ABSTRACT. The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive performance and carcass characteristics of confined Santa Inês sheep, fed different diets, in a Semiarid environment. Twenty whole sheep with 5 ± 0.5 months of age and 27 ± 2.0 kg were used, receiving two different diets for 72 experimental days, one composed of defatted soybean meal and the other of protein-enriched cactus meal. They were evaluated for different diets, consumption, production, carcass characteristics, morphometric measures and edible components. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with two treatments and 10 replications. Performance data and carcass characteristics were evaluated by analysis of variance and means compared by t test at 5% probability level using Statistical Analysis System [SAS]® (1999). Thus, the use of emulsified palm forage protein in the feeding of Santa Inês male lambs proved to be an excellent protein source when compared to the use of defatted soybean meal, since the results of performance and carcass characteristics were similar, being the use of this alternative source advised as it presents the best benefit-cost ratio.

ABSTRACT. This study aimed to evaluate the productive performance and carcass characteristics of lambs fed diets with different types of carbohydrates associated with polyunsaturated fatty acids. Thirty castrated male lambs (20.5 ± 7.6 kg) were used, distributed in a randomized block design under three experimental diets: High proportion of non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) diet; High NFC diet + spineless cactus (high proportion of NFC and spineless cactus) and Low NFC diet (low proportion of NFC), in a 60 day experimental period. The variables of nutrient intake, performance, and carcass characteristics were evaluated. The animals fed the High NFC + spineless cactus diet presented a higher dry matter intake, organic matter, mineral matter, crude protein, and total carbohydrates intake (p <0.05). Carcass characteristics and weight of commercial cuts were improved in High NFC and High NFC + spineless cactus diets (p <0.05), on the other hand we observed a total fat weight reduction in animals fed with High NFC + spineless cactus. The results indicate that high levels of NFC positively influence animal performance, where the type of carbohydrate influences nutrient intake, also affecting carcass characteristics.

ABSTRACT. The physical-chemical characteristics and sensory attributes of milk are variable. This study aimed to evaluate how spineless cactus varieties resistant to carmine cochineal (Dactylopius sp.) influences the composition and sensory characteristics of goat milk. Twelve lactating goats with body weights of 51.35 ± 3.75 kg were distributed in a 4 × 4 Latin square, with three simultaneous squares composed of four animals, four periods, and four experimental diets: Control - goats fed tifton grass hay and concentrate; SCOE - goats fed the Orelha-de-elefante spineless cactus, tifton hay, and concentrate; SCB - goats fed the Baiana spineless cactus, tifton hay, and concentrate; SCM - goats fed the Miúda spineless cactus, tifton hay, and concentrate. The levels of protein and non-greasy solids and the sensory attributes of the milk (odor, butter flavor, and global acceptance) did not differ between the treatments (p > 0.05). The lipid content of the milk was reduced in the SCOE treatment compared to the control (p = 0.0014). The milk obtained from animals fed the SCOE and SCM treatments had a stronger flavor (p < 0.05). These results suggest that varieties of spineless cactus resistant to carmine cochineal can be used as goat feed without affecting milk production or global acceptance.

