The effects of starch or neutral detergent soluble fiber associated with two dietary levels of NDF on performance of finishing feedlot beef steers were evaluated in this trial. Twenty-four crossbred ½ Angus x ½ Nellore steers averaging 18 months of age and 329 ± 24 kg of body weight at the beginning of the trial were used. All four diets were balanced to supply the crude protein requirements for a daily weight gain of approximately 1.4 kg. Diets were composed […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of feeding fibrolytic enzyme (cellulose and xylanase) on intake and apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients in cattle receiving diets containing corn silage or Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon spp.). Eight animals fitted with ruminal cannulae and averaging 340 kg of body weight were randomly assigned to two replicated 4 x 4 Latin squares in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (forage sources with or without fibrolytic enzyme supplementation). […]

Twenty-two non-castrated male kids (10 Moxotó and 12 Canindé) averaging 15 kg of initial body weight and housed in individual pens were used in this trial. Animals were assigned to a completely randomized design in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments [two breeds and two feeding levels: ad libitum (AL) or 30% of feed restriction (FR). Animals fed AL had greater yields of hot carcass, cold carcass, and carcass edible parts compared to those fed FR. It was […]

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate different crude protein (CP) levels of a mixture of mineral and concentrate (multiple supplement) fed to crossbreed steers grazing Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça pasture during the transition between the dry and the rainy season. The multiple supplement contained ground corn and soybean grains and was formulated to yield 8.0, 16.0 or 24.0% of CP. Each animal received 1.0 kg of the multiple supplement per day or only ad libitum mineral mix (control treatment). In […]

The objectives of this trial were to evaluate the effects of two carbohydrate sources (soybean hulls and corn grain) with and without monensin on digestibility, nitrogen balance and portal nutrient flux in sheep fed high vegetable oil diets. Four Corriedale wethers averaging 54 kg of body weight and fitted with catheters in the mesenteric and portal veins and also in the mesenteric artery were used. Digestibility and nitrogen balance were determined using total collection of feces and urine. Net nutrient […]

The objective of this trial was to investigate the effects of replacing corn by coffee hulls on intake, apparent digestibility, and milk production and composition of lactating dairy cows. Treatments contained one of the following four levels of coffee hulls: 0, 5, 10 or 15% of the total dietary DM. Twelve Holstein dairy cows were blocked by days in milk and randomly assigned to three replicated 4 x 4 Latin squares. Diets were isonitrogenous averaging 15.5% of CP and composed […]

The objective of this trial was to investigate the effect of replacing corn silage with coffee hulls (0, 6.0, 12.0, and 18.0% of DM) on intake, apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients, and milk production and composition. Twelve Holstein cows were blocked by days in milk and randomly assigned to three replicated 4 x 4 Latin squares. Diets were isonitrogenous averaging 15.0% of CP and composed by 60% of forage (corn silage and coffee hulls) and 40% of concentrate, on […]

Intake, digestibility of nutrients, daily gain, and feed conversion were evaluated in beef cattle receiving diets containing Tifton 85 hay and corn silage in the following proportions (% forage DM): 100:0, 68:32, 35:65, and 0:100. A forage:concentrate ratio of 58:42 (% diet DM) was used. Nineteen crossbred Limousin x Zebu bulls averaging 301 kg of initial body weight were allotted to completely randomized design. The trial lasted 99 days with 15 days for diet adaptation and three experimental periods of […]

Four castrated sheep averaging 38.5 kg of body weight were randomly assigned to a 4 x 4 Latin square to evaluate the apparent digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen balance (NB) on diets containing different levels of rumen degradable protein (RDP): 46, 50, 54, and 58% and ground corn. The four experimental diets were composed by 75% of forage (oat hay) and 25% of concentrate containing ground corn (GC), soybean meal (SM), cottonseed meal (CM), fish meal (FM), urea, and mineral […]

A bio-economic model was developed to calculate costs and revenues to obtain economic values (EV) for performance traits of beef cattle in production systems in Brazil. Performance records, economic and biologic parameters were obtained from a Nelore breeding herd. Two production systems: complete breeding cycle (CbcR) and cow-calf (Cc) were simulated using a deterministic and static model. Costs, revenues and the annual profits were calculated using Excel® to obtain the economic values for weaning weight (WW), mature weight (MW), pregnancy […]