-The objective of this study was to evaluate the replacement of soybean meal by crushed crambe on the qualitative characteristics, lipids, and chemical composition of the meat from crossbred Santa Ines ewes. These animals presented an initial body score of 2.5, were finished in confinement for 60 days, fed diets containing crushed crambe replacing 0, 33, 67, and 100% of soybean meal, and slaughtered with a body condition score of 3.5. The statistical design was completely randomized, with slaughter weight used as a covariate in the model. Sensory evaluations were performed in the gluteobiceps muscle by untrained evaluators (n = 100) of different ages. There was no significant effect for color, shear force, or cooking loss of the semimembranosus muscle. The replacement levels of soybean meal influenced only the moisture content, with a linear increase, and the ash content, which decreased linearly. For saturated fatty acids, there was linear effect on capric acid (C10:0), and a linear reduction of myristic (C14:0), pentadecanoic (C15:0), and heptadecanoic (C17:0) fatty acids. There was no influence of the inclusion level of crushed crambe on monounsaturated fatty acids. A linear increase was observed in the polyunsaturated fatty acids linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) and eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3n-3). For the sensory attributes, there were differences only for the variables flavor and tenderness, in which meat was considered more flavorful if it was from animals fed 0% crushed crambe, with an average of 1.6, and considered more tender if it was from animals finished with 15% crushed crambe in the diet, scoring an average of 1.7. Crushed crambe can be considered a promising alternative in the feeding of ewes finished in feedlot, replacing soybean meal in the diet, showing satisfactory results with respect to meat quality.

ABSTRACT. The use of alternative sources of protein for ruminant can alter productivity and reduce costs in animal production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance, apparent digestibility and quantitative characteristics of carcass components of ewes fed increasing levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 g kg -1 dry matter) of crambe crushed in the diets. Twenty-four culling ewes were distributed in a completely randomized design. All animals were kept in a shed, with individual stalls equipped with feeder, drinker and concrete floor covered with rice hulls. The animals received corn silage as roughage and diets were isoenergetic with 700 g kg -1of TDN. Animals were slaughtered when reached a body condition score of 3.5 points. The dry matter intake (948.53 g day -1) and average daily gain (0.15 kg day -1 ) were not influenced by the inclusion of crambe crushed in the diet. The crambe crushed increased ether extract digestibility and decreased crude protein intake and digestibility. There was no effect of the levels of crambe crushed on carcass characteristics and non-carcass components but rather a reduction in the cold carcass yield. Total replacement of soybean meal with crambe crushed in the diet for ewes did not alter performance, carcass and non-carcass characteristics.Keywords: byproduct; ether extract; oilseeds; Crambe abyssinica.Consumo, digestibilidade, desempenho e características de carcaça de ovelhas alimentadas com crambe em substituição à farelo de soja RESUMO. O uso de fontes proteicas alternativas para ruminantes pode alterar a produtividade e reduzir os custos na produção animal. O objetivo da pesquisa foi avaliar o desempenho, a digestibilidade aparente e as características quantitativas dos componentes de carcaça das ovelhas alimentadas com níveis crescentes (0, 50, 100 e 150 g kg -1de matéria seca) de torta de crambe nas dietas. Foram distribuídas 24 ovelhas em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Todos os animais foram mantidos em instalação, com baias individuais equipadas com cocho, bebedouro e chão de concreto coberto com cascas de arroz. Os animais receberam silagem de milho como forragem e as dietas foram isoenergéticas com 700 g kg ) não foram influenciados pela inclusão de torta de crambe na dieta. A torta de crambe aumentou a digestibilidade do extrato etéreo e diminuiu a ingestão e digestibilidade da proteína bruta. Não houve efeito da torta de crambe nas características da carcaça e nos componentes não carcaça, no entanto houve redução no rendimento da carcaça fria. A substituição total da farinha de soja e a torta de crambe na dieta para as ovelhas não alteraram as características de desempenho, carcaça e não carcaça.Palavras-chave: subproduto; extrato etéreo; oleaginosas; Crambe abyssinica.

