Combinations of cactus pear with different roughage sources on the production, chemical composition, and milk fatty acid profile of F1 Holstein/Zebu cows.

The qualities of food, mainly of animal origin, have always been of concern to consumers. It is known that the composition of animals' diets can influence the composition of the foods produced, such as milk. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate diets with cactus pear in combination with different forages for F1 Holstein/Zebu cows on the chemical composition and fatty acid profile of milk. Two simultaneous 4 × 4 Latin squares were used in the experimental design. Four experimental diets were used: Diet 1, sorghum silage as the only roughage; Diet 2, sorghum silage combined with cactus pear in a proportion of 50% of the roughage (dry matter basis); Diet 3, elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Roxo) as the only roughage; and Diet 4, elephant grass combined with cactus pear in a proportion of 50% of the roughage. The roughage:concentrate ratio was 75:25. The milk urea nitrogen was higher (16.08 mg/dL) in the milk of cows fed the diet with only elephant grass than that of milk from the other diet groups. The other analyzed variables of the chemical composition of milk were not influenced by the diets. However, there was a change in the sum of the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. The content of C16:0 fatty acid was higher and that of C18:0 was lower in the milk of cows fed the cactus pear diets than in that of cows fed the other diets. Higher levels of oleic acid were observed in the milk of cows fed with diets containing elephant grass than those in the milk of the cows in the sorghum forage groups. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) was higher in the milk of cows fed cactus pear than in that of the other cows. The combination of cactus pear with elephant grass or sorghum silage in the diet did not alter the chemical composition of milk. However, it influenced the fatty acid profile.

Nutritional efficiency of feed-restricted F1 Holstein/Zebu cows in early lactation.

The quantitative feed restriction of lactating cows has been used in intensive production systems as a strategy to reduce production costs. However, the effects of this restriction in F1 Holstein/Zebu cows are unclear. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of quantitative feed restriction on nutrient intake and digestibility, nitrogen balance, feed efficiency, feed behavior, and productive performance in F1 Holstein/Zebu cows during early lactation. Sixty F1 Holstein × Zebu cows were used at the stage of initial lactation (50 ± 13 days of lactation), and they had an initial body weight (BW) of 482 ± 43 kg. The experimental arrangement adopted was a completely randomized design, with five feed restriction levels (3.39, 2.75, 2.50, 2.25, and 2.00% of BW) and 12 cows in each treatment group. In the short term (63 days), there were reductions of 45.9% and 47.2% in dry matter intake (P < 0.01) and crude protein (P < 0.01), respectively, when the diet supply was limited from 3.39% BW to 2.00% of BW. There were declines in intake of ether extract (P < 0.01) and nonfibrous carbohydrates (P < 0.01), but there was no change in daily milk production (P = 0.44) nor the daily milk production corrected to 3.5% fat (P = 0.12); the averages were 14.01 kg/day and 13.25 kg/day, respectively. Considering the lower body weight loss, feed restriction is recommended up to 2.5% of the BW.

Nutritional and productive parameters of Holstein/Zebu cows fed diets containing cactus pear

Objective: This study ascertained effects of cactus pear in association with different roughage in the diet of F1 Holstein/Zebu cows on intake, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, ingestive behavior and performance. Methods: Eight cows with 72 ± 11 days of lactation were used. The experimental design was simultaneous in two 4 x 4 Latin squares. Four experimental diets were used: Diet 1 - sorghum silage as exclusive roughage; Diet 2 - sorghum silage associated with cactus pear in a proportion of 50% of the roughage (dry basis); Diet 3 - elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Roxo) as exclusive roughage; Diet 4 - elephant grass associated with cactus pear in a proportion of 50% of the roughage. The roughage:concentrate ratio was 75:25. Dry matter intake (P = 0.01) was higher with sorghum silage. Results: There were differences in dry matter intake (P = 0.01), crude protein (P <0.01), ether extract (P = 0.01), non-fibrous carbohydrates (P <0.01) and total digestible nutrients (P = 0.01) among the diets. Cactus pear in the diet reduced water intake by 44.52% (P < 0.01). The nitrogen balance was 59.71% and 27.49% lower in animals treated with exclusive sorghum silage and sorghum silage associated with cactus pear in relation to diets with elephant grass and elephant grass associated with cactus pear, respectively (P < 0.01). The diets did not influence the milk production (P = 0.70), 3.5% fat corrected milk production (P = 0.72) or feed efficiency (P = 0.61). Conclusion: The association of cactus pear with sorghum or elephant grass silage does not alter milk production, reduces the intake of dry matter and water and improves the digestibility of nutrients.

Efeito de níveis crescentes de ureia na alimentação de vacas sobre o rendimento, composição, perfil de ácidos graxos e sensorial do queijo minas frescal / Effect of increasing levels of urea in cows feed on yield, composition, fatty acid profile and sensory of minas fresh cheese

O estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade do queijo minas frescal processado com leite de vacas alimentadas com dietas com níveis crescentes de ureia (0; 33%; 66% e 100%, que corresponderam a 0, 0,92, 1,84 e 2,77% de PB na forma de NNP) em substituição ao farelo de soja. Foram utilizadas oito vacas F1 Holandês x Zebu, primíparas, com aproximadamente 150 dias de lactação ao início do experimento e produção média de 10kg de leite corrigido para 3,5 % de gordura dia -1 , em dois quadrados latinos 4 x 4, 4 animais, 4 dietas e 4 períodos experimentais. As amostras de leite de cada vaca, da ordenha da manhã e da tarde, foram coletadas e analisadas quanto à composição físico-química. No terceiro dia de coleta, o leite obtido de cada tratamento foi processado para fabricação do queijo minas frescal. Os produtos foram analisados quanto às suas características físico-químicas, textura, rendimento, perfil de ácidos graxos, e aceitação sensorial. Não houve efeito da adição dos níveis crescentes de ureia em substituição ao farelo de soja na dieta das vacas para todos os parâmetros que indicam a qualidade dos queijos analisados. Dessa forma, conclui-se que a substituição total da ureia pelo farelo de soja na dieta com o intuito de reduzir custo de alimentação não altera a qualidade na produção do queijo minas frescal.

The study aimed to evaluate the quality of the minas fresh cheese processed with milk cows fed diets with increasing levels of urea (0, 33%, 66% and 100%, corresponding to 0, 0.92, 1.84 and 2.77% crude protein in the form of NPN) replacing soybean meal. Eight cows F1 Holstein x Zebu, gilts, with approximately 150 days of lactation to the beginning of the experiment and average production of 10 kg of milk corrected to 3.5% fat day-1, in two Latin squares 4 x 4, 4 animals, 4 diets and 4 experimental periods. Samples of milk from each cow, the milking morning and afternoon, were collected and analyzed for physical and chemical composition. On the third day of collection, the milk obtained from each treatment was processed for the production of minas fresh cheese. Products were analyzed as to their physical and chemical characteristics, texture, yield, fatty acid profile, and sensory acceptance. There was no effect of the addition of increasing levels of urea in substitution of soybean meal in the diet of cows to all the parameters that indicate the quality of cheeses analyzed. Thus, it is concluded that the total replacement of soybean meal by urea in order to reduce power cost does not change the quality in the production of minas fresh cheese.