Forage cactus as an additive in corn without the cob silages of feedlot sheep diets.

This study aimed to assess the impact of adding forage cactus as an additive to the production of corn silage without the cob on the performance of feedlot sheep and subsequent silage losses. The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of three treatments: corn silage without cob; 0% = 100% corn plant without the cob; 10% = 90% corn plant without cob + 10% forage cactus; 20% = 80% corn plant without cob + 20% forage cactus. Significant effects were observed for dry matter intake (P = 0.0201), organic matter (P = 0.0152), ether extract (P = 0.0001), non-fiber carbohydrates (P = 0.0007). Notably, nutrient digestibility showed significant differences in organic matter (P = 0.0187), ether extract (P = 0.0095), neutral detergent fiber (P = 0.0005), non-fiber carbohydrates (P = 0.0001), and metabolizable energy (P = 0.0001). Performance variables, including total weight gain (P = 0.0148), average daily weight gain (P = 0.0148), feeding efficiency, and rumination efficiency of dry matter (P = 0.0113), also exhibited significant effects. Consequently, it is recommended to include 20% forage cactus in corn silage, which, based on natural matter, helps meet animals' water needs through feed. This inclusion is especially vital in semi-arid regions and aids in reducing silage losses during post-opening silo disposal.

Can phytogenic additives replace monensin sodium in beef cattle feeding?

Monensin sodium is one of the most common ionophores used in livestock feeding; however, ionophores are condemned by organized consumer groups. Bioactive compounds from plants found in the seasonally dry tropical forest have similar mechanisms of action as ionophores. The aim was to investigate the effects of replacing monensin sodium with phytogenic additives on the nutritional efficiency of beef cattle. Five 14-month-old Nellore bulls (average body weight 452.68 ± 42.60 kg) were used in the study. The experiment was designed as a 5 × 5 Latin Square (five treatments and five 22-day experimental periods). Within each period, 15 days were used for adaptation of animals to experimental conditions and 7 days for data collection. Bulls were fed a control diet (without additives), monensin (a diet containing monensin sodium 40% as a synthetic additive), and three diets containing phytogenic additives prepared from Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth) Brenan, Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd) Poiret, or Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. Nutritional efficiency was assessed through feed intake, nutrient digestibility, feeding behavior, and hematological parameters. Monensin and phytogenic additives did not influence (P > 0.05) feeding behavior or hematological parameters, but the nutrient intake was highest for bulls supplemented phytogenic additives (P < 0.05). Monensin supplementation did not influence (P > 0.05) feed intake. The phytogenic additives and monensin sodium increased (P < 0.05) the nutrient digestibility. Therefore, the phytogenic additives from P. juliflora, A. macrocarpa, and M. tenuiflora can be recommended to enhance the nutritional efficiency of confined Nellore cattle.

Condensed tannins to increase bioactive fatty acids in the milk from Canindé, Repartida, and Saanen goats.

Bioactive fatty acids present in goat milk have the ability to reduce the risks of coronary heart disease in humans, and condensed tannins (CT) can modulate the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) biohydrogenation process in the rumen and consequently increase the levels of these fatty acids. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the inclusion of CT in the diet for Canindé, Repartida, and Saanen goats to increase the level of bioactive fatty acids in milk. Twenty-two lactating does of three genetic groups, six Canindé, eight Repartida, and eight Saanen, were randomly assigned in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of three genetic groups and two diets (control and with 50 g CT/kg DM). The inclusion of CT in the diet did not change (P > 0.05) nutrient intake and performance. However, the inclusion of CT promoted an increase (P < 0.05) in C14:1; cis-9; C18:2n6; C18:3n6; C18:3n3; PUFA; and long-chain fatty acids and reduction (P < 0.05) of C11; C12; C14; ω6/ω3; and atherogenicity index in milk fat. Thus, it is recommended to include CT in the diet for Canindé, Repartida, and Saanen goats to increase the level of bioactive fatty acids in milk. The inclusion of the tannins of Acacia mearnsii promoted an increase in C14:1; cis-9; C18:2n6; C18:3n6; C18:3n3; polyunsaturated fatty acid; and long-chain fatty acids and reduction of C11; C12; C14; ω6/ω3; and atherogenicity index in milk fat.

Blend of secondary metabolites from mesquite to improve nutrient digestibility, microbial protein, efficient use of nitrogen, ruminal parameters, and blood metabolites in sheep.