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to use biometric measurements to predict carcass characteristics of lambs of the Morada Nova breed. We used 48 lambs with mean initial body weight (BW) of 15.0±0.04 kg and slaughter body weight (SBW) of 26.37±2.43 kg. The animals were weighed weekly and underwent a period of adaptation of 15 days before slaughter. The biometric measurements were obtained the day before slaughter, comprising body length, withers height, rump height, thigh length, breast width, rump width, thigh perimeter, rump perimeter, thorax perimeter, leg length, and body condition score. Additional measurements included slaughter BW and empty BW (EBW). The data recorded at slaughter comprised the weights of the viscera, carcass, and internal fat and offal. The in vivo measurements of body length were present in most of the equations for predicting the SBW, EBW, hot carcass weight (HCW), and cold carcass weight (CCW). The SBW and EBW presented a variation of approximately 9%. The variables that evaluated the carcass, HCW, and CCW demonstrated less data variation than SBW and EBW, which was probably because these measurements were obtained following evisceration and skinning, thus removing factors of more significant variation in vivo . The prediction models found in the present study varied with an R² of 0.49-0.93, indicating high levels of variation. In sum, biometric measurements can be used to predict the carcass characteristics of Morada Nova lambs with different body conditions.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of the cactus Opuntia stricta (Haw.) in sheep diets on the feed intake, digestibility, fermentation, and physicochemical characteristics of the ruminal digesta. Five sheep cannulated in the rumen (61.5±9.5 kg body weight) were assigned in a Latin square design (5×5), with five diets and five experimental periods of 21 days each. The first 14 days were the adaptation period, and data were collected over the following seven days, making the total duration of the experiment 105 days. The diets included a control diet and four diets containing cactus at 121, 245, 371, and 500 g/kg of dry matter (DM). The diets had a forage:concentrate ratio of 65:35. The inclusion of cactus increased the DM intake and non-fiber carbohydrates, but reduced the neutral detergent fiber intake. It also increased the apparent digestibility of the DM, reduced the digesta density 4 h after feeding, and increased the production of ruminal fluid foam. The inclusion of cactus quadratically affected the DM rumen turnover, with the lowest value observed in the 336.5 g/kg cactus diet. The DM ruminal disappearance rate increased with the inclusion of cactus to the diets and quadratically affected the ruminal pH, with the highest value found in the 150 g/kg cactus diet. The concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) increased, but the acetate:propionate ratio decreased with the inclusion of cactus at 500 g/kg DM. Taken together, our findings indicate that the evaluated spineless cactus can be added to sheep diets up to the level of 500 g/kg DM. The inclusion of O. stricta (Haw.) improves feed intake, DM digestibility, and SCFA and modifies the physicochemical characteristics of the ruminal digesta.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate performance traits, intake, nutrient apparent digestibility, and economic analysis of lambs fed diets containing different levels of sunflower cake (SFC) with a certain chemical composition. Thirty-six Santa Inês × Dorper lambs (n = 9 per treatment diet) with an average body weight (BW) of 19.5±2.19 kg at the beginning of the study were randomly allocated to four isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets for 63 days. A control diet without SFC was compared with diets containing 5, 10, and 15% of dietary dry matter (DM) of SFC replacing soybean meal and corn. Growth performance and economic indicators were calculated. Moreover, individual faeces were collected using canvas bags to evaluate the apparent digestibility of nutrients between days 30 and 45 of study. The total BW gain linearly decreased with the inclusion of SFC in the lamb diet. However, no differences among treatments were observed for final BW, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, or feed conversion ratio. The inclusion of different levels of SFC in the diet reduced the intakes of DM as g/kg BW and non-fibre carbohydrates on DM basis. The apparent digestibility of all nutrients studied improved with the inclusion of 5% SFC but decreased with diets containing 10 or 15% of SFC. Moreover, the higher benefit:cost ratio was obtained for diet containing 5% SFC. Therefore, SFC from biodiesel production could be used at levels of 5% in lamb rations, reducing feeding costs without worsening productive performance, nutrient intake, and digestibility at the ages studied.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of guava agroindustrial waste (GAW) on ruminal parameters (pH, N-NH3, and microbial protein), volatile fatty acid (VFA), and morphometry of the rumen and intestine of sheep. A total of forty Santa Inês sheep (120 days old and 21.3±2.62 kg) were used. The animals were fed diets with 0, 7.5, 15, 22.5, and 30% inclusion of GAW. The pH, ammonia nitrogen, microbial protein, and VFA were evaluated in the ruminal fluid, alongside the morphometric characteristics of the rumen and intestine. The inclusion of GAW linearly increased fasting and postprandial pH, N-NH3 only showed a quadratic effect for fasting animal, whereas MP presented a quadratic effect for pre- and post-prandial animals. There was a quadratic effect for papilla width, with a maximum value of 393.33 μm at the level of 34.43% GAW in the diet. The papilla absorption area showed a linear effect, in which increasing levels of GAW in the diet had a smaller area of papillae absorption. The inclusion of GAW in the diet of Santa Inês sheep favored pH neutrality, reduced N-NH3 and ruminal MP concentrations, decreased the thickness of the rumen muscular layer, and increased the intestinal mucosa, favoring greater absorption of nutrients.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of housing density on ingestive behavior of male Santa Inês sheep housed individually and in double. Forty non-castrated males were used with an average initial weight of 21.33±2.62 kg and an average age of 120 days. The males were housed in two types of covered stalls: double stalls (two males/stall) of 3.0 m2 and individual stalls of 1.50 m2. Animals housed in individual stalls spent more time ruminating and less time eating than those in double stalls. These animals also spent more time in idleness. Sheep idled approximately 11.43 hours/day (47% of the time), which can be explained by the shorter time spent in rumination, considering that the diet used in this experiment had adequate nutritional quality. The animals in double stalls consumed more water, which resulted in increased urination. However, this activity did not interfere with total weight gain. Therefore, experiments testing stall density does not interfere with the performance of the animals.

