No abstract

The relationship of fecal nitrogen fractions and condensed tannins to dietary crude protein, in vitro organic matter digestibility, and intake of steers was assessed to determine the suitability of these multiple fecal indices for predicting quality of animal diets under free-roaming conditions. Research was conducted on the Texas A&M Native Plant and Animal Conservancy near College Station, located in the Post Oak Savannah region of Texas. Regression equations were used to evaluate relationships between dietary intake and quality to fecal variables. Dietary crude protein, digestible organic matter, organic matter intake, crude protein intake, and digestible energy intake were determined from previous studies. Corresponding fecal samples were anaiyzed for absolute output, proportions, and concentrations of nitrogen and selected fractions of fecal organic matter, as well as fecal condensed tannins, proportions of fecal monocot and dicot fragments, and fecal organic matter. In general, no fecal parameter by itself had a high correlation with dietary variables when expressed on a proportion or concentration basis. A combination of fecal indexes accounted for more variation in dietary parameters than fecal nitrogen. Fecal nitrogen fractions did not improve the predictive power of multiple variable models. Equations predicting dietary crude protein (9%) and crude protein intake yielded the highest coefficients of determination (R* = 57 and 31, respectively). Multiple fecal indices used in this study were of limited value in predicting diet quality and intake.

This experiment was conducted to address the issue of spectral integrity of pelleted feces exposed to environmental conditions at different times of the year in near infrared reflectance spectroscopy analysis, using goats as the representative herbivore. Roth dietary crude protein and digestible organic matter were predicted. Results indicated that fecal samples collected with up to 7 days of exposure provided similar estimates of diet crude protein and digestible organic matter from samples collected immediitely after defecation. Goat feces response to environmental conditions provided useful information as to how collection of many wild herbivores' fecai material could be efficiently sampled for future near infrared reflectance spectroscopy analyses.

Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da amonização com diferentes níveis de ureia e do uso de grãos de soja como fonte de urease, na melhoria da composição químico-bromatológica do resíduo agroindustrial da carnaúba (Copernicia prunifera), conhecido como bagana (BC). Os níveis de ureia utilizados foram 0, 2,5, 5, 7,5 e 10%, em relação à percentagem de matéria seca total da BC; e os níveis de grãos de soja tostados foram de 0 e 20%. Foram também avaliados o consumo de ração e o desempenho de cordeiros confinados, submetidos a dietas com níveis crescentes de substituição de feno de capim Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) (FT) pela BC: 100 FT; 25% BC e 75% FT; 50% BC e 50% FT; 75% BC e 25% FT; 100% BC. Foram utilizados 30 cordeiros mestiços inteiros, recém-desmamados, com peso corporal médio de 17 kg e idade média em torno de 80 dias. Os teores de proteína bruta na forragem aumentaram com o aumento das dosagens de ureia. Foram observados, ainda, aumentos nos teores de fibra em detergente neutro e celulose e redução da digestibilidade da BC. Os consumos diários mais elevados de matéria seca, matéria orgânica, proteína bruta, extrato etéreo e fibra em detergente neutro foram observados nos animais que receberam apenas FT como volumoso. O desempenho animal foi reduzido com o aumento da BC na dieta.Termos para indexação: Copernicia prunifer, Cynodon, Tifton 85, amonização, digestibilidade, palha. Agroindustrial residue of carnaúba as roughage for sheep fatteningAbstract -The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of ammonization with different levels of urea and the use of soybean grains as a urease source, for the improving of the chemical composition of carnaúba (Copernicia prunifera) agroindustrial residue (BC). The levels of urea were 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% in relation to the percentage of total dry matter of BC and the levels of toasted soybean grains were 0 and 20%. Evaluations were also made for forage intake and performance of confined sheep subjected to diets with increasing levels of replacement of Tifton 85 grass (Cynodon spp.) hay (FT) by BC: 100% FT, 25% BC plus 75% FT, 50% BC plus 50% FT, 75% BC plus 25% FT, and 100% BC. Thirty crossbred 80-day old weaned sheep with 17 kg initial average weight were used. Crude protein in the forage increased with the increasing doses of urea. Increases were also observed for neutral detergent fiber and cellulose contents and reductions were observed for roughage digestibility. The highest daily intake of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ethereal extract and neutral detergent fiber were observed in animals fed only FT. Animal performance decreased with increase of BC in the diet.Index terms: Copernicia prunifera, Cynodon, Tifton 85 grass, ammonization, digestibility, straw. IntroduçãoA carência de alimentos em quantidade e qualidade no Nordeste brasileiro, durante o período de estiagem, tem sido responsável, entre outros fatores, pela baixa produtividade dos rebanhos de pequenos ruminantes. No entanto, alternativas tecnológicas vêm sendo a...

