Inclusion of cocoa bran in the diet of lambs and its effect on reproductive parameters.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of cocoa bran in the diet of lambs and its effect on reproductive parameters. For this, 40 lambs were randomly assigned to four treatments, and including 0, 10, 20 and 30% levels of cocoa bran in the concentrate. Blood was collected to measure cholesterol and testosterone and semen for physical and morphological evaluation; testicular biometry and morphometry were also evaluated. There was significant difference (P < 0.05) in body weight and tubulosomatic index between the lambs in the control treatment and those in the 30% cocoa bran treatment. There was no difference in testicular biometry, physical and morphological parameters of fresh semen, testicular morphometry, and volumetric ratio between lambs in all the treatments (P < 0.05). In addition, there was no difference in plasma cholesterol or testosterone concentration (P > 0.05). Thus, it is possible to include up to 30% of cocoa bran in diet without affecting the reproductive parameters of lambs.

Animal performance, ingestive behavior, and carcass characteristics of grazing-finished steers supplemented with castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) meal protein.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal by castor bean meal on nutrient intake, digestibility, animal performance, ingestive behavior activities, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid profile from steers finished in pasture. Crossbred steers were weighed to determine the initial body weight (331.6 ± 37.4 kg), which were kept in 4 paddocks (8 animals/paddock), on pastures of Brachiaria decumbens during the finishing phase. Dietary treatments included CC00-without castor bean meal; CC33-153 g/kg of castor bean meal; CC66-308 g/kg of castor bean meal; and CC100-434 g/kg of castor bean meal. No treatment effects were detected (P > 0.05) for final body weight, average daily gain, feed efficiency, and hot carcass weight. The DM, CP, NDF, and NFC total intake were lowest (P < 0.01) for steers fed CC100 diet than others. No treatment effects were detected (P > 0.05) for digestibility. For ingestive behavior activities, data on DM and NDF from feeding rate were greater (P < 0.01) in CC00 v. castor bean meal steers. DM and NDF from rumination rate were greater (P < 0.01) in CC33 v. CC100 steers that was the lowest. Carcass measures, carcass composition, chemical composition of Longissimus thoracis muscle, and profile and the sum of fatty acids were not affected (P > 0.05) by castor bean meal replacement on the diets. Results from this experiment suggest that castor bean meal may replace soybean meal in pasture supplementation without altered digestibility, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid profile.

Mesquite pod (Prosopis juliflora) meal on meat quality of pasture-finishing lambs.

This study was carried out to validate the inclusion of up to 750 g/kg of mesquite pod (Prosopis juliflora) meal in the diet and evaluate the effects on carcass characteristics and meat quality for lambs finished in pasture. Forty male, non-castrated, crossbred Santa Inês lambs, with an initial body weight (24.2 ± 3.1 kg), and approximately 120 days old were used. The animals were kept in a total area of 4 ha, divided in four paddocks of 0.62 ha each (10 animals/paddocks), on pastures of Massai (Panicum maximum cv. Massai) with drinkers and feeders during the finishing phase. Dietary treatments based on mesquite pod meal inclusion levels (g/kg of dry matter): CON, without mesquite pod meal; MPM25, 250 g/kg of mesquite pod meal; MPM50, 500 g/kg of mesquite pod meal; and MPM75, 750 g/kg of mesquite pod meal. No treatment effect were detected (P > 0.05) for carcass measures, carcass characteristics, chemical composition of longissimus thoracis muscle, tissue composition, and lipid oxidation. Lamb meat color values, such as lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*), were not affected (P > 0.05) by mesquite pod meal inclusion on the diets, whereas for redness (a*), HUE-angle, and chroma were influenced (P < 0.05). Palmitic acid had a quadratic effect, while oleic acid, eicosatrienoic acid, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and PUFA:SFA had a linear course (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the mesquite pod meal can be used as an energy feed source up to 750 g/kg of dry matter in the diet, without changing the carcass characteristics and meat quality of lambs finished in pasture.

Peanut cake can replace soybean meal in supplements for lactating cows without affecting production.

