The objective was to evaluate the effect of increasing the dietary inclusion of spineless cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck) on the carcass characteristics and meat quality of confined lambs. Thirty-two male Santa Inês lambs with an average age of 140 days and an initial body weight of 20.4 ± 2.60 kg were used in this study. The lambs were housed in individual stalls for 70 days and individually fed a ration with spineless cactus included at 0, 241, 519, or 753 g/kg of dry matter (DM). The lambs were slaughtered, and characteristics of the carcass and meat were recorded and analysed. Inclusion of spineless cactus had a quadratic effect on the bodyweight at slaughter and on the empty bodyweight of the lambs. The inclusion of 500 g/kg of spineless cactus provided the highest predicted cold carcass weight (16.03 kg). There was a quadratic effect of the inclusion of spineless cactus on the weight of meat cuts and leg composition of lambs. The inclusion of spineless cactus did not influence pH, tenderness, and water-retention capacity of the meat. However, the intramuscular fat content increased 1 mg for every 10 g/kg inclusion of spineless cactus in the diet. Quadratic effects were observed of the inclusion of spineless cactus on the weights of the liver, heart, rumen, blood, skin and internal fat of the lambs. Up to 500 g/kg of spineless cactus could be included in the diet of confined lambs.

This study evaluated the effects of various nitrogen (N) sources augmenting spineless cactus-based diets on intake, digestibility, rumen kinetics and N balance in sheep. Eight rumen-fistulated sheep with an average initial bodyweight of 62 ± 6.83 kg were allotted to one of two 4 x 4 Latin squares. The diets consisted of spineless cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera), Tifton hay, corn grain, vegetable oil and a mineral mixture augmented with either soybean meal (SBM), cottonseed meal (CSM), whole cottonseed (WCS) or urea (U) to provide additional nitrogen. Dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) intakes were similar (P >0.05) for sheep fed the diets with SBM, CSM, and WCS. The digestibility coefficients of DM and CP were similar (P >0.05) for SM, CM, and U diets. The rate of DM disappearance from the rumen did not differ (P >0.05) between treatments. However, the rumen ammonia, pH and N balance was higher (P <0.05) for sheep fed the WCS and U diets. The N absorbed and N retained did not differ (P >0.05) between the diets. Soybean meal and CSM are similar in their effects and can be used for sheep in diets based on spineless cactus. Whole cottonseed and U are interesting sources of N but should be used with caution owing to their effects on digestibility and nutrient intake in sheep.

Avaliou-se o consumo e digestibilidade dos nutrientes em dietas para cabras da raça Saanen arranjadas em um quadrado latino 5x5, alimentadas com cana-de-açúcar em substituição (0, 25, 50, 75 e 100%) ao feno de capim-tifton 85. O experimento foi constituído de cinco períodos de 15 dias (10 dias para adaptação dos animais às dietas experimentais e 5 dias para coleta de dados e amostras). O consumo voluntário foi calculado pela diferença entre o ofertado e as sobras. Utilizou-se o óxido crômico para estimativa da produção de matéria seca fecal. A digestibilidade aparente da matéria seca, matéria orgânica, extrato etéreo e fibra em detergente neutro foi influenciada negativamente com a substituição, enquanto a digestibilidade da proteína e dos carboidratos não fibrosos não sofreu influência. O baixo consumo de matéria seca de rações com cana-de-açúcar torna-se um fator limitante para cabras de média a alta produção de leite.

The intake and digestibility of nutrients in the diets of Saanen goats arranged in a 5x5 Latin square design, fed with sugar cane replacement (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) hay Tifton 85 were evaluated. The experiment consisted of 5 periods of 15 days (10 days for animal adaptation to experimental diets and 5 days for data collection). The voluntary intake was calculated as the difference between the offered and leftovers. Digestibility chromic oxide was used to estimate the fecal dry matter production. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, ether extract and neutral detergent fiber was negatively influenced, whereas the digestibility of protein and non-fiber carbohydrates were not affected. The low dry matter intake of diets with sugar cane becomes a limiting factor for goats medium for high milk production.

