A major pet food recall occurred in 2007 in the United States due to fraudulent contamination with melamine was key to the current interest on new food alternatives for dogs and cats, the party to conventional commercial ration. The demand for exclusivity in the pet food industry, combined with a permanent trend of humanization in pet industry, increased the demand for differentiated food for pets. Among the types of alternative diets are called natural foods and organic, among others. However, no specific guidance […]

This presentation intends to make a brief description of the studies being investigated by our research group in the area valorization of fibrous feed utilizing the white-rot fungi (basidiomycetes fungi) enzyme complexes.

The following work discusses the main features of feed extrusion process explaining the expected effects on the final product according to the raw material used as starch, protein, fat and fiber. The selection of processing equipments as feeder, preconditioner and extruder is discussed considering the involved costs and the probability of future expansion. Dryers are also essential in the extrusion process as it reduces the level of moisture in an extrusion cooked product. High moisture levels increase the water activity […]

This paper analyses some alternative technologies for the development of small rendering plants to small meat producers. It is considered that the replacement of the concept of “animal waste” by the “by-product or raw material for grease and rendering plants” concept can be amplified with some implementations in the production process, adding value to animal by-products to produce a greater recovery of these by-products, or even total use, eliminating waste and reducing the environmental impact of the activity and the […]

The rising price of agricultural products leads to frequent change of feed recipe, which can cause a high number of reprocessing batches, elevating the overall cost of production. In this study, we proposed an artificial neural network to predict production rate. The conversion of production rate to production cost, the tips for data collection as well as tips for implementation of new feed cost estimation are also discussed. Being able to estimate production rate enables feed mills to improve their […]

Scientific advances in nutrition of dairy cows in the first decade of the XXI century have occurred. This paper will review the most common additives fed to transition cows to decrease the incidence of metabolic disorders, which will be discussed separately with emphasis on their mechanisms of action, utilization and efficiency. Some changes on protein in the 2001 updated version of the Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle to reach better precision of the nitrogen and amino acid requirements of lactating […]

Extensive research in recent years has shown that consumption of milk and dairy products, promotes cardiovascular health, reduces symptoms of the metabolic syndrome in obese individuals, promotes weight loss while maintaining body muscle mass and reduces incidence of some cancers. Detailed analysis of prospective studies in large Western populations over long periods of time demonstrates that higher consumption of dairy products provides an overall survival advantage.

The growing global demand for meat and particularly in countries such as Brazil is expected to increase intensive animal production. Consequently the main pollutants of interest are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and greenhouse gases (GHG). Nitrogen can be a problem through nitrate leaching to water bodies, ammonia, and nitrous oxide emissions to air. Phosphorus loading in soil from manure application can be the main issue due to the tendency of P to accumulate in soil and leach to groundwater and […]

Because cultivation-based approaches to assess rumen microbiology assess only the minority of microbial groups and can miss opportunities to assess important functions, molecular-based approaches have flourished in microbial ecology and have been adapted to the rumen. Current approaches are described herein, specifically for a robust adaptation to nutrition studies or future opportunities. These included automated profiling techniques, density gradient gel electrophoresis, and future adaption of microarray or high-throughput sequencing technologies. Based on current knowledge, a more holistic approach is needed […]

In this review article we present an overall summary of the role that high-grain/low forage diets have on rumen composition of microbiota and how changes in the diet affect the release of bacterial cell wall components that are toxic to the host. One of these toxic compounds is lipopolysaccharide or endotoxin, a component of the outer membrane of all Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, data are provided that support the concept that endotoxin translocates into the blood circulation and show that rumen […]