ABSTRACT A meta-analysis was undertaken to examine the effects of different supplementation strategies on production of beef cattle grazing tropical pastures during the wet and dry seasons in Brazil. The database was built with 132 studies published from 1999 to 2010, which accounted for 6,275 individual animals. The supplements assessed were classified into three groups: energy supplement containing <20% crude protein (CP), protein supplement containing ≥20% CP, and urea mineral supplement. The supplementation levels ranged from 0 to 1.6% body weight (BW), and the effects of type and level of supplementation were examined during both dry and wet seasons. The meta-analysis was performed using mixed models. Cattle grazing tropical pastures during the wet season had higher average daily gain (ADG) than that in the dry season (0.81 vs. 0.56 kg/day). In response to supplementation, cattle receiving >1.0% BW of energetic supplement in the wet season had the greatest gain per hectare (GPH; 8.16 kg/ha per day) and daily stocking rate (DSR; 2045 kg BW/ha/day). In the dry season, protein supplementation at rates >0.5% BW provided higher GPH (on average 2.33 kg/ha per day). Neither level nor type of supplement altered the DSR in the dry season (on average 883 kg/ha per day). Estimated regression showed that the ADG of beef cattle increased by 0.308 kg for each 1% of supplement intake. Increased supplementation intake by beef cattle grazing tropical pastures resulted in greater ADG in the warm season, whereas offering energy supplementation at rates >1.0% BW during the wet season as well as protein supplementation at rates >0.5% BW during the dry season increased gain per area.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to investigate the multivariate relationship among body protein, fat, and macrominerals in Saanen goats of different sexes (castrated males, females, and intact males) using canonical correlation analysis. Individual records of 274 Saanen goats combined from 10 studies was used. Two sets of body constituents were established: the first one contained variables related to body protein or fat (canonical variate U) and the second contained variables related to body calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, or potassium (canonical variate V). Two canonical pairs were identified for each sex. However, irrespective of sex, first canonical pairs accounted for more than 87% of variance of the dependent variables, these only being used for the analysis. For canonical variate U1, canonical weights for protein were greater than that for fat (in castrated males, protein = 0.62 and fat = 0.41; in females, protein = 0.96 and fat = 0.039; and in intact males, protein = 0.81 and fat = 0.20). For canonical variate V1, in males, the highest canonical weights were for potassium and phosphorus, whereas the lowest were for calcium (in castrated males, potassium = 0.485 > phosphorus = 0.259 > magnesium = 0.206 > sodium = 0.129 > calcium = 0.081, and in intact males, potassium = 0.499 > phosphorus = 0.459 > sodium = 0.105 > magnesium = 0.024 > calcium = 0.001). On the other hand, in females, the highest canonical weights were for potassium and calcium, whereas the lowest was for magnesium (potassium = 0.539 > calcium = 0.201 > phosphorus = 0.178 > sodium = 0.088 > magnesium = 0.081). The current results may help to understand the role of sex on strength and nature of the association among body protein, fat, and macrominerals in growing Saanen goats.

RESUMO O objetivo com este estudo foi investigar as características de silagens preparadas com um resíduo seco de padaria hidratado com soro ácido de leite ou água associado ou não à ureia. O experimento foi conduzido em um arranjo fatorial 3 (três níveis de hidratação: 250, 300 e 350 mL kg−1 de subproduto) × 3 (três níveis de aplicação de ureia: 0, 5 e 10 g kg−1 de subproduto) × 2 (dois líquidos usados na hidratação: soro ácido de leite ou água). Mini silos foram utilizados como silos experimentais e permaneceram fechados por 30 dias. Em geral, silagens hidratadas com soro ácido de leite apresentaram maior (P<0,01) produção de ácido lático (19,6 vs. 18,5 g kg−1 de matéria seca [MS]), ácido acético (2,5 vs. 1,8 g kg−1 de MS) e ácido propiônico (8,0 vs. 5,4 g kg−1 de MS), e menores (P<0,05) contagens de fungos (5,35 e 5,01 ufg g−1 de silagem fresca) comparadas às silagens hidratadas com água. A maior hidratação das silagens aumentou a produção total de ácidos (P<0,01) reduzindo os valores de pH; mas o aumento na hidratação reduziu (P<0,01) a recuperação de MS das silagens. Silagens hidratadas com água e soro ácido de leite a 250 mL kg−1 e combinado com 5 e 10 g kg−1 de ureia exibiram maior (P<0,05) recuperação de MS. Silagens de resíduo seco de padaria hidratadas com soro ácido de leite apresentaram melhor padrão fermentativo, podendo representar uma estratégia prática para evitar o descarte de ambos os subprodutos no ambiente.

