Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o efeito de diferentes teores de fibra em detergente neutro oriunda da forragem com maturidade avançada sobre o consumo, a digestibilidade da matéria seca e de nutrientes, o balanço de nitrogênio, a produção de leite, a eficiência de utilização da energia metabolizável e o comportamento ingestivo de cabras em lactação. Foram distribuídas cinco cabras em delineamento em quadrado latino 5 × 5 utilizando-se teores crescentes de fibra em detergente neutro oriunda da forragem como variável independente. As concentrações de fibra em detergente neutro oriunda da foragem utilizadas foram 20, 28, 35, 43 e 49%. Os consumos de matéria seca, de nutrientes e de energia líquida reduziram com o aumento de fibra na ração. No entanto, o consumo de fibra em detergente foi crescente, indicando capacidade de acomodação desse componente nutritivo pelos animais. O teor de fibra influenciou os coeficientes de digestibilidade da matéria seca, matéria orgânica, proteína bruta e dos carboidratos não-fibrosos, contudo, a digestibilidade da fibra em detergente neutro não foi influenciada pelas dietas. O nível de fibra em detergente neutro oriunda da forragem não influenciou os constituintes do leite (gordura, proteína e lactose). O teor de fibra oriunda da forragem teve efeito quadrático sobre a produção de leite (corrigida e não corrigida para 4% de gordura), em kg/dia, com maiores produções obtidas com o teor de 28% de fibra. A eficiência de utilização da energia metabolizável não foi influenciada pelas variações nas dietas. O teor de fibra em detergente neutro oriunda da forragem influencia o comportamento ingestivo de cabras em lactação, aumentando os tempos de ruminação e mastigação e diminuindo o tempo em ócio dos animais.

No abstract

Empty body and carcass chemical compositions, expressed as content of water, ether extract, protein, minerals, and energy, were evaluated in Nellore bulls with different residual feed intakes (RFI). Forty-nine not castrated males, with 343 kg of average initial BW and 398 kg of average slaughter BW, were studied. Animals were divided in two subgroups: reference group (RG) and ad libitum feeding group. At the end of the adaptation period, animals of subgroup RG were slaughtered and the other animals were finished in individual pens for approximately 100 d, until they reached a subcutaneous fat thickness over the LM of 4 mm, and were slaughtered at an average age of 540 d. Body composition was obtained after grinding, homogenizing, sampling, analyzing, and combining blood, hide, head + feet, viscera, and carcass. Tissue deposition rates and chemical composition of gain were also measured based on gains estimated by comparative slaughter technique. No significant differences in slaughter BW (P = 0.8639), empty BW (P = 0.7288), HCW (P = 0.6563), or empty body and carcass rates of gain were observed between RFI groups, demonstrating that the low (-0.331 kg DM/d) and high (+0.325 kg DM/d) RFI animals presented similar body sizes and growth rates. No significant differences in empty body or carcass content of water, ether extract, protein, minerals, and energy were observed between the low and high RFI animals. And also there were no significant differences in empty BW or carcass gain, demonstrating that low and high RFI animals had a similar growth potential. More efficient animals (low RFI) consumed less feed than less efficient animals (high RFI) but presented similar body sizes, growth rates, and empty body and carcass chemical composition.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

-This study aimed to assess the effects of palm kernel cake on semen quality and biochemical parameters of Santa Inês lambs. A total of 40 animals with 24.10±2.72 kg body weight and five months old were assigned in a completely randomized design into four groups and 10 replicates. The animals were subjected to four levels of palm kernel cake (0, 15, 30, and 45%) based on dry matter. The trial lasted 90 days foregone by 15 days for adaptation. Blood samples were collected every 45 days from jugular vein using vacuum tubes without anticoagulant. Total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and very-low-density lipoprotein were assessed. Once the animals reached puberty at a mean age of 225 days, the semen samples were collected by electroejaculator once a week for three sequence weeks and assessed for volume, color, aspect, wave motion, motility, sperm concentration, sperm vigor, total of spermatozoa per ejaculate, viable spermatozoa per mL, and sperm morphology. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and followed by regression analysis. Non-parametric data were analysed by Kruskal-Wallis test. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and very-low-density lipoprotein were linearly increased. There was no difference for low-density lipoprotein. Diets did not affect mass motility, sperm motility, vigor, total spermatozoa per ejaculate, viability sperm per mL, and minor and total sperm defects. Sperm concentration increased linearly. Negative quadratic effects were observed for major sperm defects. Supplementation of diets with palm kernel cake up to 45% on dry matter enhance biochemical parameters and do not impair the qualitative variables of lamb sperm.Key Words: animal nutrition, animal breeding, fatty acids, small ruminants Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia

-Empty body and carcass chemical composition were determined in 67 Nellore bulls from Selection Nellore (NeS) and Control Nellore (NeC) herds of an animal breeding program for growth, slaughtered at 570 days of average age, after 100 days of feedlot. Selection Nellore animals had, respectively, 360 and 430 kg of initial and slaughter body weight, and NeC animals had 318 and 373 kg for the same traits. Animals were slaughtered and empty body composition was determined by chemical analysis of the components blood, hide, head and feet, viscera and carcass. Tissue deposition rates and gain chemical composition were also determined based on gains estimated by comparative slaughter technique. Significant differences were detected between NeS and NeC animals for slaughter body weight, empty body weight, empty body gain rate, and contents of water, protein, ash and retained energy in empty body, showing that selected animals had greater body sizes and growth rates. There were no significant differences in fat contents in empty body and carcass, suggesting that selected animals had higher growth rates as compared with the control, and were slaughtered with good body and carcass fat contents in the same feedlot time. Control Nellore animals showed a 10% higher gain in fat percentage than NeS in the period. This shows that the growth of bone and muscle ceased earlier and NeC group accumulated more fat. Animals selected for growth have heavier carcasses and greater tissue deposition rates with proportional composition similar to unselected animals.