-The objective of this study was to evaluate the in situ degradation profiles of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of different forages using nylon (50 μm), F57 (Ankom ® ) and non-woven textile (NWT -100 g/m 2 ) bags. Eight forage samples were used: sugarcane, corn silage, elephant grass cut at 50 and 250 days of regrowth, corn straw, signal grass hay, coast cross hay, and fresh alfalfa. Samples were incubated for 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168, 192, 216, 240, and 312 hours. Two bags of each textile were used at each incubation time, totaling 768 bags, using two crossbred Holstein × Zebu steers fitted with ruminal canullae. There was difference in the common rate of lag and degradation (λ) of DM for all forages, except for sugarcane. In general, higher λ estimates were obtained using nylon, followed by NWT and F57.Concerning NDF degradation profiles, differences in λ were observed for all forages. Greater estimates were obtained using nylon. Degradation profiles of DM and NDF must not be evaluated using F57 and NWT. These textiles underestimate the degradation rate due to constraints regarding exchange between bags' content and rumen environment.

-The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with nitrogenous compounds on intake and digestibility in cattle under grazing during dry season. It was used five Holstein × Zebu steers with average initial live weight of 236 kg, kept in five Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. paddocks (0.34 ha). The experiment was carried out according to a 5 × 5 Latin square design, with five supplementation levels and five experimental periods. The supplementation levels were the following: 0; 0.35; 0.70; 1.05, and 1.40 g of crude protein/kg live weight. A mixture of urea, ammonium sulfate and albumin (4.5:0.5:1.0, respectively) was used as nitrogen supplement. The average crude protein levels in the diet were 7. 39; 8.92; 10.98; 12.55; and 13.62%, as dry matter basis, for the respective supplementation levels. Linear-response-plateau relationships were observed between intake estimates and diet crude protein levels. The linear-response-plateau pattern showed that intake was increased up to crude protein levels close to 9%, as dry matter basis. The estimates became unchangeable from this level. The total and ruminal digestibility coefficients of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber, and diet level of total digestible nutrients presented a positive linear pattern according to diet crude protein levels. The rumen ammonia nitrogen concentration was linearly increased by diet crude protein levels. This variable assumed the value of 8.00 mg/dL when the intake estimates reached the maximum values.Supplementation with nitrogen compounds in quantities that raise the crude protein content in the diet to levels close to 9% optimizes the use of low-quality forage by cattle under grazing.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplements with different crude protein (CP) contents on grazing cattle intake, digestibility, ruminal fermentation pattern, and nitrogen (N) metabolism characteristics during the rainy season. Five ruminal and abomasal cannulated Holstein×Zebu steers (296 kg body weight, BW) were used in a 5×5 Latin square design. The animals grazed five signal grass paddocks (0.34 ha). The five treatments evaluated were: Control (no supplement) and 1.0 g of supplement/kg BW with 0, 330, 660, and 1,000 g of CP/kg as-fed. The supplement was composed of starch, soybean meal, urea, and ammonium sulphate. There was a positive linear effect (p≤0.033) of the CP content in the supplements on the organic matter (OM), CP, and digested OM intakes. The provision of supplements did not increase (p≥0.158), on average, total and ruminal digestibilities of OM and CP. However, the increase in CP content in the supplements caused a positive linear effect (p≤0.018) on ruminal digestibilities of OM and CP. Additionally, a quadratic effect of the CP contents of the supplements were observed (p = 0.041) for the ruminal digestibility of neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein, with the highest estimate obtained with the CP content of 670 g/kg. The supply of supplements increased (p<0.001) the ruminal ammonia N concentration, which also changed linearly and positively (p<0.001) according to increase in CP content in the supplements. The apparent N balance and relative N balance (g/g N intake) were not, on average, changed (p≥0.164) by the supplements supply. However, both showed a tendency of a linear increase (p≤0.099) with increasing supplement CP content. The supplements increased (p = 0.007) microbial N production in the rumen, which also changed linearly and positively (p = 0.016) with increasing supplement CP content. In conclusion, protein supplementation in grazing cattle during the rainy season, while stimulating voluntary forage intake, results in higher efficiency of N utilization when compared to energy supplementation. This is a possible response to increased microbial protein synthesis in the rumen and improved N status in the animal body.

-The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of using nylon textiles (50 μm), F57 (Ankom ® ) and non-woven textile (NWT -100 g/m 2 ) on laboratory evaluation of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) by using quantitative filter paper as purified cellulose standard and by simulating different composition of samples with additions of corn starch, pectin, casein and soybean oil. The quantitative filter paper was processed in a knife mill with a 1-mm screen sieve and the procedures for analyses of NDF contents were performed in a fiber analyzer (Ankom220 ® ). Four experiments were carried out with additions of different ingredients into the filter paper: corn starch added at the levels of 15 or 50%; pectin, 15 or 50%; casein, 10 or 30%; and soybean oil at 0, 5, 10, 15, 25 or 50% of dry matter, respectively. The ratio 20 mg of dry matter/cm 2 of surface was followed. When it was relevant, in function of the evaluated treatments, heat-stable α-amylase was used. The use of F57 and NWT resulted in accurate estimates of NDF contents whereas nylon textile caused loss of insoluble fibrous particles, compromising accuracy of the results. For samples containing starch, use of heat-stable α-amylase is recommended in the evaluation of NDF contents. Pectin and casein are completely solubilized by neutral detergent solution. Levels of oil higher than 10% cause overestimation of NDF contents.

Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos do fornecimento de quantidades crescentes de suplemento proteico durante o período de transição seca-águas sobre o consumo, a digestibilidade e sobre aspectos do metabolismo de compostos nitrogenados em bovinos. Foram utilizados cinco novilhos Nelore com peso corporal (PC) inicial de 273 kg, fistulados no rúmen e mantidos individualmente em piquetes de capim-braquiária com 0,34 ha. O experimento foi estruturado em delineamento em quadrado latino 5 × 5. Os tratamentos foram definidos de maneira a suplementar os animais em 0; 1,25; 2,5; 5,0 e 10,0 g de suplemento por kg de PC. O suplemento foi composto por farelo de soja, milho, ureia e sulfato de amônio de forma a apresentar 340 g de proteína bruta (PB)/kg de matéria natural. Verificou-se que os consumos de matéria orgânica (MO), PB e MO digerida foram incrementados linearmente (p0,10) sobre o consumo de pasto. A digestibilidade total e ruminal da MO e PB foi incrementada linearmente (p