SUMMARY The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of silages prepared with a dry bakery by-product hydrated with acid whey or water associated or not at urea. The trial was a 3 (hydration at three moisture levels: 250, 300, and 350 mL kg−1 of by-product) × 3 (three application rates of urea: 0, 5, and 10 g kg−1 of by-product) × 2 (liquid used at hydration: acid whey or water) factorial arrangement. Mini-silos were used as experimental silos and remained closed for 30 days. Overall, silages hydrated with acid whey had higher (P<0.01) production of lactic (19.6 vs. 18.5 g kg−1 of dry matter [DM]), acetic (2.5 vs. 1.8 g kg−1 of DM) and propionic acid (8.0 vs. 5.4 g kg−1 of DM), and lower (P<0.05) fungi counts (5.35 and 5.01 cfu g−1 of fresh silage) compared to silages hydrated with water. Increased hydration led to the higher production of total acids (P<0.01), decreasing silage pH; but increased hydration reduced DM recovery (P<0.01). Silages hydrated with water and acid whey at 250 mL kg−1 and combined at 5 and 10 g kg−1 of urea exhibited higher DM recovery (P<0.05). Silages of a dry bakery by-product hydrated with acid whey had a better fermentation pattern and could represent a practical strategy to avoid discarding both by-products into environment.

Our objective was to evaluate the chemical composition, fermentation profile, and aerobic stability of cabbage silages treated with ground corn and inoculant. The evaluated treatments were: addition of 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 g of ground corn per kilogram of cabbage (fresh matter basis), with or without a bacterial inoculant composed of Lactobacillus plantarumand Pediococcus pentosaceus. As expected, ground corn additions increased the dry matter (DM) content of cabbage silage, and high values were observed for the highest level of addition (540 g kg−1). Conversely, the crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and lignin contents decreased with ground corn additions. The in vitro dry matter digestibility coefficients increased slightly with ground corn additions, but all cabbage silages had digestibility higher than 740 g kg−1 of DM. In the fermentation process, the pH values of cabbage silages increased linearly because of the high levels of ground corn addition. Cabbage ensiled with 200 and 300 g kg−1 of ground corn had high ammonia N production and fermentative losses (effluent and gas). Cabbage silage treated with 600 g kg−1 of ground corn had lower maximum pH values during aerobic exposure, but all silages had constant temperature during aerobic exposure. The ensiling of wasted cabbage is possible and we recommend the application of 400 g kg−1ground corn to improve the silage quality, whereas the use of the inoculant is unnecessary.

Our objective was to investigate the effect of the replacement of aruana grass by gliricidia on the fermentative losses, chemical composition, and aerobic stability of silages. For ensiling, whole-crop aruana grass (75 d of growth) was chopped (275 g kg-1 dry matter - DM) and ensiled alone or associated with gliricidia (270 g kg-1 DM; 150 d of growth). For gliricidia, we used only the leaves and stalks to ensile. The evaluated treatments were different ratios of aruana grass to gliricidia (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100), with four replicates (mini-silos). The silage composed only of gliricidia exhibited a lower pH than the other silages. Dry matter recovery was not affected by the treatments, although effluent losses were affected. The replacement of aruana grass by gliricidia 50% at ensiling resulted in a higher lactic acid bacteria count. The aruana grass silages displayed lower protein contents and a higher neutral detergent fiber content than the gliricidia silages after 40 d of fermentation. Consequently, the silage consisting of 100% gliricidia showed higher in vitro DM digestibility, presenting an increase of 8.13% after 40 d of fermentation compared with 100% of aruana grass silage. After silo opening, the gliricidia silage was very stable (>72 h). The low quality of aruana grass silage is improved by replacing this grass with significant amounts of gliricidia (approximately 75%).