This study evaluated the total replacement of soybean meal with peanut cake in the concentrate supplement of lactating cows grazing. Eight crossbred 5/8 Holstein × 3/8 Zebu cows between the 45th and 60th day of lactation and 507 ± 35 kg BW were distributed in a 4 × 4 double Latin square design with four levels of peanut cake (0, 110, 220, and 330 g/kg of the dry matter-DM) as a replacement of soybean meal in the concentrate supplement. The intake of pasture, total (pasture + concentrate), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), total digestible nutrients, and digestibility of the DM, CP, ether extract (EE), and NDF was not affected by the replacement of soybean meal with peanut cake. However, the EE (P = 0.83) intake and non-fiber carbohydrate digestibility (P = 0.09) exhibited an increasing linear trend by the peanut cake inclusion. The NDF exhibited a decreasing linear trend (P = 0.07) as the level of peanut cake increased. Production, corrected production, and protein, fat, lactose, total solid, and non-fat solid composition concentrations in the cows' milk were not affected (P > 0.05) by the peanut cake inclusion. The protein/fat ratio exhibited an increasing linear trend (P = 0.082) by the peanut cake inclusion. Peanut cake can completely replace soybean meal in the concentrate mixture because it does not alter dry matter intake, production, and composition of milk, and in addition it can reduce the cost of feeding.

Intake and digestibility, rumen fermentation, and concentrations of metabolites in steers fed with peanut cake.

This study evaluated peanut cake as a replacement for soybean meal in the diet of steers. We used five castrated Holstein × Zebu steers, fistulated, with average live weight 550 kg, in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. The diets were composed of Tifton hay and ground corn with peanut cake (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 %) as a replacement for soybean meal in the concentrate. Intake (kg/day) of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, and crude protein were not affected by peanut cake, but ether extract intake increased linearly with the level of peanut cake in the diet. The digestibility of dry matter showed a quadratic effect, with a calculated maximum regression level of 56 % at 37 % replacement. There was no effect of the level of peanut cake on metabolizable energy intake and net energy, ammonia nitrogen, rumen pH, plasma urea, and glucose concentrations. We recommend replacing soybean meal in the concentrate with up to 40 % peanut cake.

Inclusion Prosopis juliflora Pod Meal in Grazing Lambs Diets: Performance, Digestibility, Ingestive Behavior and Nitrogen Balance.

Prosopis juliflora is an arboreal legume that concentrates its nutritive value in pods (fruits), constituting a rich source of carbohydrates and with a crude energy concentration comparable to ground corn. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of inclusion of Prosopis juliflora pod meal (0 or control, 250, 500 and 750 g/kg total DM) as a replacement for ground corn in the diet of lambs on performance, digestibility, ingestive behavior, and nitrogen balance of lambs grazing in the Megathyrsus maximus pasture. Forty Santa Inês uncastrated lambs with an average body weight (BW) of 24.2 ± 0.55 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design. There was a linear increase in the non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC), ether extract (EE) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility with Prosopis juliflora pod meal supplementation in the diet of the lambs. Dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) intake, and digestibility and time spent ruminating were not affected by Prosopis juliflora meal supplementation. Prosopis juliflora pod meal inclusion increased time spent feeding and idling of lambs, however, without affecting spent time ruminating. Lambs fed with Prosopis juliflora pod meal presented greater final BW, gain: feed ratio, N-balance, microbial protein production ef-ficiency, N-urea urinary (NUU) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). However, the average daily weight (ADG), total weight gain and hot carcass yield as well as N ingested, N excreted in feces and urine, total purines, ab-sorbed purines and N microbial production in lambs were not influenced by Prosopis juliflora pod meal inclusion. The Prosopis juliflora pod meal inclusion up to the 750 g/kg level in the concentrate supplement totally replace ground corn in the diet of grazing lambs improving the NFC intake and NDF digestibility, supplement acceptability, microbial protein production efficiency and consequently the performance. The addition of Prosopis juliflora pod meal as a replacement for ground corn in the concentrate does not influence the microbial protein production; however, there was an improvement in the efficiency of microbial synthesis.

Composition and fatty acid profile of milk from cows supplemented with pressed oilseed cake.

