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.

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.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to estimate the heritability of milk yield (MY), fat percent (F%), fat yield (FY), protein percent (P%), protein yield (PY), somatic cell score (SCS), and total bacterial count score (TBCS) as well as to estimate the genetic correlations among these traits, using a dataset from 5,918 lactations of Jersey cows in Brazil. The covariance components were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood using the PEST and VCE6 programs. The average values obtained for MY, F%, FY, P%, PY, SCS, and TBCS were 5017.5 kg, 4.3%, 192.3 kg, 3.3%, 173.0 kg, 5.9, and 2.9, respectively, while the heritability values were 0.16, 0.55, 0.18, 0.61, 0.25, 0.21, and 0.08, respectively. The genetic correlations ranged from low to high magnitude, with positive values from 0.06 (TBCS-PY) to 0.72 (FY-PY), and negative values from −0.04 (F%-TBCS) to −0.44 (P%-TBCS). The Jersey breed from Brazil shows genetic variability for all traits analyzed in the present study, and our results suggest that higher genetic gain will be achieved when F% and P% are used as selection criteria. In addition, it is important to use SCS as a selection criterion since the selection for MY and PY may lead to higher SCS or TBCS values, which are undesirable. This was the first study to estimate genetic parameters for milk quality (PY, P%, FY, F%) and udder health (SCS, TBCS) traits in Jersey cows from Brazil. This information is useful for breeding schemes and contributes to better characterize these parameters in tropical region, since few studies were developed with the Jersey cattle in this environment.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to estimate the heritability coefficients for ten functional type traits and milk production in the Jersey breed in Brazil, besides the genetic and phenotypic correlations between them. The present study utilised data from 1,567 records of linear type traits, including stature (ST), body depth (BD), loin strength (LS), rump width (RW), rump angle (RA), fore udder attachment (FUA), front teat placement (FTP), rear udder height (RUH), central ligament (CL), and final score (FS). Milk yield (MY) adjusted to 305 lactation days was also calculated. Covariance components were estimated by the restricted maximum likelihood approach using the PEST and VCE6 programs on the animal model. Heritability coefficients thus assessed were as follows: 0.22±0.01 (ST), 0.35±0.07 (BD), 0.17±0.01 (RW), 0.55±0.05 (RA), 0.09±0.01 (LS), 0.20±0.02 (FUA), 0.40±0.06 (FTP), 0.40±0.06 (RUH), 0.15±0.02 (CL), 0.21±0.02 (FS), and 0.16±0.02 (MY). Therefore, the higher genetic gain will be obtained for BD, RA, FTP, and RUH, while the other traits would need a medium or long-term period to show improvement. The genetic correlations fell in the range from 0.01 (FTP × FS) to 0.87 (RW × CL), and the only genetic correlation noted between FS and RA was negative (−0.10±0.06). Thus, in the Jersey breed in Brazil, the type traits are genetically associated, and the selection of any one of them may elicit an indirect response in another.

O uso de probiótico na alimentação animal tem sido indicado, por reduzir a mortalidade resultante da colonização intestinal por micro-organismos patógenos, melhorar o desempenho e as características de produção sem deixar resíduos na carne. O experimento teve como objetivo isolar, a partir de amostras de fezes de suínos na fase de aleitamento, cepas de lactobacilos visando sua identificação como probióticos. Foram isoladas 92 colônias, posteriormente submetidas à prova de catalase e 60 tiveram resultados negativos. Estas colônias negativas foram submetidas à coloração de Gram foi avaliada sua morfologia. Destas, 16 apresentaram formas de bacilos. Esses isolados foram comparados pela sua habilidade de resistência em pH 3,0, crescimento na presença de sais biliares, fenol, lisozima, e sua capacidade de hidrofobicidade e antagônica. Os isolados L03, L04, L08 e L15, identificados neste trabalho apresentam melhores características para uso como probiótico, em função de demonstrar melhor comportamento sobre as condições ácidas, crescendo na presença de sais biliares e fenol, apresentando alta percentagem de hidrofobicidade quanto à presença de Escherichia coli.

The use of probiotic in animal nutrition has been identified as reducing mortality resulting from intestinal colonization by pathogenic micro-organisms, improving productive performance and characteristics, leaving no residue in meat. The experiment aimed to isolate lactobacilli from fecal samples of suckling swine, in order to be identified as probiotics. Ninety-two colonies were isolated; these pre-selected colonies were subjected to catalase analysis, for which 60 were negative. The 60 colonies were subjected to Gram-negative stain and evaluated for their morphology. Of these, 16 had forms of bacilli. These isolates were compared for their ability to resist pH 3.0, grow in the presence of bile salts, phenol, lysozyme, as well as their hydrophobicity and antagonistic abilities. Isolates L03, L04, L08 and L15 identified in this study showed better probiotic use, better performance under acidic conditions, growing in the presence of bile salts and phenol, with high percentage of hydrophobicity and in the presence of inhibiting Escherichia coli.