The objective of this study was to evaluate the mobilization of nutrients in goats of different gestation types and pregnancy stages. Forty-four Saanen and Oberhasli goats were studied. The goats of each breed and gestation type (single or twin) were slaughtered at different gestational ages (80, 110, and 140 days of pregnancy), forming a completely randomized design in a 2 × 3 × 2 factorial arrangement (two breeds, three gestational ages, and two types of pregnancy). The slaughter procedure involved separating the empty body, mammary glands, uterus with membranes and fetal fluid, and fetus(es). For the females slaughtered at 140 days of pregnancy, blood was collected to analyze metabolites and hormones every 15 days during gestation. The dry matter (DM) intake was lower in goats with twin pregnancies. The relative daily retention rate of the nutrients in the body was positive at 100 days of pregnancy but became negative at 140 days (-0.18±0.25 g DM kg-1 of maternal body d-1) and did not differ with breed or number of fetuses. Fetal growth in twin pregnancies was 66% higher than in single pregnancies. The highest levels of ß-hydroxybutyrate and non-esterified fatty acids were observed beginning at 100 days of gestation. Serum total protein and albumin levels decreased after 125 days of gestation. Serum urea levels were reduced after 80 days of gestation. Plasma 17ß-estradiol levels increased with the advance of pregnancy, and IGF-1 was highest between 60 and 80 days of gestation. The maternal metabolism throughout pregnancy does not vary with the type of pregnancy, and pregnant goats need greater nutritional intake during the final third of the gestational period regardless of the breed or type of pregnancy.

The present study was conducted to determine the body composition and the mineral requirements for growth of wool and hair lambs. A total of 34 castrated lambs with an initial body weight (BW) of 19.9±0.8 kg were used; 17 of these lambs were of the genotype Ideal × Ile de France and 17 were Santa Inês. Ten lambs (5 of each genotype) were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment to establish their initial body composition. The remaining lambs were assigned to one of three diets (40% roughage and 60% concentrate, 60% roughage and 40% concentrate, or 80% roughage and 20% concentrate) in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. All of the diets were provided ad libitum. When the group under 40% roughage and 60% concentrate reached 35 kg BW, all of the animals were slaughtered. Linear regressions were used to determine the relationship between the shrunk BW and the empty body weight (EBW) for each genotype. These equations were compared and revealed differences between the genotypes. The allometric equations were calculated using the relationship between the amount of minerals and the EBW. The equations of a given mineral for each genotype were compared to verify if they were statistically different. The equations for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and sodium differed between genotypes. The same equations were used to estimate the major body mineral composition per kilogram of EBW. The net requirement for gain of the fleece-free Ideal × Ile de France lambs ranged from 7.77 to 6.80 g Ca, 4.54 to 4.14 g P, 0.30 to 0.27 g Mg, 1.18 to 1.07 g K and 0.84 to 0.76 g Na per kg BW gain, and the requirements of the Santa Inês animals ranged from 9.57 to 8.37 g Ca, 5.39 to 4.91 g P, 0.36 to 0.33 g Mg, 1.18 to 1.07 g K and 0.90 to 0.81 g Na per kg BW gain for the lambs weighting 20 to 35 kg. Santa Inês lambs showed higher requirements for Ca, P, Mg and Na.

O largo crescimento do setor de agronegócios no Brasil tem estimulado mudanças nos sistemas produtivos, tanto na intensificação, como na profissionalização da produção. Dessa forma, os produtores têm buscado estratégias para melhor atender aos desafios da atividade pecuária atual, dentre as quais se destacam as inovações tecnológicas que devem resultar em comprovado benefício à atividade, seja pelo aumento em produtividade, seja pela melhoria na qualidade dos produtos, seja pela conscientização do respeito ao meio ambiente. Assim como em outros segmentos do agronegócio brasileiro, na caprinocultura existe uma demanda crescente pela aplicação de inovações tecnológicas, uma vez que o sistema produtivo precisa ser mais competitivo para se manter no mercado. Dentre as inovações tecnológicas aplicadas na caprinocultura, foram abordadas as mais relevantes nas áreas de reprodução (desde métodos para indução de cio até a prática da transgenia), melhoramento genético (biogenética), sanidade (inovações no diagnóstico e prevenção de doenças de maior impacto na criação), nutrição (inovações nos sistemas de alimentação) e tratamento de dejetos (diminuição de contaminantes no ambiente). A utilização conjunta das inovações tecnológicas nos diferentes segmentos associados à cadeia produtiva caprina pode fazer com que ocorram melhorias nos rebanhos assim como nos produtos gerados.

