Detoxified castor seed meal replaces soybean meal in the supplement for Holstein-Zebu crossbred steers finished on tropical pasture during the rainy season.

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with detoxified castor seed meal (DCM) on the intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, and performance of pasture-finished (rainy season) steers supplemented with concentrate at 0.4% of their body weight. Forty ½ Holstein + ½ Zebu steers (initial weight: 283.3 ± 36.3 kg) were allocated to four treatments in a completely randomized experimental design. Treatments consisted of diets in which DCM replaced 0, 30, 60, and 90% of SBM in the supplement dry matter (DM). The steers were finished on an Urochloa brizantha pasture and the experiment lasted 112 days. Replacing SBM with DCM did not influence (P > 0.05) the intake or apparent digestibility of DM, crude protein, or neutral detergent insoluble fiber of the animals. Grazing time increased (P < 005), whereas the intake and rumination efficiencies of the steers did not change (P > 0.05) with the substitution. The replacement of SBM with DCM in the supplement fed to the steers also did not influence (P > 0.05) their final weight, average daily gain, or feed conversion (P > 0.05). We recommend replacing up to 90% (DM basis) of SBM with DCM in the concentrate supplement of steers grazing on Urochloa brizantha pasture during rainy season while supplemented with concentrate at 0.4% of their body weight.

WITHDRAWN:Performance and meat quality of lambs fed detoxified castor meal.

Ahead of Print article withdrawn by publisher.

The inclusion of detoxified castor bean meal in sugarcane silage increases the carcass weight and the content of unsaturated fatty acids in lamb meat.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and meat quality of lambs fed sugarcane silage containing increasing levels of detoxified castor bean meal (DCBM). Twenty-four Santa Inês male sheep were used, with initial body weight of 25.34 ± 2.57 kg, distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments (0, 70, 140, and 210 g/kg of DCBM in the sugarcane silage). Intake and digestibility of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) were positively influenced (P < 0.05) by the levels of DCBM. There was a linear increase (P < 0.05) on the intake and digestibility of neutral detergent fiber with the inclusion of DCBM. The daily and total gains showed a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) with the inclusion of DCBM, with a maximum point of 241.64 g/d and 18.12 kg at the level of 161.9 g/kg of DCBM. There was a linear increase (P < 0.01) on the hot carcass with the inclusion of DCBM. The inclusion of DCBM did not influence (P > 0.05) the levels of total lipids (2.1%) in lamb meat, but the levels of oleic acid (C18:1 n-6c) and total monounsaturated fatty acids presented a quadratic effect (P < 0.05). It is recommended to include 160 g/kg of detoxified castor bean meal in sugarcane silage.

Carcass characteristics and meat quality of lambs fed with cassava foliage hay and spineless cactus.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the total or partial replacement of Tifton 85 hay (TH) by cassava foliage hay (CH) and/or spineless cactus (SC) on the carcass characteristics and meat quality of confined lambs. Thirty-five Dorper x Santa Inês crossbred lambs were used, with an initial average weight of 16.0 ± 1.9 kg, fed with five treatment diets: 70% TH, 70% CH, 35% TH + 35% CH, 35% TH + 35% SC, and 35% CH + 35% SC. After 90 days of confinement, the animals were slaughtered and the carcass and meat data were compared using the Tukey test at 5%. The partial replacement of TH by SC increased the cold carcass weight by 3.9 kg (p < .05). The proportion of fat (%) increased (p < .05) when TH was replaced by CH + SC. The intensity of red (a*) was lower (p < .05) in the meat of animals fed with CH or CH + SC. It is recommended to partially replace TH with SC, or to replace totally with CH in association with SC.

The inclusion of spineless cactus in the diet of lambs increases fattening of the carcass.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of replacement maniçoba hay by spineless cactus on the performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of confined lambs. Thirty-two male lambs, with an average body weight of 20.8 ±â€¯2.9 kg, were fed with different levels of spineless cactus in replacement for 0, 33, 66 or 100% of maniçoba hay (i.e. 0, 200, 400, 600 g kg-1 of dietary DM). The replacement maniçoba hay by spineless cactus did not influence dry matter intake (g d-1) and cold carcass weight (P > .05), but increased (P < .05) the carcass finishing fat but did not influence (P < .05) the physical characteristics of the lambs' meat. Lower values for odor, flavor and purchase intention of meat were observed with 66% of replacement. Therefore, replacement of 33% maniçoba hay by spineless cactus can be recommended as optimal level, because it improve the fattening of the carcass, without causing negative effects on performance or meat quality.