This study aimed to assess the performance, carcass traits, and non-carcass components of feedlot finished Texel crossbred lambs from different residual feed intake classes (RFI). Forty-seven uncastrated male Texel crossbred lambs (¾ Texel + ¼ Pantaneira) tested here were 4-month-old with an initial weight of 29.9 ± 5.5 kg. The lambs were confined for 70 days for individual dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain (ADG) assessment. The diet containing corn silage was provided as roughage, while the concentrate consisted of corn grain, soybean meal, urea, and mineral mixture with a 40:60 roughage to concentrate ratio and 76.34% total digestible nutrients (TDN). After confinement for 70 days, the lambs were slaughtered to assess carcass traits and non-carcass components. Based on the RFI, lambs were divided into three classes according to the standard deviation (sd): Positive RFI (inefficient, 0.5 above the mean), Negative RFI (efficient, 0.5 below the mean), and Medium RFI (intermediate). Classes with Negative (efficient) and Positive RFI (inefficient) showed no differences in ADG (0.321 vs 0.306 kg; P > 0.05). Dry matter intake (g d-1), and percentage of body weight (BW) differed significantly between the RFI classes (P < 0.05). Compared to lambs in the inefficient class, those in the efficient class (Negative RFI) showed a 9% reduction in DMI and had the same ADG. The lambs in either Positive or Negative RFI classes showed no weight differences between non-carcass components (P > 0.05). The RFI classes showed no differences in shrunk body weight, hot carcass weight, hot dressing, and weight of commercial cuts (P > 0.05). They showed no differences in neck, shoulder + shank, loin, rack, flank steak, rack cap off, and leg weights (P > 0.05). Our results indicate that improvement in feed efficiency, as a function of the RFI index, does not compromise performance and carcass traits of Texel crossbred lambs.

We evaluated performance, non-carcass components, and carcass characteristics of crossbred Texel lambs in different categories of residual intake and gain (RIG). We assessed 77 crossbred (¼ Pantaneira and ¾ Texel) non-castrated animals in two study phases. The first phase included 47 lambs with an initial average weight of 29.9±5.5 kg, and the second phase included 30 lambs with initial average weight of 22.4±3.3 kg. Dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain (ADG) were evaluated for 70 days. Animals were divided into three groups in terms of efficiency: efficient (high RIG), intermediate (medium RIG), or inefficient (low RIG), based on the standard deviation of the mean for the RIG variable. We measured the yield of noncarcass components, carcass characteristics, and yield of meat cuts. Efficiency group had no association with DMI, nor with initial and final body weights of the animals. The ADG of efficient (0.310 kg day −1 ) and intermediate (0.290 kg day −1 ) animals was greater than observed in inefficient (0.260 kg day −1 ) animals. Lambs in the efficient and intermediate groups had significantly higher levels of all efficiency indicators evaluated. Efficient and intermediate animals yielded significantly more wool/skin in comparison with lambs in the inefficient group. Animals with high RIG also had lower relative weight of testicles/scrotal sac in comparison with inefficient animals. Fat deposition in the omentum and mesentery as well as total fat were decreased in efficient animals. No significant differences occurred among groups regarding carcass characteristics and yield of meat cuts. The RIG index allows for the identification of lambs with higher growth rates and greater wool/skin yield and lower proportion of visceral fat.