The Brazilian agribusiness has being passed through intensive growth and it has been stimulating transformations of the productive systems both in intensification and professionalization of animal production. In this regard, producers are seeking the use of strategies to better attend the new challenges of the animal production. Among the strategies stands out the technological innovations, which should result in real benefit to the activity by increasing productivity, improving product's quality and providing protection to the environment. As other segments of the Brazilian agribusiness, in goat production there is an increased demand for the application of technological innovation once this system needs to be more competitive in the global market. Among the technological innovations applied for goat production, this review addressed the most relevant in the reproduction (from methods for estrus induction to transgenic practice), animal breeding (biogenetic), health management (innovation on diagnosis and prevention of the most prevalent diseases), nutrition (feeding systems innovations) and waste treatment (reduction of environment contamination) areas. The joint use of the technological innovations in the different segments linked to the goat production chain can contribute to improve herd's quality as well as the generated produces.

Foram conduzidos dois ensaios para medir os fluxos portal e visceral total de metabólitos em ovinos (peso vivo (PV) médio de 35 ± 3 kg) recebendo feno de capim-arroz (Echinochloa sp.) cortado aos 32, 46, 72 ou 90 dias de rebrota. Um dos ensaios foi realizado em quadrado latino 4 × 4 (ensaio 1) para avaliação dos quatro fenos e outro em quadrado latino 3 × 3 (ensaio 2), sem o feno do capim cortado aos 32 dias de rebrota. Os animais foram implantados com cateteres permanentes nas veias mesentérica e hepática. Sangue arterial foi acessado através de cateteres temporários na carótida. O fluxo de sangue portal e visceral foi estimado com base na diluição de paraminohipurato infundido continuamente em uma veia mesentérica. Na refeição prévia às amostragens, o consumo de matéria orgânica (MO) total e digestível não foi afetado, mas o consumo de nitrogênio total e digestível diminuiu linearmente com o aumento da idade de rebrota do capim-arroz em ambos os ensaios. Os fluxos de sangue portal e visceral, o fluxo visceral líquido de glicose, uréia e aminoácidos e o fluxo portal líquido de glicose e uréia não foram afetados pela idade de rebrota da forrageira. Os fluxos portais de aminoácidos e amônia foram maiores nos animais que consumiram o feno de 46 dias e maior quantidade de nitrogênio digestível. A maior parte dos nutrientes absorvidos pelos ovinos consumindo feno de capim-arroz foi metabolizada pelo sistema visceral, de modo que a disponibilidade de aminoácidos e de glicose aos tecidos periféricos representou somente pequena proporção do nitrogênio ou da matéria orgânica ingerida. Em geral, o metabolismo visceral dos animais não foi afetado pela idade de rebrota da forrageira.

In order to measure the net portal and visceral flux of metabolites in lambs (35 ± 2.5 kg live weight) fed rice-grass (Echinochloa sp.) hay cut at 32, 46, 72 or 96 days of regrowth age, two assays were carried out. One of them was a 4 × 4 Latin Square experiment (Assay 1) where the four hays were evaluated and the other was a 3 × 3 Latin square experiment (Assay 2) that did not include the 32-day hay. Animals were surgically implanted with permanent catheters into mesenteric and hepatic blood vessels. Arterial blood was sampled using temporary catheters into carotid artery. Portal and visceral blood flow was estimated based on continuous infusion of paraminohippurate in a mesenteric vein. On the sampling day, total and digestible organic matter (OM) intakes were not affected, but total and digestible N intakes decreased linearly with the increased forage regrowth age in both assays. The portal and visceral blood flow, net visceral flux of glucose, urea and amino acids and the net portal flux of glucose and urea were not affected by forage regrowth age. The net portal flux of amino acids and ammonia which was markedly higher in lambs fed 46-day hay and that ingested more digestible N. Most nutrients absorbed by lambs fed rice-grass hay were metabolized by visceral tissues such as peripheral availability of amino acids and glucose only account to a small proportion of N and OM intake. In general, the visceral metabolism of lambs is not clearly affected by forage regrowth age.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o método de multicateterização utilizado para estudar o metabolismo visceral em ruminantes. Quatro ovinos Ideal <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> Texel (peso vivo (PV) médio de 35 ± 2,5kg) foram implantados com cateteres permanentes nas veias mesentérica, porta e hepática. Sangue arterial foi acessado através de cateteres temporários implantados na carótida. A estimativa de fluxo de sangue portal e visceral foi feita com o uso do indicador paraminohipurato. Todos os cateteres mantiveram-se viáveis durante um período de no mínimo 45 dias. O fluxo de sangue visceral foi em média de 147l h-1 ou 4,2l h-1 kg-1 de PV, similar ao obtido em outros estudos com ovinos. Contudo, os dados de fluxo de sangue portal obtidos na maioria dos animais foram negativos e irreais, provavelmente devido a problemas relacionados à posição da ponta do cateter e à inadequada mistura do indicador no sangue portal. A medida do fluxo de metabólitos pelo sistema visceral utilizando animais multicateterizados pode constituir-se em uma ferramenta adicional útil para avaliar o valor nutricional dos alimentos e o metabolismo dos ruminantes. No entanto, os procedimentos de implantação dos cateteres, assim como o desenho e o protocolo experimental deste tipo de estudo, necessitam ser aperfeiçoados para aumentar a precisão e confiabilidade dos dados.

