dactylon) hay with a dehydrated pineapple by-product (DPB) on performance, apparent digestibility, and intake of digestible nutrients in growing goats. Twenty-four crossbred Saanen x Criola female goats averaging 19.2 kg of body weight (BW) at the beginning of the trial were used in a completely randomized design. Animals were assigned to one of the following four treatments: 0, 33, 66, or 100% of DPB in the […]

Milk fat from 12 7/8 crossbred Holstein-Zebu lactating dairy cows was used to evaluate the effect of different diets on milk fatty acid (FA) profile and milk CLA content. Cows were fed concentrate containing corn (CR), wheat bran (WB), or dried citrus pulp (CP) supplemented or not with soybean oil. Chromatographic analysis showed a FA recovery greater than 95%. With the exception of milk content of trans-10 C18:1 and proportions of trans-10 C18:1 and trans-11 C18:1 on total milk trans– […]

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of sex and genotype (breed) on the composition and fatty acid profile of the semimembranosus (SM) muscle of feedlot sheep. Four Santa Inês (SI) males, four SI females, and four ½ Santa Inês x ½ Dorper (SI-D) males were used in this trial. Neither breed nor sex significantly affected the chemical composition of meat. However, the meat contents of phosphorus and calcium were both significantly changed by breed and sex. […]

This research was carried out to evaluate the nutritive value of elephant grass silages, with increasing levels of dehydrated passion fruit by-product (DPFB). Five inclusion levels were studied (0.0, 3.5, 7.0, 10.5, and 14.0%). Twenty castrated male sheep were assigned to a complete randomized design with five treatments (inclusion levels) and four replicates. The intakes of DM (DMI), CP (CPI), NDF (NDFI) and ADF (IADF) were determined, as well as the DM apparent digestibility (DMAD), CP (CPAD), NDF (NDFAD), ADF […]

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 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 […]

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 study was to evaluate muscle composition and physical-chemical characteristics of 20 intact and castrated crossbred Ideal male lambs exposed to either a short photoperiod (SP) of 12 h or to a long photoperiod (LP) of 18 h. Animals were randomly assigned to four treatments (T) in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with five repetitions as follows: intact lambs exposed to a SP; castrated lambs exposed to a SP; intact lambs exposed to a LP or […]