ABSTRACT. Data analysis in goat production, such as those related to body and scrotal measurements, indicate the productive and reproductive animal development. The current study aimed to evaluate the correlations between thoracic perimeter (TP), body length (BL), body compacity (BC), body volume (BV), and scrotal circumference (SC) with body weight (BW) in young male goats of Saanen and Boer breeds. It was used 38 Saanen and 24 Boer male goats, with age average of 7.2 ± 2.0 months. Thoracic perimeter and body length measurements were obtained using a tape measure (cm) and the live weight (kg) a mechanic scale. The variables body compacity (BC) and body volume (BV) were calculated using the equations: BC = BW.BL -1 and BV = TP.BL. Boer breed showed live weight and body compacity higher than Saanen breed (p < 0.05). Regarding correlations between biometric measurements and body weight, we did not find any statistical differences between the breeds (p > 0.05). The scrotal circumference presented the lowest association with body weight (p < 0.05). However, all biometric measurements showed highly significant correlations with live body (p < 0.01). In conclusion, thoracic perimeter was the main measure of body weight predictor, considering efficiency and practical aspects.

ABSTRACT. The purpose was to evaluate the effect of replacement of Tifton 85 hay with Guandu hay on the intake, digestibility and ingestive behavior of dairy goats. Five Saanen goats with average milk production of 2.26 ± 0.10 kg d-1, around 123 ± 4 days of lactation were assigned to a 5 x 5 Latin square design. The treatments consisted of five levels of replacement with Guandu: 0, 8.4, 16.8, 25.2, or 36.4 %. We sampled the food offered, leftovers and feces to calculate intake and digestibility, and the ingestive behavior was monitored for 24 hours. Regression analysis was applied with 5% significance. The nutrient intake and the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and protein decreased linearly with increasing levels of Guandu hay in the diet (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the neutral detergent fiber digestibility increased linearly, without change the water intake and ingestive behavior with replacement levels of Tifton hay with Guandu hay in the diet (p < 0.05). The replacement of up to 36.4% Tifton hay with Guandu hay in the dairy goat diet reduces the intake and digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and protein, and increasesfiber digestibility, without changing the ingestive behavior and water intake.

ABSTRACTThe objective of this work was to evaluate the inclusion of Fabaceae Flemingia macrophylla (Willd.) Kuntze ex Merr. in the diet of lactating dairy goats arranged in a 5 × 5 Latin square. The diets were composed of 40% of concentrate and 60% of roughage, and the dietary treatments were defined by the level of Flemingia hay inclusion (0%, 8%, 16%, 24%, and 32% in the diet dry matter) replacing Cynodon dactyloncv. Tifton 85 hay. The diets were isonitrogenous, with 14% crude protein. Feed intake, nutrient digestibility, feeding behavior, and ruminal pH and ammonia nitrogen were evaluated. There was no difference in dry matter intake with the inclusion of Flemingia hay in the diet. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and total carbohydrates decreased with the inclusion of Flemingia in the diet. The diet did not change rumen ammonia nitrogen concentration or ruminal pH. There were no differences in the feeding behavior or feed and rumination efficiencies. Flemingia macrophylla can be used up to the level of 32% in the dry matter in diets for lactating goats.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of egg yolk and seminal plasma on the viability of cryopreserved goat semen. To this end, four fertile Saanen bucks, aged between 10 months and 1 year, and weighing 18 to 25 kg, were used. Semen was collected from each buck by the artificial vagina method at the end of breeding season (June-July). The extender used was the yolk citrate, which was split into two equal aliquots: 5% egg yolk (2.5 mL egg yolk: 47.5 mL citrate solution) were added to one of the samples and 10% egg yolk (5.0 mL egg yolk: 45.0 mL citrate solution) were added to another. The sperm motility and vigor after thawing and post thermal resistance test (TRT) were evaluated and the data were subjected to analysis of variance and means were compared by the F test at 5.0% probability. The observed values for motility and vigor after thawing and post thermal resistance test (TRT), fast and slow, according to the presence of seminal plasma and egg yolk percentage were: 5% egg yolk with plasma (25.0% and 3.3; 1.60% and 0.7; 12.36% and 1.6, respectively); 5% egg yolk without plasma (23.61% and 3.1; 1.25% and 0.2; 9.93% and 1.3, respectively); 10% egg yolk with plasma (30.8% and 3.3; 4.4% and 1.9; 19.5% and 2.7, respectively); and 10% egg yolk without plasma (13.4% and 2.5; 4.1% and 0.5; 17.0% and 1.0, respectively). There were significant differences between the analyzed data in relation to semen with or without plasma at different percentages of egg yolk, and the group that presented the best results was 10% egg yolk citrate in extender with plasma. The presence of seminal plasma and higher concentration of egg yolk in extender provide a higher viability of cryopreserved goat semen.