Qualidade do leite bovino nas diferentes estações do ano no estado do Rio Grande do Norte / Quality of milk in different seasons in the Rio Grande do Norte State

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar indicadores da qualidade do leite cru de tanques de expansão em dois períodos do ano (seco e chuvoso) na região agreste do estado do Rio Grande do Norte. Para isso, foram coletadas amostras de leite cru diretamente do tanque de expansão de oito propriedades no período de janeiro de 2010 a março de 2012. Os índices mensais médios de precipitação foram coletados do banco de dados da Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária do Rio Grande do Norte. As amostras foram analisadas quanto à composição, contagem de células somáticas (CCS) e contagem bacteriana total (CBT). A composição do leite não foi influenciada pela estação do ano (P>0,05) e apresentou médias de 3,53% para gordura, 3,30% para proteína e 12,19% para estrato seco total. Apesar do aumento na precipitação (P<0,05), não houve influencia da estação do ano (P>0,05) sobre os valores de CCS e CBT do leite nos tanques de expansão. A contagem bacteriana total variou de 795 a 505 mil UFC/mL de leite para o período seco e chuvoso, respectivamente. A estação do ano não influenciou na composição, CCS e CBT do leite bovino armazenado em tanques de expansão no agreste do Rio Grande do Norte.

The objective of this study was to evaluate indicators of the quality of raw milk from bulk tanks in two seasons (dry and rainy ) in the wild in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. For this, we collected samples of raw milk directly from the expansion tank eight properties in the period January 2010 to March 2012. The average monthly rainfall indices were collected from the database of the Agricultural Research Company of Rio Grande do Norte. The samples were analyzed for composition, somatic cell count (SCC) and total bacterial count (TBC). Milk composition was not affected by season (P > 0.05) and showed an average of 3.53% for fat, protein and 3.30% to 12.19% for total dry stratum. Despite the increased precipitation (P <0.05), there was no influence of season (P> 0.05) on the values of the milk SCC and TBC in the expansion tank. The total bacterial count ranged 795-505 mil CFU / ml of milk to the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. The season does not influence the composition, SCC and TBC bovine milk stored in bulk tanks in rural Rio Grande do Norte

Qualidade do leite bovino nas diferentes estações do ano no estado do Rio Grande do Norte / Quality of milk in different seasons in the Rio Grande do Norte State

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar indicadores da qualidade do leite cru de tanques de expansão em dois períodos do ano (seco e chuvoso) na região agreste do estado do Rio Grande do Norte. Para isso, foram coletadas amostras de leite cru diretamente do tanque de expansão de oito propriedades no período de janeiro de 2010 a março de 2012. Os índices mensais médios de precipitação foram coletados do banco de dados da Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária do Rio Grande do Norte. As amostras foram analisadas quanto à composição, contagem de células somáticas (CCS) e contagem bacteriana total (CBT). A composição do leite não foi influenciada pela estação do ano (P>0,05) e apresentou médias de 3,53% para gordura, 3,30% para proteína e 12,19% para estrato seco total. Apesar do aumento na precipitação (P0,05) sobre os valores de CCS e CBT do leite nos tanques de expansão. A contagem bacteriana total variou de 795 a 505 mil UFC/mL de leite para o período seco e chuvoso, respectivamente. A estação do ano não influenciou na composição, CCS e CBT do leite bovino armazenado em tanques de expansão no agreste do Rio Grande do Norte.

The objective of this study was to evaluate indicators of the quality of raw milk from bulk tanks in two seasons (dry and rainy )in the wild in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. For this, we collected samples of raw milk directly from the expansion tank eightproperties in the period January 2010 to March 2012. The average monthly rainfall indices were collected from the database of theAgricultural Research Company of Rio Grande do Norte. The samples were analyzed for composition, somatic cell count (SCC) and total bacterial count (TBC). Milk composition was not affected by season (P > 0.05) and showed an average of 3.53% for fat, protein and 3.30% to 12.19% for total dry stratum. Despite the increased precipitation (P 0.05) on the values of the milk SCC and TBC in the expansion tank. The total bacterial count ranged 795-505 mil CFU / ml of milk to the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. The season does not influence the composition, SCC and TBC bovine milk stored in bulk tanks in rural Rio Grande do Norte.