The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of diets with increasing concentrate levels on performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of Murrah buffaloes in feedlot. Twenty-four animals, with an initial body weight of 240 ± 50.5 kg and mean age of 9 months, were distributed to four treatments: 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% concentrate. After 114 days, the animals were weighed, slaughtered, and meat quality and performance data were submitted to analysis of variance and regression. The dry matter intake and average daily gain increased linearly. The final body, hot carcass, and cold carcass weights responded linearly to increases in concentrate level. The subcutaneous fat thickness, protein, and ether extract of meat increased linearly with an increase in concentrate level. The colour parameters, cooking losses, and shear force of the meat were not affected by increasing the concentrate. The inclusion of concentrate in feedlot diets increases performance, characteristics of carcass, and meat quality of Murrah buffalo in a feedlot.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with increasing levels (0%, 33%, 67%, and 100%) of sugarcane yeast and urea on the intake, performance, and feeding behaviour of buffalo heifers. Twenty Murrah female buffalos with an initial average weight of 157 ± 1.9 kg at 7 months old were distributed in a completely randomized design. The experimental period was 84 days, and was preceded with 30 days of adaptation. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and regression, using the GLM and REG procedures of SAS software at 5% probability level. The replacement of SBM with sugarcane yeast did not have a significant effect on the intake of dry matter (DM), organic matter and crude protein (CP). Non-fibrous carbohydrate intake increased linearly, whereas the intake of neutral detergent fibre (NDF), and ether extract (EE) decreased linearly. There was no treatment effect on average daily gain or feed conversion (FCR). Rumination efficiency on nondetergent fibre (NDF) decreased linearly. The times spent ruminating, remaining idle, and feeding were not influenced by the treatments, and neither were the parameters of feeding efficiency as a function of DM and NDF intakes and rumination efficiency as a function of DM intake. Dry sugarcane yeast and urea could replace SBM fully in the diet of buffalo heifers with a roughage to concentrate ratio of 50 : 50, because animal performance would not be affected.

This study evaluated histological changes in the digestive organs and kidneys of sheep fed sugarcane silage augmented with detoxified castor bean meal (CBM). Forty Santa Inês sheep (initial weight 20 ± 0.3 kg) were adapted to the experimental regime for 14 days, after which data were collected for 60 days. The treatments consisted of S0: sugarcane silage (SC); S5: SC augmented with 5% CBM; S10: SC augmented with 10% CBM; S15: SC augmented with 15% CBM; and S20: SC augmented with 20% CBM. After 74 days of confinement, the animals were slaughtered, and then fragments of the liver, rumen, intestine, and kidney were collected for histomorphometric analyses. The intake of dry matter and the average weight gain increased linearly with the level of CBM (P <0.05), as did the rumen absorption area, the height of the papillae and the width of the papillae. The thickness of the keratinized portion of the epithelium was not influenced, Thus, no effect was detected of the anti-nutritional factor of CBM on this organ. In the intestine, CBM increased the height of the villi and the number of goblet cells. However, S20 caused some kidney damage and decreased hepatic glycogen stock, but not sufficiently to reduce performance. Thus, augmentation of sugarcane with CBM, up to 20%, is viable in feeding sheep.

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.