This study was aimed at evaluating the multicatheterization method, used to study visceral metabolism in ruminants. Four Polwarth <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> Texel lambs (35 ± 2.5kg mean live weight (LW)) were surgically fitted with chronic indwelling catheters in a mesenteric, the portal and a hepatic vein. Arterial blood samples were withdrawn from the carotid artery using temporary catheters. Paraminohippurate was used as indicator to estimate portal and visceral blood flow. All catheters were patent throughout a 45 days period. Mean visceral blood flow was 4.2l h-1 kg-1 of LW, similar to that obtained in others studies with sheep. However, almost all portal blood flow values were negative and unreal. The explanation for these results is not clear, but it was likely due to problems associated to portal catheter tip positioning into the vessel and poor indicator mixing in portal blood. Despite of this, the measurement of the net visceral flux of metabolites using multicatheterized animals may represent a useful tool to evaluate the nutritional value of feedstuffs and ruminant metabolism. The procedures for catheter implantation, however, as well as the experimental design and protocol, need to be improved to enhance data precision and reliability in these studies.

Este estudo foi conduzido para determinar a excreção diária de creatinina e verificar o potencial de seu uso como indicador da produção urinária em ovinos. A medida da excreção urinária total de creatinina foi feita com base em dados e em amostras obtidas de quatro experimentos de digestibilidade conduzidos previamente com ovinos mantidos em gaiolas metabólicas. Em todos os experimentos, foi feita a coleta diária total de urina durante cinco dias em cada período experimental. Adicionalmente, em um dos experimentos, foram coletadas amostras de urina dos animais de duas em duas horas durante um período de 24 horas. A excreção total de creatinina (média de 660mg dia-1) foi diferente entre experimentos (P<0,01) e entre animais (P<0,01). A excreção diária como proporção do peso corporal (média 23,2mg kg-1 de peso vivo) foi diferente entre experimentos (P<0,01), mas semelhante entre animais, tratamentos e períodos (P>0,05). Por sua vez, a concentração de creatinina na urina foi diferente entre os experimentos (P<0,01), animais (P<0,01), períodos (P<0,05) e também nos diferentes horários de um período de 24 horas (P<0,01). A estimativa da produção urinária dos animais, com base na concentração de creatinina em amostras pontuais de urina, pode ser confiável somente se, em pelo menos um animal representativo de um grupo experimental, for realizada coleta total de urina para medida de excreção média desse metabólito por unidade de peso corporal. Além disso, amostras pontuais de urina devem ser coletadas em diferentes horários para constituir uma amostra composta representativa de um ciclo de 24 horas.

This study was carried out to evaluate the use of creatinine as an indicator of urinary production in sheep. Total creatinine urinary excretion was determined based on data and samples collected from four digestibility experiments previously conducted with lambs maintained in metabolic cages. In all experiments total urinary production was collected during five days in each animal and experimental period. Additionally, in one experiment, urine samples were taken at intervals of two hours during a 24 hours period. Total excretion of creatinine (mean of 660mg day-1) was different among experiments (P<0.01) and animals (P<0.01). The daily excretion as proportion of body weight (mean of 23,2mg kg-1 live weight) was different only among experiments (P<0.01), but was similar among the animals and periods and treatments (P>0.05). In the other hand, the urinary concentration of creatinine was different among experiments (P<0.01), animals (P<0.01) and periods (P<0.05). There were also differences among sampling times through a 24 hours period (P<0.01). The estimate of urinary production based on urinary concentrations of creatinine in spot samples, may be reliable only if, at least in one animal, representative of experimental group, total urine collection be carried out to measure the mean daily excretion of creatinine relative to body weigh. Moreover, spot samples should be collected in different times to constitute a composite sample representative of a 24 hours period.