O objetivo do presente experimento foi avaliar as respostas de desempenho de caprinos castrados, submetidos a dois tratamentos da ferida cirúrgica: tratamento convencional com pomada à base de óxido de zinco, óleo de pinho, caulim e xilol e spray à base de permetrina, fenoxibenzil e DDVP (diclorvós) e tratamento alternativo com uso de fitoterápico com pomada à base de extrato de Calendula offcinalis e associações. Foram utilizados doze cabritos sem raça definida com peso inicial médio de 15,5 kg, criados em confinamento total, separados em dois grupos dispostos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado para constituir dois tratamentos com seis repetições cada, visando comparar o desempenho dos animais tratados de forma convencional em relação ao tratamento com extrato de Calendula offcinalis e associações. Empregada a técnica de orquiectomia (castração) por abertura da bolsa escrotal e com cordão espermático descoberto no dia 0, os dois grupos foram tratados até a completa cicatrização da ferida cirúrgica no 51º dia de experimentação. As medidas biométricas analisadas foram ganho de peso (kg), ganho de altura de cernelha (cm), ganho de altura de garupa (cm), ganho de perímetro torácico (cm) e escore de condição corporal. Os resultados foram analisados pelo pacote estatístico SAEG e teste de Tukey (P>0,05). Não houve diferença significativa entre os tratamentos (P>0,05) para nenhum dos parâmetros analisados. Todas as características biométricas, à exceção do escore corporal, aumentaram no período de avaliação. Não houve impacto negativo no uso de fitoterápico em relação às características observadas.

The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the performance responses of castrated goats, submitted to two surgical wound treatments: conventional treatment with ointment made of zinc oxide, pine oil, kaolin and xylene and permethrin, phenoxybenzyl and DDVP spray (dichlorvos) and alternative phytotherapic treatment using herbal medicine with ointment made of Calendula offcinalis extract and associations. Twelve undefined breed goats with an average initial weight of 15.5 kg, raised in total confinement, were separated into two groups and arranged in a completely randomized design to constitute two treatments with six replicates each, in order to compare the performance of animals treated conventionally and with Calendula offcinalis extract and associations. We employed the orchiectomy (castration) technique by opening the scrotum and spermatic cord on day 0, and both groups were treated until complete healing of the surgical wound on the 51st day of trial. We analyzed the following biometric parameters: weight gain (kg), withers height gain (cm), croup height gain (cm), thotacic perimeter gain (cm) and body condition score. The results were analyzed using the Statistical Package SAEG and Tukey's test (P> .05). There was no significant difference between treatments (P> 0.05) for any of the parameters analyzed. All biometric characteristics, with the exception of body condition, increased during the evaluation period. There was no negative impact of the use of herbal medicine on the characteristics observed.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of bakery waste inclusion (0; 25; 50; 75 and 100%, DM basis) in proportion to corn meal in the energetic mixture of the concentrate on intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and ruminal parameters in sheep. Five male lambs with body weight of 30 kg were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Experimental diets were composed of concentrate and Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) hay in a 60:40 forage:concentrate ratio. The concentrate rations were composed of corn meal, soybean meal and bakery waste. The bakery waste:corn meal ratio corresponded to the inclusion of, approximately, 0, 7, 14, 22 and 30% (DM basis) of bakery waste in the diet. There was no effect of bakery waste inclusion on the intake and digestibility of nutrients, nor on nitrogen balance, pH values or concentrations of volatile fatty acids. However, the ammonia nitrogen concentration showed negative linear response in relation to the level of inclusion, in which each increase of 1% bakery waste promoted reduction of 0.11 mg/dL in the concentration of ammonia nitrogen. This fact may be related to the increase in ruminal availability of energy, which allows greater use of ammonia for microbial growth. Bakery waste can replace corn meal in concentrate rations for sheep.