RESUMO O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a resposta metabólica de cordeiros nativos alimentados com feno de capim-tifton 85 (Cynodon dactylon) ou feno de maniçoba (Manihot pseudoglaziovii) associados à palma forrageira (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck). Foram utilizados 16 cordeiros Morada Nova, com peso inicial médio de 19,36±1,48kg, distribuídos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com dois tratamentos e oito repetições. O consumo de matéria seca foi maior nos cordeiros alimentados com feno de maniçoba em comparação ao feno de tifton, enquanto o peso corporal ao abate não foi influenciado pelas dietas. Em relação aos metabólitos sanguíneos, apenas a concentração sérica de ureia foi influenciada, com maior valor observado nos cordeiros que ingeriram a dieta contendo feno de capim-tifton. Quando foi realizada a análise dos biomarcadores sanguíneos nas diferentes coletas quinzenais, foi observado aumento linear nas concentrações sanguíneas de ureia, glicose, frutosamina, fosfatase alcalina e sódio, e efeito quadrático para o potássio sérico. Os demais metabólitos sanguíneos não foram influenciados em função dos dias de coleta. A substituição do feno de tifton 85 por feno de maniçoba influencia positivamente o metabolismo de cordeiros sem causar alterações na dinâmica dos diferentes biomarcadores e se apresenta como um promissor recurso forrageiro.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the metabolic response of native lambs fed Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon dactylon) or Maniçoba hay (Manihot pseudoglaziovii) associated with spineless cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck). Sixteen Morada Nova lambs were used, with a mean initial weight of 19.36±1.48kg, distributed in a randomized block design, with two treatments and eight replications. Dry matter intake was higher for lambs fed Maniçoba hay compared to Tifton hay, while the body weight at slaughter was not influenced by diets. Regarding the blood metabolites, only the serum concentration of urea was influenced, with higher value observed in the lambs that fed the diet containing Tifton hay. When analyzing blood biomarkers, in the different biweekly collections, a linear increase in the blood concentration of urea, glucose, fructosamine, alkaline phosphatase and sodium was observed, as well as a quadratic effect for serum potassium. The other blood metabolites were not influenced in function of the collection days. The replacement of Tifton 85 hay for Maniçoba hay does not cause negative changes in the dynamics of different biomarkers and presents itself as a promising forage resource.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produção diária, a qualidade microbiológica e físico-químicas do leite das cabras participantes de Torneios Leiteiros no Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Foram analisadas 111 amostras de leite de 106 cabras (39 Saanen, 6 Toggenburg e 61 mestiças) agrupadas em categorias pela ordem de parto (primíparas e pluríparas) e estágio de lactação [inicial (0 a 30 dias), pico (30 a 45 dias) e pós-pico (mais de 45 dias)], utilizando o delineamento inteiramente casualisado. As cabras pluríparas apresentaram maiores médias de produção no início (4,41 kg/dia) e no pico (5,42 kg/dia) de lactação. Entre raças não houve diferença para produção media (4,62 kg/dia), ponto de congelamento (-0,488º C), pH (6,64), densidade (1,030 g/L), gordura (3,60%), proteína (2,90%), lactose (4,89%), extrato seco desengordurado (8,41%) e extrato seco total (12,06%). As análises microbiológicas revelaram a presença de mesófilos e coliformes fecais, sem diferença entre as ordens de parto ou entre raças. Cabras pluríparas apresentaram maiores produções de leite, mas não diferiram das primíparas quanto à composição, características físicas e microbiota do leite. As amostras de leite dos três genótipos (Saanen, Toggenburg e mestiças) analisados mostraram características físico-químicas, microbiológicas e de produção semelhantes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the average daily production, the physicochemical components and microbiological agents in milk of primiparous and multiparous dairy goats that participate in dairy tournaments in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Analyses were carried out on 111 samples of goat milk from 106 goats (39 Saanen, 6 Toggenburg and 61 crossbred) grouped into categories by number of parity (primiparous and multiparous) and stage of lactation [initial (0 to 30 days), peak (30 to 45 days) and decrease (over 45 days)]. The data were analyzed in a completely randomized design. The multiparous goats had higher average production at the beginning (4.41 kg/day) and peak (5.42 kg/day) of lactation. Between breeds there was no difference for average production (4.62 kg/day), freezing point (-0.488º C), pH (6.64), density (1.030 g/L), fat (3.60%), protein (2.90%) lactose (4.89%), dry extract (8.41%) or total solids (12.06%). Mesophiles (log CFU/mL) and fecal coliforms (log MPN/mL) were found in milk from goats, but no difference was observed between the orders of parity or between breeds. Multiparous goats had higher milk production, but did not differ from the primiparous goats regarding the composition, physical characteristics and microbiology of milk. The milk of 3 breeds (Saanen, Toggenburg and crossbred) presented similar physico-chemical, microbiological and production characteristics.