ABSTRACT. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of soybean hulls inclusion in the silage of wet brewery waste. The experimental design was randomized in block, where the treatments were constituted by four levels of soybean hulls on the silage (0, 15, 25, and 35%), with three (silos) replicates per treatment. All data collected were subjected to ANOVA and subsequent polynomial regression at 5%. Soybean hulls inclusion caused a linear increase (p < 0.05) in the pH, dry matter, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber and total carbohydrates content of the silage. This inclusion also caused a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the effluent losses and percentages of crude protein, fats, hemicellulose, non-fibrous carbohydrates and total digestible nutrients. Thus, it was concluded that soybean hulls can be used as an additive in the silage of wet brewery waste. Up to 35% of inclusion, there was a significant reduction in the effluent losses, a little increase on pH and enrichment of nutritional content, especially in the dry matter.

ABSTRACT. This study aimed to evaluate the use of inoculant on silage of elephant grass, wet brewery waste and buriti meal at different silo opening times. The experimental silage tested was composed of 50% elephant grass, 30% wet brewery waste, and 20% buriti meal. The experimental design was randomized block in a factorial arrangement (2 x 4), where the treatments consisted of the use or not of inoculant during silage processing, and four silo opening times (7, 14, 21, and 28 days). Data collected were firstly subjected to ANOVA and subsequent Tukey’s test. Results were considered significant at p ≤ 0.05. The use of inoculant in silage production provided more acidic pH (p < 0.05) and higher (p < 0.05) effluent losses. Longer silo opening times resulted in more alkaline pH (p < 0.05) and higher (p < 0.05) effluent losses. The use of inoculant in silage production and longer silo opening times provided higher (p < 0.05) content of ash, crude protein, and fats, and lower (p < 0.05) content of dry matter and fiber (neutral and acid detergent). However, there was no interaction between the factors evaluated in this study. It was concluded that the inoculant may be used in the production of elephant grass silages, wet brewery waste, and buriti meal, providing a more acidic pH, higher effluent losses, lower contents of dry matter and fiber, and higher nutritional content. As the opening time was extended up to 28 days, there was more alkaline pH, higher effluent losses, lower dry matter and fiber content, and higher nutritional content.

ABSTRACT. This study aimed to evaluate açaí meal in diets for commercial laying hens on apparent nutrient digestibility and apparent metabolizable energy. A total of 72 Hissex White laying hens (52-wks-old) were distributed in a completely randomized design, where treatments consisted of a control diet and an experimental diet (25% açaí meal) with six replicates of six birds each. Data collected were subjected to polynomial regression at 5%. Differences (p < 0.05) were detected in digestibility of all evaluated nutrients. Hens fed diets with 25% açaí meal presented worse (p < 0.05) metabolization and use of energy content. It can be concluded that hens fed diets containing açaí meal presented better use of crude protein, non-fiber carbohydrates and mineral matter. However, there was worse use of dry matter, fiber carbohydrates and ether extract. This result directly affected the energy metabolism of the birds. The inclusion of açaí meal reduced the energy use.

Foram utilizadas 80 ovelhas Santa Inês, com 47,49 ± 3,76 kg de peso vivo, cobertas com reprodutores Dorper e alimentadas com concentrado com 15,20; 22,48; 26,52 e 35,65% de proteína bruta (PB) no terço inicial de gestação. As ovelhas, durante o dia, permaneceram em pastagem de capim-aruana (Panicum maximum cv. Aruana). Ao nascimento, foram realizadas biópsias no músculo Semitendinosus esquerdo de cordeiros machos, para avaliar o número e o diâmetro das fibras musculares. Na fase de terminação, os cordeiros foram distribuídos em dois grupos e alimentados com uma dieta controle, contendo 16,18% de proteína bruta (PB) e 79,64% nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT), sem grão de girassol; ou com uma dieta contendo 9,10% de grãos de girassol (15,03% de PB e 78,96% de NDT). Não houve efeito da alimentação materna sobre o peso dos cordeiros ao nascimento (4,82 kg), aos 30 dias de idade (9,69 kg) e ao desmame (15,38 kg). O sexo influenciou o peso dos cordeiros ao nascimento e ao desmame. O desempenho dos cordeiros na fase de terminação não foi influenciado pela dieta fornecida nessa fase, nem pelo sexo nem pelo manejo alimentar da mãe durante a gestação. Não houve diferença no número (2813,45) nem no diâmetro (13,16 μm) das fibras musculares ao nascimento. O teor de PB de dietas para ovelhas no terço inicial da gestação pode ser reduzido, pois essa redução não influencia no diâmetro e número de fibras musculares.

