No abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of alkaline treatments with urea, NaOH and Ca(OH) 2 on chemical composition and in situ ruminal degradability of dry matter, crud protein and neutral detergent fi ber of sugarcane tip hay. Samples were incubated in the rumen of three cannulated cattle for up to 72 hours in a split plot randomized block design. Ammoniation with 6% urea increased (p<0.05) the crude protein content by 13% and reduced the neutral detergent fi ber and insoluble nitrogen content of the hay. When treated with the highest doses of the compounds, there was a high potential degradability of dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fi ber, and a shorter neutral detergent fi ber lag time. Ammoniation with urea promotes a reduction in the content of NDF, hemicellulose and insoluble nitrogen, with an increase in the content of CP in the hay, with emphasis for the level of 6% urea. The ruminal degradation of sugarcane tip hay increases with alkaline treatments using 6% urea or 3% NaOH, however, ammoniation with urea is indicated for the treatment of hay, as this is low cost and can be easily adopted by farmers in the semiarid region.

Whole flour of cowpea grains of the cultivar BRS Tumucumaque biofortified in iron and zinc were processed in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder Clextral HT 25. A central rotational composite design 23, combining temperature (from 86.4 to 153.6 °C), screw rotation speed (from 163.6 to 836.4 rpm) and moisture content (from 16.6% to 23.4%), was used to assess the effects on flour constituents. The three variables significantly affected (p < 0.05) the levels of protein and copper in the extrudates. The reactions of the extrusion process caused a decrease in the levels of proteins and an increase in the levels of copper, zinc and potassium, and these amounts were accentuated as the values of the process variables approached those of the central point region. Extreme conditions at high rotational screw speeds combined with low moisture content reduced the magnesium content, at the opposite end of the values for these two variables, the intensity of the reduction was lower. In the analysis of global desirability, it was found that the extrusion condition at 112.6 °C, 587.4 rpm and 23.4% moisture provided the highest nutrient retention. The levels of iron and zinc remained above 60 and 40 mg kg-1, respectively, in extruded products.