ABSTRACT This study was designed to assess the effects of feeding space availability on social behavior and performance of housed crossbreed sheep through the use of three different types of feeders. Thirty-six crossbreed ewes (Santa Inês × Dorper; 2-3 years old) with initial body weight of 34.99±4.28 kg were randomly assigned to a 3 × 3 (feeder type × available space at the feeder) factorial arrangement among nine pens. Pens had one of three feeder types (concrete bunk, plastic, or wood barrel) and one of three amounts of available space in the feeder (0.33, 0.25, or 0.20 m animal−1). Total dry matter intake/pen, dry matter intake per animal, total weight gain/pen, daily weight gain/animal, and food waste were evaluated. Percentage of time spent at feeding and frequency of aggressive behaviors/12 h were recorded. We observed a higher total daily weight gain in ewes with a feeding space of 0.33 and 0.25 m animal−1. The wastes were essentially insignificant for wood feeders in all feeding space treatments. The average number of aggressive behaviors was lower (P<0.05) for animals kept in pens with feeding space of 0.33 m animal−1 than for those maintained in pens with feeding space of 0.20 and 0.25 m animal−1. Ewes with feeding space of 0.33 m animal−1 fed simultaneously 54% of the time, while among pens with feeding spaces of 0.25 or 0.20 m animal−1, this period was reduced to 41 and 30%, respectively. An available feeding space of 0.33 m animal−1 is recommended for adult housed ewes, once it favors simultaneous access, lower competitive interactions at the feeder, and less variation in terms of individual weight gain among ewes.

RESUMO A falta de água na produção pecuária pode ser um fator limitante para o bom desempenho dos animais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da restrição total de água na dieta de ovinos, alimentados com palma forrageira sobre o desempenho produtivo. Foram utilizados 42 ovinos, machos, com idade e peso médio de ±100 dias e 18,75± (2,05)kg, respectivamente; alimentados com dietas de 0, 30 50 e 70% de inclusão de palma forrageira. Os animais foram abatidos quando atingiam o peso de 32kg (± 1 kg) ou 90 dias em confinamento. O desenho experimental foi arranjo fatorial 3x2, inclusão de palma (30, 50 70%) x água (com água ou sem água). As variáveis foram analisadas utilizando o teste Tukey a 5% de probabilidade, pelo programa PROC GLM do SAS. Os consumos voluntários de água e de matéria seca diminuíram (P<0,05) com a inclusão de palma forrageira nas dietas, porém o consumo de água através dos alimentos e consumo total água aumentaram com a inclusão de palma forrageira (P<0,05). A restrição de água e a interação com os níveis de palma não teve influencia no desempenho dos animais (P>0,05). O ganho de peso diário foi maior para os tratamentos com 30 e 50% de inclusão de palma, com ganhos de 174 e 155 g, respectivamente, comparado com a dieta controle que obteve ganho médio de 90 g. A palma forrageira pode ser utilizada eficientemente como suplemento alimentar e fonte única de água na dieta.

SUMMARY A lack of water in livestock production can limit the performance of the animals; therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of water restriction on the growth performance of sheep that were fed forage cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera). Forty-two male sheep were used, with an average age and weight of ±100 days and 18.75 ± (2,05) kg , respectively, and they were fed diets containing concentrate, mineral mixture and three levels of substitution (30, 50 and 70%) of Tifton hay with forage cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera). The animals were slaughtered when they reached 32 kg (± 1 kg) of body weight or 90 days. The experimental design was a 3x2 factorial arrangement, forage cactus (30, 50, 70%) x water (with or without water) plus a control group (n=6). Variables were analyzed using Tukey and Dunnett's test at 5% with PROC GLM in SAS software. Voluntary water intake and dry matter intake (DMI) decreased with the inclusion of forage cactus; however, preformed water intake and total water intake increased with the inclusion of forage cactus. Water restriction and its interaction with the treatments had no effect on animal performance. Daily weight gain was higher for the diets with 30 and 50%forage cactus inclusion, at 174 and 155 g, respectively, compared with 90 g for the control diet. Cactus, therefore, can be used as a food supplement and water resource.

