Litter deposition and decomposition are important components of the nutrient cycling process in grasslands. Litter decomposition studies in the field are tedious and time-consuming. Finding an approach to speeding up research would therefore be a major advancement in the field. In this study, a comparative analysis of the litter decomposition process of signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.) and calopo (Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.) in two distinct environments (field vs. goat rumen) was carried out. Two incubation trials were performed. In the first trial litter of both plant species was incubated in the rumen of fistulated goats using the in situ technique. Second trial, litter samples were incubated on signal grass pastures using the litter bag technique. Litter samples of signal grass and calopo were incubated by different periods in the rumen (0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, and 144 h) and in the field (0, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, and 256 days). At the end of the incubation period, the remaining biomass of signal grass was similar between rumen and field (*38%), but calopo decomposed more extensively in the field. The C:N ratio was considered high for signal grass (*100) at the beginning of the experimental period. Calopo showed initial C:N ratio of 29. Nitrogen was more extensively decomposed in the rumen as opposed to the field; however, despite several differences in terms of environment and time of incubation, remaining biomass at the end of incubation was similar between rumen and field trials, suggesting common limits for decomposition in both environments. Decomposition models, however, showed different relative decomposition rates (k) along the incubation period. As a result, the use of the rumen model to simulate field decomposition cannot be recommended.
The effects of corn replacement by cassava dreg in diets of crossbred goat kids were evaluated. We tested the impacts of 0, 33, 66 and 100% replacement on intake, digestibility, feeding behaviour, performance and carcass characteristics. Thirty-six goat kids, aged between 4 and 5 months and with initial body weights of 17.61 ± 1.98 kg, were used in a completely randomised design. Analysis of regression revealed a negative linear effect on neutral detergent fibre (NDF) intake and a positive linear effect on non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) and hydrocyanic acids (HCN) intake. Cassava dreg use had a positive linear effect on organic matter digestibility and non-fibrous carbohydrates. Based on our results, cassava dreg use did not negatively impact animal performance, feeding behaviour and carcass characteristics, suggesting that it may replace corn up to 100% in the diets of confined goat kids.
This study evaluated the effect of different sources of nitrogen [soybean meal (SM); cottonseed meal (CM); cottonseed + urea (CU); and urea (U)] associated with spineless cactus on intake, digestibility, performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of confined lambs. Forty male Santa Inês sheep, uncastrated, with initial body weight of 23.00 ± 1.66 kg were distributed in random blocks design and slaughtered after 58 days of confinement. Dry matter (DM) intake (1.16 ± 0.19 kg/day) did not differ (P > 0.05) between nitrogen sources, but the intake of crude protein (CP) and non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) was lower (P < 0.05) for sheep consuming CU. Sheep fed with diets containing U had lower digestibility of DM, CP and NFC (P < 0.05). The average daily gain (0.15 ± 0.04 kg/day) and the slaughter body weight (32.07 ± 2.86 kg) did not differ between nitrogen sources, but the cold carcass and loin weight was lower (P < 0.05) for sheep fed with U. The water retention capacity and meat protein content were greater (P < 0.05) for animals fed with SM. Soybean meal or cottonseed meal associated with spineless cactus-based diets for sheep meat production are recommended because it allows greater DM digestibilityand improves carcass characteristics and physicochemical composition of the meat.
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