ABSTRACT: Pornunça (Manihot sp.) is a potential forage to feed ruminants in drylands worldwide; however, evaluations of animal diets are necessary. This study assessed intake and digestibility of dry matter and nutrients, physiological responses, ingestive behavior, water intake, as well as hematological and biochemical responses of lambs fed diets containing increasing levels of Pornunça silage (PS) replacing Tifton-85 bermudagrass hay (Cynodon spp.). Treatments consisted of 0, 33, 66, and 100 % PS considering the roughage portion of the diet (% dry matter – DM). The experimental design was completely randomized with six replicates. Cyanide acid (HCN) levels in fresh Pornunça leaves were 207.7 mg kg−1 DM and 76.78 mg kg−1 DM in PS. Intake of DM and crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (NDFap) increased linearly with increasing levels of PS in the diet. Digestibility of DM, NDF, and CP were higher with increasing levels of PS. Idle time decreased linearly, while water balance, water intake via food, and total water in feces increased with PS. Nitrogen balance, physiological, and hematological responses were not influenced by treatments, while the final alanine aminotransferase increased for lambs fed all diets evaluated. The PS up to 100 % of the roughage portion increased DM and nutrient intake and digestibility without altering physiological responses and the hematological and biochemical parameters, resulting in greater water intake via food.

ABSTRACT. The objective was to evaluate the quality of Japanese quail eggs stored at room temperature (26.8ºC) and under refrigeration (10.9ºC), for different storage periods (0; 5; 10; 15; 20; 25 and 30 days). A total of 196 quail eggs were assigned to different treatments in a factorial arrangement of 2 (temperatures) x 7 (storage periods), with 3 replications and 4 eggs per experimental unit. Data were subjected to regression analysis of parameters as a function of storage time at room temperature and under refrigeration. There was a reduction in egg weight, albumen weight and height, yolk height and egg yolk index with increasing storage period as a function of temperatures (p < 0.05). Eggs at room temperature showed a reduction in albumen index, while eggs under refrigeration showed a quadratic behavior (p < 0.05). Storage days promoted a quadratic response in albumen and yolk pH (p < 0.05) of eggs at room temperature. Eggs at room temperature floated from the 15th day of storage. When stored at room temperature, quail eggs show a sharp decrease in internal quality during storage for up to 30 days. Refrigerated storage is recommended.

Objetivou-se determinar a composição e a degradabilidade in situ da matéria seca, proteína bruta e fibra em detergente neutro dos fenos da mamona Paraguaçu (Ricinus communis), da mamona Nordestina (Ricinus communis), do pinhão manso (Jatropha curcas) e da maniçoba (Manihot pseudoglaziovii). Utilizaram-se três ovinos sem raça definida fistulados no rúmen. Em cada animal foram incubados 12 sacos nos períodos de 6; 12; 24; 48 e 96 horas, sendo três por feno de euforbiácea. O teor proteico variou entre 10,3% para o feno de pinhão manso e 19,6% para o feno da maniçoba. O valor de fibra em detergente neutro foi semelhante entre os fenos do pinhão manso e da maniçoba, enquanto os fenos das mamonas, apresentaram valores inferiores às anteriores e semelhantes entre si. O feno da mamona Paraguaçu obteve maior e mais rápida degradação da matéria seca, com valor de 85,5%, estagnado em 44 horas. Os fenos da maniçoba e do pinhão manso apresentaram degradação da proteína bruta semelhantes com valores final de 92,5% em 40 e 46 horas, respectivamente. O feno do pinhão manso obteve degradação da fibra em detergente neutro de 68,0% e foi superior aos fenos das outras euforbiáceas, porém, apresentou taxa de degradação mais lenta, estabilizada em 86 horas. Os fenos das mamonas foram superiores aos fenos das demais euforbiáceas em relação à composição bromatológica, aos coeficientes de degradação ruminal e a degradação potencial e efetiva dos nutrientes.

In order to determine the composition and the in situ degradability of the dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber of hays of castor cv. Paraguaçu (Ricinus communis), castor cv. Nordestina (Ricinus communis), jatropha (Jatropha curcas) and maniçoba (Manihot pseudoglaziovii). Three rumen canulated undefined breed sheep were used. In each animal were incubated 12 bags for 6; 12; 24; 48 and 96 hour, being three bags by hay of euphorbiaceae. The content of protein ranged between 10.3% for the hay of jatropha and 19.6% for the hay of maniçoba. The neutral detergent fiber value was similar between the hay of jatropha and the hay of maniçoba, while the hays of castors presented lower concentrations between themselves. The castor Paraguaçu hay presented superior and faster dry matter degradation, with value of 85.5% stagnated at 44 hour. The hay of maniçoba and the hay of jatropha showed similar degradability of crude protein with final valor of 92.5% degraded at 40 and 46 hour, respectively. The jatropha hay presented neutral detergent fiber degradation of 68.0% and was superior to other euphorbiaceous hay, but, showed slower degradation rate, stagnated at 86 hour. The hays of castors were superior to the other hays of euphorbiaceous for chemical composition, the coefficients of ruminal degradation and the potential and effective degradation of nutrients.