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of different individual heights of cut on structural characteristics of Brachiaria hibrida cv. Mulato I in four periods of the year. The study was carried out at the Fazenda Experimental Vale do Acaraú, in Sobral, Ceará, Brazil, from January to December, 2008. The experimental design was a split plot, with the plots representing four pasture conditions through manual cuts of 10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm and 40 cm heights, which were done every 30 days. Each treatment had three replications. The subplots were represented by four periods of evaluation: January-February-March, April-May-June, July-August-September and October-November-December. Fertilization was performed with 350 kg of N/ha, divided into monthly applications. Irrigation was conducted in alternate days during the dry season. The variables studied were: mean height before cutting (cm); dry matter content (%); total dry matter production (t/ha); percentage of leaves; percentage of stems; percentage of dead material; leaf blade/stem ratios; number of total leaves per tiller; number of live leaves per tiller; average size of leaves; and tiller density. Cutting at 10 cm caused a decrease in total dry matter production, underestimating the potential production. Cutting heights between 20 and 30 cm contributed positively to increase the total number of leaves, number of green leaves, average size of the leafs and total dry matter production. Under the present experimental conditions, cutting around 40 cm was not recommended because of a decreasing in the leaf/stem ratio and a increasing in stem fraction and dry matter content, compromising the structure of the canopy.

This study compares both versions of the nutritional requirement system determined by the National Research Council (NRC) version 1985 (NRC85) and NRC version 2007 (NRC07), for finishing lambs in feedlots. Nineteen crossbred lambs were divided in four groups representing four experimental treatments: one diet according to NRC85 and three diets according to NRC07. The diets recommended by NRC07 considers crude protein intake relative to ruminal undegradable protein at 20, 40, and 60 % levels (NRC07/20, NRC07/40, and NRC07/60). Diets were composed of Brazilian semi-arid native grass silage, soybean meal, corn, annatto byproduct, and limestone. Purchases and sales of lambs were done according to average market prices in Brazil. The economic indicators considered pointed that all treatments were viable but NRC07/20 and NRC07/60 were more profitable with similar net present values (NPVs) and internal return rates (IRRs). NRC07/20 was the best option showing an IRR of 17.20 % and a payback period (PP) of 5.07 considering a fixed annual interest rate of 6 %. Sensitivity analysis considering a 10 % raise in variable costs showed negative NPVs, IRRs inferior to the opportunity cost rates adopted and PPs that exceeded the planning horizon of 7 years for both NRC85 and NRC07/40.

This work aimed to determine the nutrient intake and quantitative aspects of sheep carcass from three different genetic groups. Eighteen animals with initial average body weight of 20.1kg were used in a completely randomized design, in a factorial 3x2 scheme (three different crossbreeds - 6 F1Dorper x non defined breed, 6 F1Somalis x non defined breed and 6 F1Santa Inês x non defined breed versus two diets). The diets fed to the animals were formulated with or without cashew nuts. The inclusion of cashew nut meal in the diet influenced nutrient intake. Differences of intake among the animal groups were observed as higher intake for F1Dorper x non defined breed (NDB), followed by F1Somalis x NDB and for F1Santa Inês x NDB. However, the control diet produced no difference among these genotypes. The average daily gain was lower for both crossbreeds when cashew nut meal was added in the diets. The evaluated crossbreeds and diets did not affect the feed:gain ratio. The carcasses analyses showed that the inclusion of cashew nut meal in the diets reduced the cold carcass weight and the rib weight. The addition of cashew nut meal in the diets for lambs reduces food intake and carcass yield. The crossbreed F1Dorper x NDB presented the higher rate of average daily gain.

Objetivou-se avaliar a inclusão do farelo de castanha de caju (FCC) fornecido a cordeiros de três grupos genéticos sobre os consumos e digestibilidades dos nutrientes dietéticos. Foram utilizados dezoito ovinos, machos e inteiros, ½ sangue Dorper, ½ sangue Somalis e ½ sangue Santa Inês, com 22,66kg de peso vivo. A dieta controle composta por feno de Aruana, milho, farelo de soja. A dieta teste, composta pelos mesmos alimentos mais o FCC. O delineamento foi o inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3 x 2, três grupos genéticos versus duas dietas (contendo ou não FCC) com três repetições por tratamento. Maiores consumos de nutrientes foram obtidos pelos animais ½ sangue Dorper x SRD em relação aos animais ½ sangue Santa Inês x SRD, tendo sido ambos semelhantes aos animais ½ sangue Somalis x SRD. Houve interação significativa somente para os coeficientes de digestibilidade da MS. Menores coeficientes de digestibilidade foram observados para os animais ½ sangue Santa Inês x SRD nas dietas contendo FCC. Menores digestibilidades da FDA e da HCEL foram observadas nas dietas com FCC. Considerando-se os grupos genéticos, maiores digestibilidades da FDN, da FDA e da HCEL foram verificadas para os animais ½ sangue Dorper x SRD em comparação aos animais ½ sangue Santa Inês x SRD, sendo ambos genótipos, semelhantes aos animais ½ sangue Somalis x SRD. A inclusão de FCC exerce efeito negativo sobre a digestibilidade das frações fibrosas, notadamente sobre a hemicelulose, implicando em redução da digestibilidade da MS dietética nos cordeiros ½ sangue Santa Inês.