Although chemical additives are able to improve the efficiency of ruminal fermentation, they can leave residues in the meat. However, a blend of secondary metabolites can improve ruminal fermentation without harming the population welfare. Five levels (0.0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 g/day) of a blend of secondary metabolites from mesquite extract in sheep feed to promote increases in the nutritional value, ruminal parameters, nitrogen (N) use efficiency, microbial protein (MP) synthesis, and blood metabolites. Ten intact male Santa Inês sheep with average body weight of 55 ± 9.81 kg were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square design, replicated twice. There was a quadratic response of the digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), and total digestible nutrients (TDN). Microbial protein concentrations, MP synthesis efficiency, propionic acid levels, and acetic/propionic acid ratio also showed a quadratic response. The blend promoted a quadratic effect on plasma glucose and lactate levels. On the other hand, it decreased the concentrations of ammoniacal nitrogen, plasma urea, and plasma cholesterol. It is recommended to supply a blend of secondary metabolites at 3.43 g/day.

Phytogenic additive from Prosopis juliflora on populations of rumen ciliate protozoa and its correlation with nutrition of sheep.

We evaluated the effect of phytogenic additive Prosopis juliflora on populations of ruminal ciliated protozoa and its correlation with variables related to sheep nutrition. In this experiment, five cannulated adult Santa Ines ewes were submitted to the additive intake. Each animal received 6 mL of the extract daily. The experimental design adopted was the Latin square 5 × 5 (five concentrations of additive 0, 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg/mL of water and five periods of 18 days). The additive quadratically reduces the number of large, small and total ciliating protozoa, without promoting changes in the number of medium protozoa in the rumen. Among the genera investigated, Isotricha and Dasytricha were the only ones affected by supplementation. Additionally, the concentration of ruminal protozoa correlates significantly with the variables related to the nutrition of the animal. The effects of the additive on these variables were particularly pronounced at concentrations around 600 mg/mL.

Dwarf versus tall elephant grass in sheep feed: which one is the most recommended for cut-and-carry?

Tall- and dwarf-sized elephant grass cultivars have been developed for cut-and-carry system. Dwarf clones have better digestibility; on the other hand, tall-sized cultivars are more productive. The aim was to verify which grass would be most recommended for cut-and-carry: tall-sized (Elephant B and IRI-381) or dwarf (Taiwan A-146 2.37 and Mott) elephant grass cultivars to feed 24 male sheep, aged between 4 and 5 months, uncastrated, weighing approximately 24.08 ± 1.76 kg body weight which were sampled on intake, digestibility, performance, ingestive behavior, nitrogen balance, microbial protein synthesis, metabolic parameters, and ruminal degradability. This research was divided into two experiments: experiment 1 lasted 38 days, seven for adaptation and 31 for data collection. Elephant grass cultivars were supplied with a mineral mixture. Data collected were intake, digestibility, ingestive behavior, metabolic parameters, microbial protein synthesis, and performance submitted to a completely randomized design. For experiment 2, three rumen fistulae animals were sampled, lasting 20 days. In this case, a randomized block in split-plot design was applied. Both designs were with P < 0.05 and analyzed through SAS statistical software. Mott and Taiwan A-146 2.37 cultivars provided greater intake, digestibility, weight gain, feeding time, nitrogen retention, production and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis, dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradability, and DM, crude protein, and NDF, but shorter rumination time rather than Elephant B and IRI-381. There was also a significant difference for glucose, triglycerides, plasma urea, total serum protein, urinary urea (mg/L), and urea excretion in urine (mg/day). Dwarf elephant grass cultivars as Mott and Taiwan A-146 2.37 have greater nutritional value than tall-sized Elephant B and IRI-381. Dwarf elephant grass is recommended for cut-and-carry system.

Carcass characteristics and meat quality of sheep fed alfalfa hay to replace Bermuda grass hay.

The objective of this study was to evaluate carcass characteristics, meat quality, and organ and viscera weight of forty male sheep, not castrated, initially weighed 26.5 ± 1.85 kg, and confined for 100 days (44 days for the adjustment period and 56 days of the experimental period). The treatments were four levels of replacement of Bermuda grass hay with alfalfa hay (0, 200, 400, and 600 g/kg, based on dry matter). The design was randomized blocks (one lighter group and other heavier group) with 10 animals in each treatment. There were no effects on weight gain or carcass parameters. However, an increase was observed on dry matter intake (g/day), crude protein intake (g/day), empty body weight (kg), and subcutaneous fat thickness (mm). There was also an increase in total organ weights in kg and g/kg. The tissue composition of the leg had a quadratic effect on the bone tissue weight (g) and linear effect on adipose tissue relative (g/kg) and muscle-fat relations. There was also a quadratic effect on bone tissues (g/kg) and muscle-bone relations. Likewise, there was a quadratic effect on the qualitative characteristics of meat (measure of luminosity), with the replacement of Bermuda grass hay with alfalfa hay in sheep feed. The replacement of Bermuda grass hay with alfalfa did not change carcass characteristics and meat quality.