This study compared the productive and nutritional parameters of milk from crossbred lactating cows managed on Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzania and with a diet supplemented with different pressed oilseed cakes. The supplements used were as follows: peanut cake, sunflower cake and palm kernel cake for replacement of soybean meal. Sixteen cows with an average weight of 544 ± 57 kg and producing 8 ± 1.4 L of milk per day were used in this study. The animals were randomly assigned to the treatments according to a Latin square design repeated over time, with four treatments, 16 animals and four experimental periods. Supplementation of the diet with peanut cake, sunflower cake and palm kernel cake compared with soybean meal in the diet of cows did not affect the average daily production or composition of the milk. The palm kernel cake promoted an increase in lauric fatty acids (C12:0 ) and palmitoleic acids (C16:1 ) (5.02 and 1.65%, respectively) compared with peanut cake and sunflower cake (4.13 and 4.01%, respectively). The levels of oleic fatty acids (C18:1 ) were higher for the sunflower cake and palm kernel cake supplements (26.01 and 25.01%, respectively) compared with peanut cake (23.11%). The replacement of soybean meal with sunflower cake and palm kernel cake improved the nutritional quality of the milk, with lower concentrations of saturated fatty acids and higher concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids, without compromising the production or nutritional composition of the milk. © 2015 Japanese Society of Animal Science.

Behavior of Murrah buffaloes under influence of strangers in the milk parlor during milk control / Análisis comportamental de búfalas Murrah bajo la influencia de personas extrañas en el Control Lechero

Objective. The study was carried out in two farms, located in São Sebastião do Passé, Bahia, Brazil, during the three first months of lactation of 81 female buffaloes, to observe if stranger people at milk parlor could affect the milk production. Materials and methods. Four strangers were at the milking parlor during the milking time to observe the following parameters: Duration of Stay in the Milking Parlor; Milking Period; Rumination; Defecation; Urination Reactivity; Stress Level; Side Preference in the Milking Parlor; Milk Yield, and Post Control Milk Yield. The females were categorized as 1=primiparous, 2=pluriparous, and 3=when information about calving number was not available. The data were analyzed using SAS Statistical Package. Results. During the presence of four strangers at the milking parlor, it was observed that the mean value for Duration of Stay in the Milking Parlor was 23 minutes (varying from 12 to 38 minutes). Average Milking Period was 8 minutes (varying from 4 to 13 minutes). Average Milk Yield during observation days (MY) varied from 2.30 kg to 14.70 kg, with an average value of 7.70±2.60 kg, while Mean Milk Yield after the observation days was 8.600±2.70 kg. Conclusions. As far as Post Control Milk Yield, since the animals presented increased milk yield in both farms on the days following the observations, it is possible to assert that the presence of strangers in the milk parlor during milk control reduced milk yield only during the day of observation, with no adverse effects on subsequent milk production.

Objetivo. El estudio fue realizado en dos propiedades en el municipio de São Sebastião do Passé - Bahía, Brasil, durante los tres primeros meses de lactancia de 81 búfalas, para observar si las personas extrañas en sala de ordeño podrían afectar la producción de leche. Materiales y métodos. Cuatro personas extrañas estaban en la sala de ordeño durante el tiempo de ordeño para observar los siguientes parámetros: el Tiempo de Permanencia en la Sala de Ordeño; Tiempo de Ordeño; Rumiación; Defecación; Micción; Reactividad; Nivel de Estrés; Preferencia de Lado en la Sala de Ordeño; Producción de Leche y Producción de Leche Post - Control. Las búfalas fueron Categorizadas como 1, para las primíparas, 2 para las multíparas y 3 cuando la información del número de partos no fue obtenida en la hacienda. Los análisis fueron realizados a través del Statistical Analysis System. Resultados. Durante la presencia de cuatro extraños en la sala de ordeño, se observó que el Tiempo de Permanencia en la Sala de Ordeño medio fue de 23 minutos (variando de 12 a 38 minutos) y el Tiempo de Ordeño medio de 08 minutos (variando de 4 a 13 minutos). La producción de leche media en el día de Control Lechero varió de 2.30 kg a 14.70 kg, con media igual a 7.70±2.60 kg. La producción de leche en los días siguientes fue igual a 8.60±2.70 kg. Conclusiones. Como los animales presentaron aumento de producción lechera después del control en ambas haciendas, es posible que la presencia de personas extrañas en la sala de ordeño durante el Control Lechero mensual redujera el rendimiento apenas durante los días de observación, sin efectos adversos sobre la posterior producción de leche.