ABSTRACT A comparative slaughter trial was conducted to estimate the body composition and net requirements of Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, and Co for growth of castrated Moxotó goat kids, with15.69±0.78 kg initial body weight (BW), grazing in the semiarid region of Brazil. The baseline group consisted of four randomly selected kids (15.37±0.30 kg BW). Thirty-two kids were randomly allocated into eight groups (considered as block), distributed among four levels of concentrate supplementation (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% BW). Animals in a group were slaughtered when the 1.5% BW treatment kids in the group reached approximately 25 kg BW. The trace element content (mg/kg of empty body weight) ranged from 23.68 to 27.81 mg Zn, 35.70 to 47.29 mg Fe, 0.86 to 1.09 mg Mn, 1.45 to 1.75 mg Cu, and 0.83 to 0.87 mg Co for Moxotó kids at 15 and 25 kg BW, respectively. The net requirements (mg/kg of empty body weight gain) ranged from 30.43 to 35.74 mg Zn, 53.48 to 70.84 mg Fe, 1.22 to 1.54 mg Mn, 1.93 to 2.32 mg Cu, and 0.91 to 0.95 mg Co for animals with BW ranging from 15 to 25 kg, respectively. Indigenous goats grazing in the semiarid region of Brazil have different requirements from those values recommended by international committees for dairy and meat goats.

RESUMO: Objetivou-se com o presente estudo avaliar os efeitos da restrição alimentar sobre as características de carcaça de cabritos Canindé castrados. Foi utilizado um delineamento em blocos casualizados, no qual 21 cabritos com peso corporal (PC) de 15,9±1,0kg foram distribuídos por três níveis de restrição alimentar: ad libitum, 20% e 40% de restrição alimentar. A dieta consistiu de 55% de volumoso (Tifton) e 45% de concentrado. Os animais foram abatidos quando os cabritos alimentados ad libitum atingiram PC de 25kg. Após o abate, as carcaças foram resfriadas por 24 horas e, subsequentemente, mensuradas. Os cabritos alimentados ad libitum e submetidos à restrição alimentar de 20% apresentaram medidas morfométricas semelhantes, exceto para a circunferência do peito. Os cabritos alimentados ad libitum apresentaram maiores valores para rendimento de carcaça quente e fria em comparação àqueles submetidos à restrição alimentar de 40% e não diferiram entre os cabritos com restrição alimentar de 20%. Os pesos dos cortes comerciais apresentaram médias decrescentes com a intensidade da restrição alimentar. Cabritos Canindé castrados submetidos à restrição alimentar de 20% obtém rendimento de carcaça e proporção dos cortes comerciais similares aos alimentados ad libitum.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of feed restriction on the carcass characteristics of castrated Canindé goat kids. A randomized block design was used, in which 21 goat kids with a body weight (BW) of 15.9±1.0kg were allocated to three levels of feed restriction: ad libitum, 20% and 40% restriction related to the ad libitum intake. The diet consisted of 55% forage (Tifton) and 45% concentrate. All animals were slaughtered when the kids fed ad libitum reached a BW of 25kg. After slaughter, the carcasses were chilled for 24 hours and subsequently measured. Kids fed ad libitum and subjected to 20% feed restriction showed similar morphometric carcass measurements, except for the chest circumference. Goat kids fed ad libitum exhibited greater values for warm and cold carcass yields compared with those subjected to 40% feed restriction and did not differ from the kids under 20% feed restriction. Weights of the commercial cuts showed decreasing mean values according to the intensity of feed restriction. Castrated Canindé goat kids subjected to 20% feed restriction presented similar carcass yields and proportion of commercial cuts to those fed ad libitum.

RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da restrição alimentar sobre o desenvolvimento dos órgãos e deposição de gordura em caprinos Canindé castrados. Foram utilizados 21 cabritos confinados, em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com peso inicial de 15,9 ± 1,03kg. Os cabritos foram alocados em três níveis de restrição alimentar (sete animais por nível): ad libitum (alimentados à vontade); restrição moderada (restrição de 20% em relação à quantidade de matéria natural consumida pelos animais alimentados ad libitum) e restrição severa (restrição de 40% em relação à quantidade de ração consumida pelos animais alimentados ad libitum). A ração experimental apresentou uma proporção de 55% de volumoso (Tifton) e 45% de concentrado. Aos 110 dias de experimento os cabritos foram abatidos com peso médio de 23,5 kg ± 2,5 kg. Esvaziou-se o trato gastrointestinal (TGI), a bexiga e a vesícula biliar e foram mensurados os seus pesos para determinação do peso de corpo vazio (PCV). Foram separados e registrados os pesos dos órgãos (baço, coração, fígado, pâncreas, pulmões, rins, sangue, TGI) e dos depósitos de gordura (cardíaca, mesentérica, omental e pélvico-renal). A restrição alimentar em caprinos Canindé afetou o peso absoluto dos órgãos e das gorduras (P < 0.05) que estão mais envolvidas com a função de reserva energética (mesentérica, omental e pélvico-renal), no entanto, não afetou o percentual dos órgãos em relação ao PCV (P > 0.05), indicando que mesmo sob restrição o desenvolvimento dos órgãos é proporcional ao desenvolvimento do corpo.