Neste trabalho foi avaliado o comportamento ingestivo de caprinos nativos do semiárido nordestino mantidos em confinamento. Foram utilizados 40 machos castrados, 20 da raça Moxotó e 20 Canindé, com peso médio inicial de 15,22 kg ± 1,78 kg, distribuídos aleatoriamente em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 2 × 2, com duas raças e duas dietas. Foram avaliadas duas dietas experimentais: uma com menor nível energético (2,2 Mcal de EM/kg de MS), formulada com relação volumoso:concentrado 70:30; e outra com maior nível energético (2,7 Mcal de EM/kg de MS) e relação volumoso:concentrado de 35:65. Para o comportamento ingestivo, foram realizadas observações a cada cinco minutos, durante 24 horas, para determinação do tempo despendido em alimentação, ruminação e ócio. O consumo de matéria seca, o número de bolos ruminados e de mastigações merícicas por dia, o tempo de mastigação merícica por bolo, a frequência urinária e de procura por água e o consumo de água variaram significativamente entre as raças. Os animais da raça Moxotó apresentaram maior frequência urinária e menor procura por água ao longo do dia. Entretanto, recebendo a dieta com 2,7 Mcal de EM/kg de MS, excretaram menor quantidade de urina. Caprinos das raças Moxotó e Canindé são muito seletivos e têm maior preferência pelas partículas pequenas da dieta, independentemente do seu nível energético. O fornecimento de dietas com alto nível de energia favorece a eficiência alimentar e de ruminação de caprinos Moxotó e Canindé em confinamento.

In this work, it was evaluated the ingestive behavior of indigenous goats from the northeastern semiarid region, kept in feedlot. Forty castrated males, 20 from Moxotó and 20 from Caninde breeds, with average initial weight of 15.22 kg ± 1.78 kg, were used. The goats were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two breeds and two diets. Two experimental diets were evaluated: diet with lower energy level (2.2 Mcal ME/kg dry matter (DM)) formulated with 70:30 roughage:concentrate ratio;and another diet with higher energy level, (2.7 Mcal ME/kg DM) and roughage:concentrate ratio of 35:65. For ingestive behavior, observations were carried out at every five minutes for 24 hours to determine time spent on intake, rumination and idle. Dry matter intake, number of ruminated boli and ruminating chews per day, time of ruminating chews per boli, urinary frequency and frequency of search for water and water intake significantly differed among breeds. Moxoto breed animals showed higher urinary frequency and lower frequency for search for water during the day. However, when Moxoto animals received the diet with 2.7 Mcal ME/kg DM, they excreted less urine. Moxoto and Caninde goats are very selective with greater preference for small particles of the diets, regardless to its energy level. Supply of diets with high level of energy improves feed and rumination efficiency of Moxoto and Caninde goats in feedlot.

This study aimed to determine the influence of seasonal variations on diet botanical composition and rumen protozoa of five rumen fistulated Santa Ines crossbred sheep kept in natural Caatinga vegetation pasture, Pernambuco State, Brazil. Samples were collected in July 2005 and January 2006, the respective rainy and dry seasons. Botanic composition of animal diet was determined by analysis of ruminal extrusa. The rainy season diet was composed mainly by herbaceous and grass species (88%), with Herissantia tiubae making up 51.7%. The dry season diet consisted of shrub species (67.4%), mainly Capparis yco (26.3%) and Bauhinia cheilantha (22.3%). Under such conditions variations in protozoa populations were observed, with the higher total concentration (p<0.05) during the rainy season. Populations of Entodinium genus predominated in both seasons, although decreasing (p<0.05) during the dry season, as did the Epidinium and Eremoplastron genera. The Dasytricha, Diploplastron, Eudiplodinium and Isotricha genera had the higher concentrations (p<0.05) in the dry season.

Objetivou-se neste trabalho determinar a influência estacional sobre a composição botânica da dieta e nos protozoários do rúmen de cinco ovinos mestiços Santa Inês providos de fístulas ruminais e mantidos em pastagens naturais de vegetação de Caatinga, Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil. As amostras foram coletadas em julho de 2005 e janeiro de 2006, compreendendo, respectivamente, as estações chuvosa e seca. A composição botânica da dieta foi determinada através de amostras de extrusa coletadas via fístula ruminal, que após serem analisadas indicaram que durante a estação chuvosa as espécies vegetais mais comuns na dieta dos animais são herbáceas e gramíneas (88%), com Herissantia tiubae representando 51,7% do total. Na estação seca a dieta consistiu de espécies arbustivas (67,4%), comumente Capparis yco (26,3%) e Bauhinia cheilantha (22,3%). Sob tais condições, foram também verificadas variações nas populações de protozoários ruminais, os quais apresentaram maior concentração total (p<0,05) durante a estação chuvosa. Populações do gênero Entodinium predominaram em ambas estações, embora tenham apresentado decréscimo (p<0,05) durante a estação seca, assim como os gêneros Epidinium e Eremoplastron. Dasytricha, Diploplastron, Eudiplodinium e Isotricha apresentaram maior concentração (p<0,05) na estação seca.