One hundred seventy-nine Holstein male calves [44.7 kg of body weight (BW) and 8.3 d of age] participated in a series of 3 experiments to evaluate the effect of different forage sources on performance, apparent digestibility, and feeding behavior. Animals in each study were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 different dietary treatments: control (CON) calves were fed starter feed without any forage provision (this treatment was repeated in each of the 3 experiments), and the 2 other treatments consisted of the same starter feed plus a forage source: chopped alfalfa (AH) or rye-grass hay (RH) in the first study; chopped oat hay (OH) or chopped barley straw (BS) in the second study; corn silage (CS) or triticale silage (TS) in the third study. All calves were offered 2L of milk replacer (MR) at 12.5% dry matter (DM) twice daily via a bottle until 50 d of age, and 2L of MR at 12.5% DM during the week before weaning (57 d of age). The study finished when calves were 71 d old. Starter feed, MR, and forage intakes were recorded daily and BW weekly. Calves were individually housed and bedded with wood shavings. Compared with CON, animals receiving OH, TS, and BS consumed more starter feed (0.88 vs. 1.14, 1.17, 1.06 kg/d, respectively) and had greater average daily gain (0.72 vs. 0.93, 0.88, 0.88 kg/d, respectively). Animals in treatments RH, BS, CS, and TS consumed less forage (51 g/d) than AH (120 g/d) and OH (101 g/d) calves. Apparent organic matter, DM, and neutral detergent fiber digestibilities did not differ among treatments (81.5, 81.1, and 54.4%, respectively). Apparent crude protein digestibility was greater in RH, CS, and AH treatments than in CON (80.5 vs. 76.4%, respectively). Compared with CON calves, animals in the AH treatment spent less time eating starter feed and lying, animals in AH and RH treatments spent more time ruminating, with odds ratios (OR) of 5.24 and 5.40, respectively. The AH and RH calves devoted less time to performing nonnutritive oral behaviors (OR: 0.38 and 0.34, respectively), and TS calves tended to devote less time to perform nonnutritive oral behaviors (OR: 0.21) 1h after being offered MR and solid feed. In conclusion, free-choice provision of a forage source to young calves improves feed intake and performance without impairing digestibilities of DM, organic matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber, and, depending on forage source, reduces nonnutritive oral behaviors and stimulates rumination.

-The objective of this work was to evaluate the productive performance, biological efficiency, and the competitive ability of the forage cactus-sorghum intercropping under different irrigation depths with saline water in the Brazilian Semiarid Region. The experiment was carried out in Serra Talhada, in the state of Pernambuco, between 2014 and 2015, in a randomized complete block design, with four replicates, and a 5x3 factorial arrangement in split plots, with one year of forage cactus cycle and two years of sorghum cycles. The plots were composed by four irrigation water depths based on the fractions of 25, 50, 75, and 100% of the reference evapotranspiration, besides dry conditions; and the subplots consisted of three cropping systems (single crop of forage cactus, single crop of sorghum, and intercropping of forage cactus-sorghum). The increase of water irrigation depths increased the yields of sorghum in single crop and of the forage cactus-sorghum intercropping. The intercropping system promoted production stability with a higher system productivity index (SPI) for forage cactus-sorghum intercropping (6,279.02 kg ha -1 DM) than for forage cactus in single crop (4,626.98 kg ha -1 DM). The relative density coefficient (12.33) was indicative of the great compatibility of the intercropping system. The forage cactus-sorghum association shows biological advantage and competitiveness capacity, with a higher productive index than their monocultures.Index terms: Opuntia stricta, Sorghum bicolor, agronomic performance, biological efficiency, competitive ability, saline water irrigation. Consórcio palma-sorgo irrigado com diferentes lâminas de água no Semiárido brasileiroResumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho produtivo, a eficiência biológica e a habilidade competitiva do consórcio palma-sorgo sob irrigação com diferentes lâminas de água salina, no Semiárido brasileiro. O experimento foi realizado em Serra Talhada, PE, entre 2014 e 2015, em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições, em arranjo fatorial 5x3, com parcelas subdivididas, tendo sido um ano de ciclo de palma e dois ciclos de sorgo. As parcelas foram compostas por quatro lâminas de irrigação com base nas frações de 25, 50, 75 e 100% da evapotranspiração de referência, além das condições de sequeiro, e as subparcelas consistiram de três sistemas de plantio (palma solteira, sorgo solteiro e consórcio palma-sorgo). O aumento das lâminas de água incrementou a produtividade do sorgo e do consórcio palma-sorgo. O consórcio promoveu estabilidade na produção, com índice de produtividade do sistema (IPS) palma-sorgo (6.279,02 kg ha -1 MS) maior que o de palma em cultivo solteiro (4.626,98 kg ha -1 MS). O coeficiente de adensamento relativo (12,33) foi indicativo de ótima compatibilidade do consórcio. A associação palma-sorgo apresenta vantagem biológica e capacidade competitiva com maior índice produtivo que os dos seus monocultivos.Termos para indexação: Opuntia stricta, Sorghum bicolor, desempenho agronômico, eficiência bi...

