The objective of this trial was to study intake, apparent total tract digestibility, and production of Nellore steers fed diets containing the following ratios of Brachiaria brizantha and sorghum silages: 100:0, 67:33, 33:67, and 0:100 on dry matter (DM) basis. Twenty-four castrated steers averaging 380 kg at the beginning of the trial and receiving a forage:concentrate ratio of 60:40 (DM basis) were used in a randomized complete block design (six replicates per treatment). The experiment lasted 78 days with three […]

Twelve lactating Holstein dairy cows were assigned to three 4×4 Latin squares to evaluate the effects of feeding corn silage or different dietary ratios of sugarcane and concentrate on nutrient intake, apparent digestibility, milk composition and yield, and body weight change. The diets contained 60% corn silage or 60, 50, and 40% of sugarcane supplemented with 1% of urea + ammonium sulphate (9:1). No significant differences were observed between the diet with 60% of corn silage and that with 40% […]

This investigation was carried out to determine body composition of protein, fat, and energy as well as nutritional requirements of protein and energy for maintenance and weight gain of Morada Nova Lambs. Thirty lambs averaging 15 kg of initial body weight (BW) were used in this trial. To determine the body composition using the comparative slaughter approach six lambs were slaughtered at 15 kg (reference animals), six at 20 kg (intermediary slaughter), and the remaining were distributed in one of […]

The objective of this trial was to characterize the byproduct of lysine production (BLP) and to evaluate performance and carcass traits of confined Santa Gertrudis young bulls receiving increasing dietary levels of BLP. The chemical composition of BLP was the following (dry matter basis): 38% dry matter and 85% crude protein with 79% of this total coming from nonprotein nitrogen; no toxic levels of heavy metals were detected. Twenty-seven young bulls averaging ten months of age and initial body weight […]

This trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding different levels of cottonseed hulls on nutrient intake, apparent total tract digestibility, carcass physical composition and traits, and percentage of commercial cuts of confined steers. Eighteen crossbred steers averaging 230 kg of initial body weight (BW) were used. Two animals were slaughtered at the beginning of the trial, performing the reference group while the remaining were uniformly assigned to a complete randomized design in one of four treatments (% of […]

The effects of supplements containing different rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) levels on the ruminal passage rate of particles and liquid of steers grazing Brachiaria brizantha were evaluated in this study. Samples were collected in two seasons of the year (season 1 May, June and July/2000 and season 2 March, April and May/2001). In season 1, animals were housed in individual stalls and were fed supplements containing 20, 40 or 60% RUP plus Brachiaria brizantha hay and had free access to a […]

The objective of this trial was to study the intake and production at pasture of 15 Holstein-Gyr heifers (5 per treatment) averaging 16.5 ± 4.2 months of age and 211.97 ± 34.28 kg of body weight (BW) and fed supplements containing either 40% or 60% of rumen-undegradable protein (RUP). Forage availability was monitored to maintain a supply of 6% of BW. Both chromic oxide (10 g/day/heifer) and indigestible neutral detergent fiber (INDF) were used as external and internal markers, respectively. […]

It was studied the effects of replacing ground corn with coffee hulls on intake, apparent digestibility, and milk production and composition of lactating dairy cows. Twelve Holstein-Zebu dairy cows were blocked by days in milk and randomly assigned to three 4 x 4 Latin squares. The following levels of coffee hulls were included in the concentrate portion of the diet: 0.0, 8.75, 17.5, or 26.25% of dry mater (DM). Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous (14% CP) and contained a […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate production, blood metabolites, and nutrient digestibility of Saanen goats either in the beginning or after 60 days of lactation. Twenty goats averaging 59.59 ± 6.97 kg of body weight were assigned to a completely randomized design. The following forage:concentrate ratios were used: 40:60, 50:50, 60:40, 70:30, or 80:20 and provided 2.95, 2.83, 2.70, 2.58, or 2.46 Mcal ME/kg DM, respectively. Animals were confined in individual stalls with daily measurements of feed intake […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the lactation curve and milk quality of Saanen goats receiving diets with different forage:concentrate ratios. Twenty goats averaging 59.59 ± 6.97 kg of body weight were assigned to a completely randomized design. The following forage:concentrate ratios were used: 40:60, 50:50, 60:40, 70:30, or 80:20 and provided 2.95, 2.83, 2.70, 2.58, or 2.46 Mcal ME/kg DM, respectively. Animals were confined during 152 days in individual stalls with daily measurements of intake and milk […]