Animal nutrition needs simple methodologies to be applied under field conditions, providing valid estimates of consumption and digestibility that can be used by both farmers and animal input industry. Thus, the search for new substances, provided in a practical way, quantified by simple and low-cost analytical methodologies, replacing external indicators (chromic oxide used as reference) would be well accepted by the scientific community. In this context, the aim of this study was to assess the supply of chorionic oxide by esophageal route or mixed in the diet and the use of kaolin as an indicator, under the same forms of administration, to estimate fecal production and digestibility using four castrated male Holstein cattle. The experimental design was a 4 × 4 Latin square design, with four experimental periods of 12 days and six-day intervals between periods. Treatments consisted of supplying chromic oxide by esophageal route (COer), kaolin by esophageal route (Kaoer), chromic oxide mixed to the diet (COdiet), and kaolin mixed to the diet (Kaodiet). The treatment Kaodiet allowed obtaining estimates of fecal production similar to the treatment COer. The treatment COdiet did not differ from the treatment COer (p > 0.05) considering all the assessed parameters, evidencing that the indicator chromic oxide can be supplied mixed directly in the diet without damaging the estimates of fecal production and digestibility. Under the studied conditions, kaolin was not an effective indicator to obtain accurate estimates of fecal production and further studies are needed to adjust the analytical techniques of aluminum extraction as well as to resolve some doubts regarding its digestion process.

To maximize economic gain in sheep production systems it is critical to adjust feedlot diets to maximize performance while minimizing feed, and especially concentrate, waste. Little information is available on ideal diets for crossbred ewe lambs. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the performance of feedlot crossbred ewe lambs, and the digestibility of diets, with increasing levels of concentrate during the growing and finishing phases. Twenty-four crossbred Texel × Pantaneira Texel ewe lambs were confined and fed Tifton hay with increasing levels of concentrate in the diet (20, 40, 60 and 80%) for individual evaluation of dry matter intake (DMI), digestibility of diets, average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (FE). Animals were slaughtered at 47 kg. In the growing phase, the inclusion of concentrate in the diets (1176 g.kg -1 ) did not change DMI (p > 0.05). Concentrate levels had a quadratic effect (p < 0.05) on the dry matter digestibility coefficient (DMDC) and on total digestible nutrients (TDN) during the growing phase. In the finishing phase, there was a negative linear effect of concentrate levels on DMI (p < 0.05), but TDN intake was similar among the experimental diets (p > 0.05). DMDC and TDN values displayed a quadratic behavior (p < 0.05), plateauing at 60% concentrate. ADG and FE increased as concentrate was added to the diet in the growing phase (p < 0.05). During the finishing phase, lamb performance was similar (p > 0.05) for different diets. Thus, the use of 60% concentrate in the confined crossbred ewe lamb diet during growing and 20% concentrate during finishing is recommended. Key words: Feedlot. Digestibility coefficient. Intake. Weight gainh. ResumoPara maximizar o ganho econômico em sistemas de produção de ovinos é fundamental ajustar as dietas de confinamento para aumentar o desempenho e minimizar os custos e desperdícios com alimentação, especialmente com concentrado. Existem poucas informações sobre avaliação de dietas ideais para cordeiras mestiças. Objetivou-se avaliar o desempenho de cordeiras mestiças confinadas e a digestibilidade de dietas com níveis crescentes de concentrado durante as fases de recria e terminação. Foram confinadas 24 fêmeas mestiças Texel (1/2 Pantaneira x 1/2 Texel) alimentadas com feno de capim-Tifton e níveis crescentes de concentrado na dieta (20, 40, 60 e 80%) para avaliação individual do consumo de matéria seca (CMS), digestibilidade dos nutrientes das dietas, ganho médio diário (GMD) e eficiência alimentar (EA). Os animais foram abatidos com 47 kg. Na fase de recria, o CMS não foi alterado (p > 0,05) pela inclusão de concentrado nas dietas (1176 g kg -1 ). Foi observado efeito quadrático dos níveis de concentrado (p < 0,05) sobre os coeficientes de digestibilidade de matéria seca (CDMS) e nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) durante a recria. Na fase de terminação, houve efeito linear negativo dos níveis de concentrado sobre o CMS (p < 0,05), porém a ingestão de NDT foi similar entre as dietas experimentais (p > 0,05). O CDMS e o valor...

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