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Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a composição botânica, a disponibilidade e a qualidade da forragem e da dieta de animais fistulados alimentados na Caatinga, no período chuvoso, em Pernambuco. Avaliaram-se a composição botânica e a disponibilidade de fitomassa dos estratos herbáceo, arbustivo e arbóreo, nos meses de março e junho. A avaliação da qualidade da forragem foi feita por meio da análise bromatológica, realizada em todos os meses do período chuvoso. Characterization of Caatinga vegetation and diet of steers in the "Sertão" of Pernambuco, BrazilAbstract -The objective of this work was to evaluate the botanical composition, the availability and quality of the fodder and diet of fistulated animals fed in an area of Caatinga, during the rainy season, in Pernambuco State, Brazil. Evaluations of botanical composition and fodder availability of herbaceous, arbustive and arboreous extracts were made in March and June. Fodder quality evaluation was performed through chemical analysis during the wet period. Sixty-seven species were found: 28 herbaceous, 20 arbustive and 18 arboreal; from these species, 19 were found in the animals diet. The fitomass availability from the herbaceous component varied from 1,369 kg ha -1 of dry matter (DM) in March, to 452 kg ha -1 of DM in June. The availability of the arbustive extract layer was close to the herbaceous, while the arboreal component contributed with only 178 kg ha -1 of DM. Despite the relatively high fitomass availability, only a small percentage was considered as fodder from the material found. It was observed a low digestion of the protein, probably due to high levels of lignin.Index terms: availability of forage, botanic composition, fodder quality. IntroduçãoCerca de 40% do globo terrestre está ocupado pelas florestas tropicais e subtropicais, entre as quais 42% são compreendidas pelas florestas secas, onde se inclui a Caatinga. Essas regiões são consideradas como o ecossistema mais explorado e degradado do mundo, pelo uso intensivo da terra. Caracterizada como floresta arbórea ou arbustiva, a Caatinga é composta de árvores e arbustos baixos com algumas características xerofíticas (Prado, 2003). Assim como as diversas matas secas tropicais, a vegetação da Caatinga também é alvo de grande exploração humana, pela atividade agrí-cola desenvolvida, pelo extrativismo na extração de madeira e lenha e pelo uso da pecuária extensiva.

Seventy-six newborn Holstein calves (44.4 ± 6.15 kg of body weight) were involved in this study from birth until 21 d of age. Within 2 h after birth, calves received 4 L of maternal colostrum via an esophageal tube. The following 3 meals consisted of 2 L of late colostrum (or transition milk). After that, calves were fed 1.5 L of milk replacer (22.9% CP, 20.1% fat) twice daily. Calves were considered diarrheic when they showed fecal scores ≥ 3 for 3 consecutive days. Then, data from a random subset of 30 calves (45.9 ± 5.47 kg of body weight), 15 that never had diarrhea and 15 that had diarrhea, were used to assess potential associations between intestinal permeability and incidence of diarrhea. On d 0, 7, 14, and 21 of life, intestinal permeability of calves was measured by dosing 2 markers (lactulose and d-mannitol) and assessing their concentration in serum by ultra-HPLC-mass spectrometry. Plasma IgG concentration was measured at birth and at 6 h, 24 h, and 12 d after first colostrum intake, and efficiency of IgG absorption was calculated. Plasma and colostrum IgG contents were determined by radial immunodiffusion and bacterial load in colostrum samples by colony counting. All diarrhea incidences occurred between 7 to 14 d of life. Overall colostrum quality was good, with an IgG content > 100mg/mL, but total bacterial load was slightly high (> 100,000 cfu/mL). However, there were no differences in these 2 parameters between colostrums consumed by calves that did and those that did not incur diarrhea later in life, and efficiency of IgG transfer from colostrum to bloodstream was similar for all calves. Diarrheic calves had greater serum lactulose concentrations than healthy calves throughout the first 21 d of life. Furthermore, diarrheic calves tended to have a greater serum lactulose-to-d-mannitol ratio from birth until 21 d of life compared with healthy calves. In conclusion, calves that incur diarrhea show an altered intestinal permeability within the first 2 h of life compared with those that do not suffer scours.