SUMMARY The study aimed to evaluate the effect of feed restriction on the development of organs and fat deposition in castrated Caninde goats. Twenty one goats were distributed in a completely randomized design, with initial body weight of 15.9 ± 1.03kg. The goats were allocated into three levels of feed restriction (seven animals per level): ad libitum; moderate restriction (restriction of 20% on the amount of feed consumed by the animals fed ad libitum) and severe restriction (40% restriction on the amount of feed consumed by the animals fed ad libitum). The diet consisted of 55% forage (Tifton) and 45% concentrate. At 110 days of experiment, the goats were slaughtered with abody weight of 23.5kg ± 2.5kg. The components included the internal organs (spleen, heart, liver, pancreas, lungs, kidneys, blood) the emptied and cleaned digestive tract and fat deposits (in heart, mesenteric, omental and pelvic-renal) were weighed. Feed restriction in Canindé goats affected the weight of organs and fat deposition in regions more involved with the energy storage function (mesenteric, omental and pelvic-renal) (P < 0.05), however, feed restriction does not affect the percentage of the organs in relation to EBW (P > 0.05), indicating that even under feed restriction organ development is proportional to the development of the body.

ResumoObjetivou-se avaliar o efeito da suplementação concentrada sobre o ganho de peso, as características quantitativas da carcaça e dos não constituintes da carcaça de caprinos castrados da raça Canindé em sistema de pastejo na caatinga. 40 caprinos com peso corporal (PC) inicial médio de 15,76 ± 0,96kg foram distribuídos nos níveis de zero; 0,5; 1 e 1,5% de suplementação concentrada (% PC), sendo abatidos quando os animais que recebiam 1,5% de suplementação atingiram peso médio de 23,10 ± 1,74kg. Utilizou-se delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro níveis de suplementação e dez repetições. O ganho de peso, rendimento de carcaça, rendimento dos cortes e peso dos constituintes não carcaça (pele, cabeça, sangue, fígado, rins, trato respiratório, trato gastrointestinal), bem como o peso da gordura total, foram influenciados positivamente pelos níveis de suplementação. Os níveis de suplementação um e 1,5% do PC são favoráveis ao desempenho, às características de carcaça e ao desenvolvimento de órgãos em caprinos da raça Canindé em pastejo na caatinga.

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of concentrate supplementation on weight gain, the quantitative characteristics of carcass and non-carcass components of the castrated goat carcass Canindé breed grazing system in the native pasture caatinga. 40 goats with an average body (BW) initial weight of 15.76 ± 0.96kg were distributed in a completely randomized design in levels of 0; 0.5; 1 and 1.5% of supplementation (% BW) and were slaughtered when the animals from the 1.5% of supplementation level reached 23.10±1.74kg. Performance, carcass yield, yield of cuts and weight of non-carcass components (skin, head, blood, liver, kidneys, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract) as well as total fat weightwere positively influenced by supplementation levels. The supplementation levels of 1 and 1.5% of body weight are favorable to performance and quantitative characteristics of Canindé goat kids grazing in the native pasture caatinga.

The effect of the substitution of Tifton hay (0, 33, 66, 100 g/100 g) for pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) stubble hay was evaluated in the characteristics of the carcasses of goats of an unknown breed (UB) in feedlot. Thirty-two bucks with an average initial live weight of 17.5±1.3 kg, at approximately 150 days of age, were housed in individual stalls provided with feeding and drinking troughs. The animals were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and eight replications. There was a quadratic effect on the weights of hot carcass and cold carcass, empty body, and loin eye area. A linear increase was observed for losses by carcass cooling. The weights of commercial cuts and the weights of total muscle, total bone, intramuscular fat, and total fat decreased linearly. All morphometric measurements were influenced by the inclusion of pineapple stubble hay in the .diets. Substitution of Tifton hay for pineapple stubble hay at the level of 33 g/100 g improves the carcasses of UB goats qualitatively and quantitatively