It was used 80 Santa Inês ewes with average body weight 47.79 ± 3.76 kg, mated with Dorper rams and fed concentrated diet with 15.20; 22.48; 26.52 and 35.65% crude protein (CP) on the initial third of pregnancy. Sheep were kept on aruana grass (Panicum maximum cv. Aruana) pasture during the day. At birth, biopsy on the left Semitendinosus muscle were done on male lambs to evaluate the number and diameter of muscular fibers. During finishing phase, lambs were distributed in two groups and fed control diet with 16.18% crude protein (CP) and 79.64% total digestible nutrients (TDN); without sunflower grain; or fed diet with 9.10% sunflower grain (15.03% CP and 78.96% TDN). There was no effect of maternal feeding on the weight of lambs at birth (4.82 kg), at 30 days of age (9.69 kg) and at weaning (15.38 kg). Sex affected weight of lambs from birth to weaning. Performance of the lambs during finishing phase was not affected by diet given during this phase, neither by the sex nor by maternal food management during pregnancy. There was no difference on number (2,813.45) neither on diameter (13.16 μm) of the muscle fibers on birth. Contents of crude proteins in diets for sheep at the initial third of pregnancy can be reduced because this reduction does not affect diameter and number of muscle fibers.

Um experimento foi realizado com os objetivos de avaliar as características de carcaça de cordeiras ½ Dorset Santa Inês e comparar o custo de produção e o retorno econômico de dois sistemas de terminação. Após o desmame, 44 cordeiras foram divididas em dois sistemas de terminação: confinamento - ração (4% PV) com 15,56% de PB e 4,32 Mcal de EB/kg MS; e pastagem + suplementação (1,5% de ração, com base no peso vivo), com 27,01% PB e 4,51 Mcal de EB/kg MS. Os custos da ração e do suplemento foram de R$0,39 e R$0,54, respectivamente. Os animais foram abatidos ao atingirem peso corporal médio de 30 kg. Os valores médios para os pesos da carcaça quente e fria foram de 14,33 e 14,11 kg e 13,91 e 13,6 kg, os rendimentos verdadeiros médios de 55,81 e 55,61% e os comerciais de 46,39 e 46,04%, respectivamente, para confinamento e pastagem + suplementação. As médias para condição corporal e índices de compacidade da carcaça e da perna das cordeiras terminadas em confinamento e pastagem + suplementação foram, respectivamente, de 3,03 e 2,96; 0,21 e 0,20 kg/cm e 0,43 e 0,44 cm/cm. As características idade ao abate, condição corporal, pesos da carcaça quente e fria, rendimentos verdadeiro e comercial da carcaça e índices de compacidade da carcaça e da perna não diferiram entre os tratamentos. Portanto, cordeiras ½ Dorset Santa Inês podem ser terminadas em confinamento ou em pastagem + suplementação, porém, considerando-se a análise econômica, recomenda-se a terminação em pastagem + suplementação.

The objectives of this trial were to evaluate carcass characteristics and production costs of ½ Dorset Santa Inês lambs finished at two finishing systems. Forty-four weaned ½ Dorset Santa Inês lambs were distributed to one of the following two finishing systems: 1) feedlot lambs were fed concentrate (4% BW) containing 15.56% CP and 4.32 Mcal GE/kg DM or 2) lambs were on pasture and received a supplement (1.5% BW) containing 27.01% CP and 4.51 Mcal GE/kg DM. Concentrate and supplement costs were R$ 0.39 and R$ 0.54, respectively. Animals were slaughtered when they reached, on average, 30 kg of BW. Mean values for hot and cold carcass weights were 14.33 and 14.11 kg and 13.91 and 13.6 kg for animals on feedlot and pasture plus supplementation system, respectively. Carcass and commercial carcass yields were 55.81 and 55.61% and 46.39 and 46.04% for animals on feedlot and pasture plus supplementation system, respectively. It was also observed, in this order, the following mean values for body condition score, and carcass and hindlimb compactness indexes: 3.03 and 2.96; 0.21 and 0.20 kg/cm; 0.43 and 0.44 cm/cm for animals on feedlot and pasture plus supplementation system, respectively. Slaughter age, body condition score, hot and cold carcass weights, carcass and commercial carcass yields, carcass and hindlimb compactness indexes all did not differ between treatments indicating that lambs can be finished either at feedlot or at pasture plus supplementation. However, according to the economical analysis is recommended the pasture plus supplementation finishing system.