Water is a nutrient of extreme importance for animals and must be considered vital in any rearing phase.The increasing scarcity of this precious natural resource has concerned different segments of society in order to find solutions for rational and sustainable use of this nutrient. Small ruminants, especially sheep and goats, have social and economic importance due to their great ability in adapting to adverse environmental conditions and using water efficiently. Thus, they might be a good alternative to mitigate the climate change effects and to generate foreign exchange and improving life condition in many places of the world. The concept of water productivity for livestock production is relatively new and there are few studies in the world, especially in Brazil. More researches and new technologies for water use in livestock production are indispensable.A água e a produção de pequenos ruminantes RESUMO -A água é um nutriente extremamente importante na vida dos animais e deve ser considerada como vital em qualquer fase da criação. A escassez crescente deste precioso recurso natural tem provocado reações de diferentes segmentos da sociedade na busca de soluções de uso racional e sustentável deste nutriente. Os pequenos ruminantes, especialmente os ovinos e caprinos, são partes importantes da vida econômica e social de muitas nações pela sua ampla capacidade de adaptação às condições adversas do ambiente e boa eficiência no uso da água, podendo ser uma das boas alternativas de mitigação dos efeitos das mudanças climáticas, gerando divisas e melhoria das condições de vida em muitas regiões do mundo. O conceito de produtividade de água para a produção animal é relativamente novo e ainda são recentes e escassos os estudos existentes no mundo e em particular no Brasil. A realização de mais pesquisas e a geração de novas tecnologias de uso da água na produção animal, hoje mais do que nunca tornam-se imprescindíveis.Palavras-chave: balanço hídrico, caprino, mudanças climáticas, ovino, salinidade R. Bras. Zootec., v.39, p.326-336, 2010 (supl. especial) Araújo et al.

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RESUMO -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes níveis de volumoso nas dietas sobre os consumos e as digestibilidades aparentes de matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), carboidratos totais (CHOT) e energia bruta (EB) e sobre os consumos de nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT). Trinta e cinco bezerros da raça Holandesa puros por cruzamento, não-castrados, com idade média de 60 dias e peso vivo inicial de 78 kg, foram distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com nove repetições por dieta, exceto para a dieta com 10% de volumoso, com oito repetições. Os animais foram alimentados à vontade com dietas contendo níveis de 10, 25, 40 e 55% de volumoso, na base da MS, usando-se feno de capim coast-cross (Cynodon dactylon), fubá de milho e farelo de soja, os quais constituíram dietas com aproximadamente 16% de PB. O óxido crômico foi usado para obtenção das estimativas dos fluxos de MS fecal. Os carboidratos totais foram obtidos por 100 -(%PB + %EE + %Cinzas). O consumo de NDT foi obtido por (cPB -PBf) + 2,25 (cEE -EEf) + (cCHOT -CHOTf), em que c significa consumo e f, excreção fecal. Não houve efeito dos níveis de volumoso nas dietas sobre os consumos de MS e MO (kg/ dia, % PV e g/kg 0,75 ) e de PB e CHOT (kg/dia e % PV). O consumo de FDN (kg/dia, %PV e g/kg 0,75 ) aumentou, enquanto o consumo de EE e NDT (em kg/dia e %PV) reduziu linearmente em função dos níveis de volumoso na dieta. Houve efeito linear decrescente sobre as digestibilidades aparentes de MS, MO, PB, EE, CHOT e EB, em função do aumento dos níveis de volumoso nas dietas, enquanto a digestibilidade aparente da FDN não foi influenciada. Os consumos de EE, FDN e NDT e as digestibilidades aparentes de MS, MO, EE, PB, CHOT e EB foram influenciados pelos níveis de volumoso nas dietas. Palavras-chave: bezerro holandês, digestibilidade, ingestão, nível de volumoso Intake and Apparent Digestibility Coefficients in Calves Fed Diets with DifferentForage Levels ABSTRACT -This work was to evaluate the effect of different forage levels in the diet on the intake and apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), total carbohydrate (CHO), gross energy (GE) and total digestible nutrients (TDN). Thirty five pure Holstein bull calves, 60 days old with initial average live weight (LW) of 78 kg, were allotted in a completely randomized experimental design with nine replications per diet, except for the 10% forage diet, with eight replicates. The animals were ad libitum fed with diets contained 10; 25; 40; and 55% of forage, on the DM basis, using chopped coast-cross (Cynodon dactylon) grass, ground corn and soybean meal, which constitute diets with approximately 16% CP. The chromium oxide was used to obtain the fecal DM excretion estimates. The total carbohydrate was calculated as 100 -(%CP + %EE + % ash). The TDN was calculated as (cCP -fCP) + 2.25 (cEE -fEE) + (cCHO -fCHO), wh...