Different roughage:concentrate ratios with and without liquid residue of cassava for lambs.

This aim of this study was to evaluate the intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients, ingestive behavior, blood parameters, and performance of lambs fed two roughage:concentrate (R:C) ratios, with or without liquid residue of cassava (LRC). Forty lambs (19.5 ± 1.45 kg body weight) were distributed in a completely randomized 2 × 2 factorial design. The intake of dry matter (1311 g/day) and total digestible nutrients (755 g/day), and the intake (172 g/day) and digestibility (552 g/kg) of crude protein were higher for lambs fed R:C of 40:60. The R:C ratio of 80:20 promoted a higher intake (585 g/day) and digestibility (461 g/kg) of neutral detergent fiber. There was an intake of LRC of 1.37 L/day for lambs fed R:C of 80:20 and 0.42 L/day for lambs fed R:C of 40:60. The lambs fed R:C of 80:20 spent more time in feeding (326 m/day) and rumination (530 m/day). The metabolic profile and performance of lambs were not affected by LRC inclusion. The body weight gain (220 g/day) was higher in lambs fed R:C of 40:60. A roughage:concentrate ratio of 40:60 is recommended for lambs because it resulted in the best performance, regardless of supplementation with liquid residue of cassava.

Plant extracts as phytogenic additives considering intake, digestibility, and feeding behavior of sheep.

The objective was to evaluate the intake, digestibility, and ingestive sheep behavior with feeding phytogenic additives derived from plant extracts. Five non-emasculated sheep without defined breed at 28 ± 1.81 kg initial body weight and 6 months age were used. Treatments consisted of administering four phytogenic additives from the garlic extracts, coriander seed, oregano, and pods of mesquite, plus a control treatment (without additive). The ration was composed of Tifton 85 hay grass, corn, soybean meal, and mineral salt. As experimental design, we used a 5 × 5 Latin square design (five treatments and five periods). The data were analyzed through the mixed model through the procedure PROC MIXED of software Systems Statistical Analysis version 9.1, with comparation analysis between the treatment without additive (control) with phytogenic additives produced from vegetable extracts of mesquite pod, of coriander seed, the bulb of garlic, and the oregano leaves. There were no significant differences for the nutrient intake and ingestive behavior patterns. However, the additive intake derived from mesquite pods and coriander extracts provided an increase in digestibility. Extracts from garlic, coriander, and mesquite pods can be used as phytogenic additives in feeding sheep.

Total replacement of corn by mesquite pod meal considering nutritional value, performance, feeding behavior, nitrogen balance, and microbial protein synthesis of Holstein-Zebu crossbred dairy steers.

The objective of the present study to assess the effects of mesquite pod addition replacing corn (0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 g/kg in the dry matter basis) on nutrient intake, animal performance, feeding behavior, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, and microbial protein synthesis. Twenty-five Holstein-Zebu crossbred dairy steers at 219 ± 22 kg initial body weight and 18 months of age were used. The experiment lasted 84 days, divided into three periods of 28 days. A completely randomized design was used, and data were submitted to analysis using PROC GLM for analysis of variance and PROC REG for regression analysis using the software Statistical Analysis Systems version 9.1. Experimental diets were composed of Tifton 85 hay, soybean meal, ground corn, mesquite pod meal, and mineral salt. Samples of food offered were collected during the last 3 days of each period, and the leftovers were collected daily, with samples bulked per week. At the end of each 28-day period, the remaining animals were weighed to determine total weight gain and average daily gain. The assessment of behavioral patterns was performed through instantaneous scans in 5-min intervals for three consecutive 12-h days. A single urine sample from each animal was collected on the last day of each collection period at about 4 h after the first feeding. The replacement of corn by mesquite pod meal did not significantly influence treatments regarding nutrients intake, animal performance, and feeding behavior. Retained and consumed nitrogen ratio did not statistically differ between replacement levels. Likewise, there were no statistical differences regarding microbial protein synthesis and efficiency between replacement levels. Mesquite pod meal can be used in Holstein-Zebu crossbred dairy steers' diet with total corn replacement.