This study investigates the methane and carbon dioxide gas production, dry matter degradation, and final pH values obtained during the in vitro incubation of corn grain, soybean hulls, citrus pulp, corn silage, and crude glycerin. Experiments were performed using a randomized block design with four incubation periods. Each period featured four replicates per ingredient and four blanks, totaling 16 repetitions per ingredient. The lowest total amount of produced gas (37.96 mL gincubated DM-1) and the lowest final pH value (4.95) were obtained for crude glycerin (P < 0.05), which, however, exhibited the highest (P < 0.05) DM degradation. Citrus pulp produced the largest amount (P < 0.05) of CH4 per gram of incubated DM (13.56 mL g-1). However, when methane production was expressed per gram of degraded feed, the ingredients with lower degradation values, such as soybean hulls and corn silage, produced more CH4 per gram of degraded DM. Citrus pulp and corn grain produced more (P < 0.05) CO2 per gram of incubated DM. However, per gram of degraded food, citrus pulp produced the largest amount of CO2 (P < 0.05). Crude glycerin and corn grain produced less methane (per gram of degraded feed) than citrus pulp, soybean hulls, and corn silage. Differentiation of ingredients based on their methane production ability is important to express methane production per unit degraded food mass.

ResumoObjetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar os efeitos da inclusão de fontes de lipídios na ração e da classe sexual sobre as características de carcaça, componentes não-carcaça e composição centesimal do lombo de ovinos confinados. Foram utilizados 20 machos e 20 fêmeas, com peso inicial 19,5+2,8 kg, os quais receberam alimento na relação volumoso concentrado de 40:60. Cinco rações foram testadas, a controle, sem inclusão de lipídio, e outras quatro contendo as fontes de lipídios: grãos de girassol, grãos de amendoim, óleo bruto de amendoim ou gordura protegida. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial (2 classes sexuais x 5 fontes de lipídios). Os animais foram abatidos ao atingirem 37,5+0,8 kg. Não houve efeito da fonte de lipídio sobre as variáveis de carcaça (P>0,05). Machos apresentaram maiores pesos de carcaça e rendimento verdadeiro e fêmeas tiveram maiores porcentagem de gordura omental+mesentérica+pélvica (8,8 vs 6,4%), espessura de gordura subcutânea (4,51 vs 2,23 mm), e concentração de extrato etéreo intramuscular (5,06 vs 3,77 g 100g -1 de músculo). Fêmeas são mais propensas à deposição de gordura quando abatidas no mesmo peso que os machos. É possível incluir estas fontes de lipídios nas rações de animais em confinamento sem alterar a produção e composição da carne ovina. Palavras-chave: Amendoim, carcaça, condição sexual, girassol, gordura protegida, óleo de amendoim AbstractThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of lipid sources in the diet and sexual condition on carcass traits, non-carcass components and muscle chemical composition of feedlot sheep. Twenty male and 20 female Dorper cross St Ines sheep, with initial weight of 19.5+2.8 kg were fed on a diet consisting of 40:60 roughage: concentrate ratio. Five rations were tested, the control ration contained no additional lipids whereas the four test rations contained lipids sourced from either sunflower grains, peanut kernels, crude peanut oil or protected fat. A randomized complete block design in factorial scheme was used (2 sexes x 5 lipid sources). The animals were slaughtered at an average of 37.5+0.8 kg. There was no effect of lipid source on any of the carcass variables measured (P> 0.05). Males

The objective of this work was to evaluate the partial replacement of corn grains by soybean hulls, in high-grain diets, and its effect on the feeding behavior and ruminal fermentation parameters of feedlot sheep. Eight rumen-cannulated crossbred sheep were assigned to four treatment groups composed of a control, to fed a diet of 50% corn silage and 50% concentrate, and to three groups fed high-grain diets, as follows: 85% corn (Diet85), 75% corn plus 10% soybean hulls (Diet75), and 65% corn plus 20% soybean hulls (Diet65). High-grain diets reduced rumination time and provided a higher degradation of feed dry matter, a higher-propionic acid concentration, a lower-acetic acid concentration, a lower methane and carbon dioxide gas production, and a lower ruminal pH value. Diet65, with 20% soybean hulls, promoted an increase in the acetic acid proportion, with a reduction in the CO2:CH4 ratio. At the end of in vitro incubation, the pH value was higher for the control diet, and it was lower for Diet85. The inclusion of soybean hulls does not change methane production and dry matter degradation, and it can be used to substitute up to 20% of corn grain in high-grain diets.