Peanut cake concentrations in massai grass silage / La harina de cacahuete en el ensilaje de hierba Massai

Objective. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the best concentration of peanut cake in the ensiling of massai grass of the chemical-bromatological composition, fermentative characteristics, forage value rate, ingestion estimates, and digestibility of dry matter in the silage. Materials and methods. The experiment was carried out at the Experimental Farm of São Gonçalo dos Campos at the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil. The treatments consisted of massai grass that was cut at 40 days and dehydrated, in addition to 0%, 8%, 16%, and 24% peanut cake in the fresh matter and treatment without cake. The material was compressed in experimental silos (7 liter) that were opened after 76 days. Results. The addition of 8-24% peanut cake improved the silage’s chemical-bromatological parameters, increased the dry matter and non-fiber carbohydrates and reduced the fibrous components. There was a linear increase in the estimated values of digestibility and the ingestion of dry matter depending on the levels of peanut cake in the silage. There was an improvement in the fermentative characteristics, with a quadratic effect positive for levels of ammoniacal nitrogen. The forage value rate increased linearly with the inclusion of peanut cake. Conclusions. The inclusion of up to 24% peanut cake during ensiling of massai grass increases the nutritive value of silage and improves fermentation characteristics.

Objetivo. Este experimento se realizó para evaluar el mejor nivel de inclusión de harina de cacahuete en el ensilado de hierba massai a través de la composición química-bromatológica, las características fermentativas, la tasa de valor forrajero, las estimaciones de la ingestión y la digestibilidad de la materia seca. Materiales y métodos. El experimento se llevó a cabo en la Granja Experimental de São Gonçalo dos Campos, en la Universidad Federal de Bahía. Los tratamientos fueron hierba massai cortada a 40 días, deshidratada, además de un 8%, 16% y 24% de harina de maní en la materia fresca, además de tratamiento sin harina de cacahuete. El material se comprimió en silos experimentales que se abrieron después de 76 días. Resultados. La adición de harina de cacahuete 24% mejor que el ensilaje de productos químicos bromatológicos parámetros, el aumento de la materia seca y carbohidratos sin fibra, y la reducción de los componentes fibrosos. Hubo un aumento lineal de los valores estimados de la digestibilidad y la ingestión de materia seca en función de los niveles de harina de cacahuete en el ensilaje. Se observó una mejoría en las características fermentativas, con un efecto de segundo grado para los niveles de nitrógeno amoniacal. La tasa de valor forrajero aumentó linealmente con la inclusión de harina de cacahuete. Conclusiones. La inclusión de hasta un 24% de harina de cacahuete durante el ensilaje de pasto massai aumenta el valor nutritivo del ensilaje y mejora las características de la fermentación.

Sunflower meal concentrations in Massai grass silage / La harina de girasol en el ensilaje de hierba Massai

Objective. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the best sunflower meal concentration in Massai grass silage. Materials and methods. The treatments were composed of 0, 8, 16, and 24% sunflower meal (natural matter basis) during ensiling of Massai grass, with four repetitions. Results. The regression equation showed that the inclusion of sunflower meal between 2.14% and 13.91% obtained a silage dry matter between 25 and 35%, which are the values recommended for the production of high quality silage. The addition of sunflower meal showed a linear increase in crude protein, reaching 18% DM with the highest concentration of sunflower meal. The highest feed value index was obtained with the addition of 24% sunflower meal in the silage. The estimated total digestible nutrient of silage increased linearly with sunflower meal concentration. The silage pH values had a quadratic effect, reaching the lowest value (4.1) with 15% sunflower meal addition. Conclusions. Based on the chemical composition and forage quality, a concentration of 14% sunflower meal should be used for high-quality silage with good nutritional value.

Objetivo. Este trabajo se llevó a cabo para determinar el porcentual adecuado de harina de girasol en ensilaje de hierba Massai. Materiales y métodos. La harina de girasol fue adicionada en 0, 8, 16, y 24% durante el ensilaje de hierba Massai, con cuatro repeticiones por tratamiento. Resultados. La inclusión de la torta de girasol entre 2.14% y 13.91% resultó en porcentuales de materia seca entre 25 y 35%, que son los valores recomendados para la producción de forraje de alta calidad. La adición de harina de girasol proporcionó un aumento lineal de proteína cruda, alcanzando el 18% de MS con la mayor concentración de harina de girasol. El más alto índice de alimentación se obtuvo con la adición de un 24% de harina de girasol. La concentración de harina de girasol también tuvo efecto lineal sobre el total de nutrientes digestibles del ensilado de hierba Massai, mientras el pH del ensilaje tuvo un comportamiento cuadrático, alcanzando el más bajo valor (4.1) con 15% de harina de girasol. Conclusiones. Por fin, este trabajo recomienda 14% de harina de girasol para obtener un ensilado de la Hierba Massai con alta calidad y bueno valor nutricional.