Eighteen lambs averaging initial body weight (BW) of 15 kg were allotted to six groups of three animals (one lamb per diet) and were fed diets with following forage:concentrate ratios (F:C): 1) 40F:60C; 2) 55F:45C; or 3) 70F:30C. Lambs of each group were slaughtered when the animal fed the diet with the highest concentrate level reached 25 kg of BW. Animals were slaughtered after 16 h of fasting (feed and water). After obtaining the slaughter body weight (SBW), animals were […]

The objectives of this trial were to evaluate the effect of dietary oil supplementation on intake, apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients, and ruminal metabolism in lactating Saanen goats. Four ruminally cannulated multiparous goats averaging 54±1.02 kg BW and 80 days in milk were used. Goats were fed a control diet (no oil supplementation) or diets supplemented with one of the following oil sources: canola, rice or soybean. A 4 x 4 Latin square design was used and data were […]

The objectives of this trial were to evaluate the effect of dietary oil supplementation on milk yield, milk composition and milk fatty acids profile of lactating Saanen goats. Four ruminally cannulated multiparous goats averaging 54±1.02 kg BW and 80 days in milking were used. Goats were fed a control diet or a diet supplemented with one the following oil sources: canola, rice or soybean. The statistical design was a 4 x 4 Latin square and data were analyzed using the […]

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of pregnancy simulation (placement of 100 lead spheres in the uterus-LEAD) and ovariectomy (OVAE) on traits of carcass and meat of heifers finished in feedlot. Animals not pregnant and with intact ovary were used as the control (CTRL). Nineteen crossbred heifers (½ Nelore x ½ Red Angus) averaging 18 months of age and 257.8 kg of body weight were used. Animals were fed a diet containing (% DM): 41% of corn silage […]

The objective of this trial was to estimate chemical composition, digestibility and ruminal degradation kinetics of silages from four sunflower hybrids: Rumbosol-91 (forage), M-734 (double purpose), C-11 (double purpose) and BRS-191 (grain) sowed in October (early), November (normal) and December (late). A randomized complete block design in a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement (four hybrids x three seeding dates) with three replicates was used. Dry matter values ranged from 23.2 to 43.0%, pH from 4.0 to 5.1, and NH3-N%/TN from […]

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 […]

Twelve Holstein lactating dairy cows were blocked by days in milk and randomly assigned to three replicated 4 x 4 Latin square to evaluate the effect of different protein sources on intake, nutrient digestibility, and milk production and composition. A basal corn silage diet (60% of the total dry matter) was fed plus one of the following proteins sources (dry matter basis): soybean meal (SBM), cottonseed meal with 38% of crude protein (CSM38), cottonseed meal with 28% of crude protein […]

Twelve Holstein lactating dairy cows were blocked by days in milk and randomly assigned to three replicated 4 x 4 Latin square to evaluate the effect of different protein sources on efficiency of microbial protein synthesis, concentration of serum (NUS) and milk (MUN) urea nitrogen, and ruminal metabolism. A basal corn silage diet (60% of the total dry matter) was fed plus one of the following proteins sources (DM basis): soybean meal (SBM), cottonseed meal with 38% of crude protein […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of body condition score (BCS) and different dietary net energy (NE) levels during prepartum on performance and concentration of plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in early lactating dairy goats. Animals (four replicates per treatment) were assigned to a completely randomized design in a 2 x 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (two BCS, three levels of prepartum NE and two levels of postpartum NE). In the beginning of the […]

Thirty-six lactating Holstein cows averaging 258 days in milk were used to study the supplementation of yeast culture (Levucell SC20 – Lallemand) in dairy diets with two starch contents (22 vs. 32%). The lowest starch content was obtained by partial (50:50) replacement of finely ground corn by dried citrus pulp. A replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design was used with four periods of 24 days each. The first 20 days were used for diet adaptation and the last four […]