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da substituição do concentrado pelo resíduo úmido de cervejaria sobre o consumo e a digestibilidade dos nutrientes em cabras. Foram utilizadas cinco cabras mestiças Boer x Saanen e cinco cabras Saanen distribuídas em dois quadrados latinos 5 x 5. As dietas foram compostas de 40% de feno de capim-tifton e os 60% restantes foram compostos de 0, 25, 50, 75 ou 100% de resíduo úmido de cervejaria em substituição ao concentrado. Os consumos de matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE), carboidratos totais (CT), nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) e fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) ajustaram-se ao modelo quadrático, de modo que os maiores valores foram observados para as dietas sem resíduo úmido de cervejaria e com 25% desse resíduo. Os níveis de resíduo úmido de cervejaria tiveram efeito linear decrescente na digestibilidade aparente de matéria seca, matéria orgânica e carboidratos totais e efeito quadrática na digestibilidade da proteína bruta. O resíduo úmido de cervejaria pode ser utilizado em níveis de até 25% como substituto ao concentrado em dietas para cabras no final da lactação.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of replacing concentrate by wet brewer grain on the intake and digestibility of nutrients in goats. It was used five Boer x Saanen crossbreed goats and five Saanen goats randomly distributed in two 5 x 5 latin squares. The diets were composed of 40% of Tifton hay and the other 60% were composed of 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100% of wet brewer grain replacing the concentrate. The intake of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), total carbohydrates (TC), total digestible nutrients (TDN) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were fitted to the quadratic model so the highest values were observed for diets without wet brewer grain and with 25% of this residue. The levels of wet brewer grain had a decreasing linear effect on apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and total carbohydrates and a quadratic effect on crude protein digestibility. Wet brewer grain can be used in levels up to 25% as a substitute to concentrate in diets for goats at the end of lactation.

Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar a produção microbiana em cabras alimentadas com diferentes teores de PB na dieta. Utilizaram-se 16 cabras lactantes distribuídas em quatro quadrados latinos 4 x 4, sendo um deles composto por cabras fistuladas alimentadas com diferentes teores de PB (11,5, 13,5, 15,5 e 17,5% PB na matéria seca) na dieta. Nas cabras fistuladas, realizaram-se coletas de digesta no rúmen e no omaso. Não foi constatada diferença entre as técnicas de estimativa da produção microbiana. Assim, 12 cabras não fistuladas foram utilizadas para avaliação do efeito do teor de PB na dieta sobre a excreção de derivados de purinas, o fluxo de nitrogênio microbiano e a eficiência de síntese microbiana, obtidos a partir de coleta total e de amostras spot de urina. Para estimativa do volume urinário em amostras spot, utilizou-se a excreção média de creatinina na urina, que foi de 26,05 mg por kg de PV e não diferiu entre tratamentos. O volume urinário estimado com o uso de amostras spot foi similar ao observado com a coleta total. Em ambos os casos, houve aumento da quantidade de purinas absorvidas e do fluxo intestinal de nitrogênio microbiano com a elevação do teor de PB na dieta. Concluiu-se que a técnica dos derivados de purinas pode ser usada para estimativa da produção microbiana em caprinos e que o uso de amostras spot pode ser uma boa alternativa para se avaliar a produção microbiana em condições de campo.

