This study aimed to investigate direct and indirect correlations of methodologies of bone quality analysis from brown egg layers, at final of the production cycle. Twelve femurs of Dekalb Brown laying hens, euthanized at 85-week-old, were assessed to evaluate breaking strength (BS), Seedor index (SI), mineral matter (MM), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) contents, besides cortical (CorD), medullar (MedD) and epiphysis (EpiD) diameters. Correlations and path analysis were obtained with the aid of SAS® University (p ≤ 0.05). The BS directly represented the bone quality and was compared to other methodologies. Greater linear correlations occurred between BS and MM (r = 0.82), MM and Ca (r = 0.72), and BS and Ca (r = 0.70). The MM content displayed the greatest direct effect on the BS (r = 0.53). The Ca content showed a reduced direct effect on the BS (r = 0.18), with indirect effects through MM content (r = 0.44) and EpiD (r = 0.15), however, presented a great total correlation (r = 0.78). Determination of mineral matter content is the main methodology associated with femur breaking strength from brown egg layers at final of the productive cycle. Because of that, this methodology is more reliable to determine bone quality.
The purpose was to evaluate the effect of replacement of Tifton 85 hay with Guandu hay on the intake, digestibility and ingestive behavior of dairy goats. Five Saanen goats with average milk production of 2.26 ± 0.10 kg d-1, around 123 ± 4 days of lactation were assigned to a 5 x 5 Latin square design. The treatments consisted of five levels of replacement with Guandu: 0, 8.4, 16.8, 25.2, or 36.4 %. We sampled the food offered, leftovers and feces to calculate intake and digestibility, and the ingestive behavior was monitored for 24 hours. Regression analysis was applied with 5% significance. The nutrient intake and the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and protein decreased linearly with increasing levels of Guandu hay in the diet (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the neutral detergent fiber digestibility increased linearly, without change the water intake and ingestive behavior with replacement levels of Tifton hay with Guandu hay in the diet (p < 0.05). The replacement of up to 36.4% Tifton hay with Guandu hay in the dairy goat diet reduces the intake and digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and protein, and increasesfiber digestibility, without changing the ingestive behavior and water intake.
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