ABSTRACT. The objective of this study was to evaluate performance, gastrointestinal morphometry, carcass, and non-carcass traits in lambs finished on different levels of canola grain in the diet. Twenty-seven Santa Ines lambs with an average initial weight of 19.33 ± 1.39 kg were given different levels of canola grain in the diet: 0, 8, and 16%. Weights and body condition scores were determined at the beginning, every 14 days and at the end of the experimental period. Animals were slaughtered to assess gastrointestinal morphometry, carcass and non-carcass traits. The statistical design used was completely randomized. The inclusion of canola grain showed a linear effect (0.723) for the width and height of ruminal papillae in the ventral region of the rumen. Intestinal villi and crypts showed a quadratic effect, with peaks of 0.62 µm and 0.43 µm, with the inclusion of 8 and 16%, respectively. When evaluating carcass traits, a decreasing linear effect was found for hot and cold carcass yield with 16% inclusion of canola. Canola grain can be used as an alternative in diets for finishing sheep up to 8% inclusion in the diet without affecting performance, ruminal and intestinal histometry, carcass, and non-carcass traits.

ABSTRACT The objective was to evaluate the inclusion of chitosan (CHI) and technical cashew nut shell liquid (CNSLt) as natural feed additives in cattle diets on nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and in vitro gas production kinetics. We conducted a completely randomized design with 5×4 factorial arrangement, with 20, 35, 50, 65, and 100% Tifton 85 hay and four additives, monensin (200 mg/kg DM), CNSLt (500 mg/kg DM), CHI (500 mg/kg DM), and CNSLt+CHI (500 mg/kg DM/each). Dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) digestibility showed a linear reduction according to forage levels. The highest DM digestibility was observed with CHI on cattle diets. Inclusion of CHI increased DM digestibility. The highest in vitro organic matter and crude protein (CP) digestibilities were observed for CNSLt+CHI. The in vitro dry matter digestibility increased linearly with concentrate in the diet. There was interaction of forage:concentrate ratio and the additives for neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and hemicellulose digestibility. Chitosan, CNSLt, and CNSLt+CHI promoted the lowest acetate:propionate ratio compared with monensin. Total gas production showed interaction of the forage:concentrate ratio and additives. Lag time was lowest with CNSLt+CHI. Chitosan and CNSLt can be considered alternative fermentation modulators to ionophores by improving nutrient digestibility and increasing ruminal propionate concentrations.

RESUMO Para se avaliar a inclusão de grãos inteiros das culturas de canola, crambe e soja na dieta de bovinos em confinamento, sobre o consumo, digestibilidade, parâmetros ruminais e recuperação dos grãos nas fezes, delineou-se um ensaio estatístico em quadrado latino com três dietas e três bovinos providos de cânula ruminal. Os resultados constataram que a inclusão do grão de crambe reduziu o consumo de matéria seca em 21,02%, e proporcionou aumento na digestibilidade do extrato etéreo e fibra em detergente neutra. O percentual de extrato etéreo recuperado nas fezes foi de 44,15% para grão de canola e 61,53% para o grão de crambe. Encontrou-se menor digestibilidade da fibra em detergente neutra para dietas contendo grão de soja 0,203g/kg, embora seu consumo aumentou em relação ao crambe 7,86 kg/dia. A inclusão de crambe apresentou redução nos teores de amônia ruminal (N-NH3), com valores médios de 10,97 mg/dL. Portanto, o grão de crambe pode ser incluído na dieta de bovinos de corte em 14% da MS, sendo uma alternativa em potencial como grão de oleaginosa na alimentação de ruminantes. Assim como, os grãos de canola e soja sem afetar a digestibilidade da matéria seca e da proteína bruta, contudo, devem ser usados com cautela.

ABSTRACT Oilseed grains are used as a protein and energy source, increasing the energy density of the feed. The goal of the present study was to determine the nutritional profile of canola, crambe and soybean grains recovered from feces, and to evaluate the intake and digestibility of nutrients, rumen fermentation parameters of beef cattle receiving whole grains of oilseeds. Three steers, 350 ± 23.5 kg body weight were distributed in a not contemporary, 3 × 3 double Latin square, and fed oilseed grains. Inclusion of crambe grain reduced dry matter intake by 21.02%, with a higher digestibility coefficient for EE and NDF. The crude protein content of canola and crambe grains recovered were similar, but the EE content was higher for the crambe grain (26.46%). Soybean showed the lowest values of chemical composition for grains recovered from feces. The highest dry matter intake (7.86 kg/day), and the lowest NDF digestibility (0.203g/kg), were found for animals fed soybean. The inclusion of crambe grains reduced the rumen ammonia content (10.97 mg/dL); however, the ruminal pH was not altered by the inclusion of grains in the diet. Canola and soybean grains can be included in the cattle diet without altering dry matter intake; while the inclusion of crambe grains reduces the dry matter intake and the ruminal ammonia content of the animals. Crambe grain showed the highest recovery of dry matter and ether extract from feces.

RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar no presente trabalho a digestibilidade in vitro de nutrientes de diferentes dietas com a adição de quitosana (Q), líquido da casca da castanha de caju (LCC) e a associação entre Q e LCC. Os tratamentos utilizados foram constituídos de 4 dietas (relação volumoso:concentrado, 100:0, 50:50, 40:60 e 20:80) associadas com 4 aditivos (controle, quitosana, LCC e a associação entre ambos Q+LCCt), totalizando 16 tratamentos,distribuídas em delineamento em blocos ao acaso em esquema fatorial 4x4. As dosagens utilizadas foram: Controle (sem adição de aditivos), LCC (600mg/Kg de MS), Quitosana (900mg/Kg de MS), e o LCCQ (600mg/Kg de MS de LCC + 900mg/Kg de MS de quitosana). No laboratório foram avaliados a DIVMS, DIVFDN, DIVPB, pH e NAR (nitrogênio amoniacal ruminal). Para as análises de pH e NAR, foram coletadas amostras nas horas 0, 2, 4, 6 e 8 após a incubação. Os resultados encontrados mostraram maior digestibilidade de MS, FDN e PB para dietas que receberam quitosana e líquido da casca da castanha de caju de forma isolada e maiores valores de pH e NAR nas dietas que receberam os dois aditivos associados. Conclui-se que a associação dos aditivos traz melhores resultados para a nutrição animal e eleva a produtividade dos ruminantes.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the in vitro digestibility of nutrients from different diets added with chitosan (Q), technic cashew nut shell liquid (LCC) and the association of Q and LCC. The treatments used consisted of 4 diets (forage: concentrate ratio of 100: 0, 50:50, 40:60 and 20:80) associated with 4 additives (control, chitosan, LCC and the association of Q + LCC), totaling 16 treatments, in a 4x4 factorial randomized block design. The dosages used were: Control (without additives), LCC (600mg/kg DM), Chitosan (900mg/kg DM), and LCCQ (600mg/kg LCC DM + 900mg/kg Chitosan DM). In the laboratory, samples were analyzed for IVDMD, IVNDFD, IVCPD, pH and RAN (ruminal ammonia nitrogen). For pH and RAN analyses, samples were taken at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours after incubation. The results showed higher digestibility of DM, NDF and CP for diets with chitosan and technic cashew nut shell liquid alone and higher pH and RAN values in the diets containing the two additives. The association of additives brings better results for animal nutrition and increases ruminant productivity.