The objective of this trial was to study the effects of increasing dietary levels of crude protein (CP) on microbial protein synthesis of lactating dairy goats. The microbial markers purines bases and purine derivatives (PD), measured in spot urine samples or in urine samples from total collection, were used to estimate microbial protein synthesis. Sixteen lactating goats (four fitted with ruminal cannula) were randomly assigned to four replicated 4 x 4 Latin squares and were fed the following dietary CP levels [dry matter (DM) basis]: 11.5, 13.5, 15.5 or 17.5%. No significant differences were observed between techniques for estimating microbial protein synthesis. Therefore, 12 non-cannulated goats were used to evaluate the effect of dietary CP level on PD excretion, microbial nitrogen flow and microbial efficiency using either total or spot collection of urine. Because creatinine excretion did not differ among treatments, the average value 26.05 mg of urinary creatinine excreted per kg of body weight was used for estimating the volume of urine using spot samples. Urinary volume estimated using spot samples was similar to that measured with total urine collection. In both cases, an increase on the amount of absorbed purines was observed when the dietary CP level increased in the diet. In brief, PD can be used for estimating microbial protein synthesis in lactating goats and spot samples were a good alternative for total collection of urine.

Avaliaram-se os consumos e as digestibilidades dos nutrientes e a produção e composição do leite de cabras alimentadas com dietas com 47% de silagem de milho e 53% de concentrado, contendo níveis crescentes de PB (11,5; 13,5; 15,5 e 17,5%PB na MS). Foram utilizadas 12 cabras da raça Alpina em lactação, distribuídas em três quadrados latinos 4 x 4, compostos de quatro períodos de 15 dias (sete de adaptação às dietas e oito para coletas de amostras). Amostras de fezes e de leite foram analisadas e os resultados avaliados por meio de análises de variância e regressão. Os consumos de MS, MO, PB, PDR e NDT, assim com as digestibilidades da MS, MO, PB e CNF, aumentaram linearmente com os níveis de PB da dieta. A produção de leite aumentou linearmente com o incremento do nível dietético de PB, enquanto a produção de leite corrigida para 3,5% de gordura e as porcentagens de gordura e PB no leite não foram influenciadas pelos níveis de PB nas dietas. Concluiu-se que os níveis de 13,5% de PB ou 290 g de PB/dia atendem às exigências de proteína e parecem adequados para cabras com produção diária de até 2,7 kg de leite corrigido para 3,5% de gordura.

Intake, apparent digestibility of nutrients, milk yield and milk composition were all evaluated in goats receiving diets with 47% of corn silage and 53% of concentrate. Dietary crude protein (CP) was increased as follows [dry matter (DM) basis]:11.5, 13.5, 15.5 and 17.5%. Twelve lactating Alpine goats were randomly assigned to three 4 x 4 Latin squares with 15 days experimental periods: seven days for diet adaptation and eight days for samples collection. Total collection of feces was done from day 8 to day 12 of each period while milk samples on day 10. Data were evaluated by analysis of variance and regression. Intakes of DM, organic matter (OM), CP, rumen degradable protein (RDP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) increased linearly with the increment of dietary CP. Similarly, digestibilities of DM, OM, CP and non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) increased linearly when the CP level increased from 11.5 to 17.5 of the diet. Milk production also increased linearly with the increase of CP in the diet but no significant effects were observed for 3.5% fat corrected (FCM) milk as well as for contents of milk fat and milk CP. It can be concluded that the diet with 13.5% of CP met the protein requirements of lactating goats and appeared to be adequate for animals yielding up to 2.7 kg of 3.5% FCM per day.