Intake, digestibility, and performance of lambs fed spineless cactus cv. Orelha de Elefante Mexicana.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of the carmine cochineal-resistant spineless cactus genotypes cv. Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (Opuntia) and Miúda (Nopalea) on the intake and digestibility of nutrients, ingestive behavior, performance, and ultrasound measurements of growing lambs. METHODS: Thirty-six male (non-castrated) Santa Inês lambs were used, with an average age of 6 months and an initial average weight of 22.0±2.9 kg. They were distributed in a completely randomized design with 3 treatments (Tifton hay, Nopalea and Opuntia) and 12 replications, using initial weight as a covariate. The experimental period was 86 days, with the first 30 days used for the adaptation of the animals to the facilities, diets and management, and the remaining 56 days used for evaluation and data collection. RESULTS: The intake and apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), total carbohydrates (TC), non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC), and total digestible nutrients (TDN) showed a significant difference (p<0.05) as a function of the diets, with the Nopalea treatment (p<0.05) increasing DM intake (g/kg and % body weight [BW]), CP, TDN, and TC digestibility, whereas the Tifton hay diet led to a high (p<0.001) neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (NDFap) g/d intake, NDFap (BW %) and digestibility of said nutrient. There was no effect of treatments (p>0.05) on feeding time, however, rumination time and total chewing time were higher (p<0.05) for animals fed Tifton hay. The performance of the animals was similar (p>0.05). For the ultrasound measurements, Nopalea promoted an increase in the final loin eye area, compared to Tifton hay. CONCLUSION: The use of spineless cactus variety Miúda leads to the greater intake and digestibility of nutrients. The evaluated carmine cochineal-resistant spineless cactus genotypes are alternatives for semi-arid regions as they do not negatively affect the performance of growing lambs.

Carcass and meat traits of bubaline finished on sugarcane-based diets supplemented with spineless cactus as a replacement for wheat bran.

OBJECTIVE: An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of spineless cactus (0%, 33%, 66%, and 100%) used as a substitute for wheat bran in buffalo diets on quantitative and qualitative traits of the meat and carcass. METHODS: Twenty Murrah buffaloes at 18 months of age, with a mean initial weight of 292.9±57.3 kg, were randomly allocated to four treatments with five replicates. The animals were slaughtered after 90 days in the feedlot. The effects of spineless cactus as a replacement for wheat bran in the diet of the buffaloes on the carcass and meat traits, slaughter weight, carcass yield and carcass measurements were studied. RESULTS: Increased spineless cactus levels led to linear reduction in average daily gain, slaughter weight, hot and cold carcass weight, compactness index and in the amount of muscle in the carcass, and there is no difference between the control treatment and the 33% replacing level for these parameters. The quality of the meat was not influenced by the treatments. CONCLUSION: Spineless cactus can replace wheat bran by up to 33% in sugarcane-based diets for buffaloes, without influencing quantitative and qualitative traits of the meat and carcass.

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.

Behavior of sheep fed babassu cake (Orbygnia speciosa) as a substitution for elephant grass silage.

This study aimed to evaluate the behavior of sheep fed babassu cake as a substitution for elephant grass silage. The experiment was conducted at the Federal Rural University of Amazonia (Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia - UFRA), Brazil, using 45 sheep housed in individual stalls, with unlimited access to feed and distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments (0, 12.5, 25, 37.5 and 50% inclusion of babassu cake) and nine replications. All of the treatments contained a roughage-to-concentrate ratio of 40:60. No differences were observed in the time spent feeding (P > 0.05), regardless of the source of roughage used. However, there was a reduction in the time spent in rumination (P < 0.05) and an increase in time spent idling (P < 0.05) when babassu cake was included in the diet. Although there was a reduction in the time spent chewing the ruminal bolus (P < 0.05), the total daily chewing time was the same for all animals (P > 0.05). However, the sheep fed babassu cake showed higher feeding and rumination efficiency (P < 0.05). Therefore, the substitution of elephant grass silage with babassu cake can be performed at up to 50% without compromising the total time spent eating and chewing, which allows increased feeding and rumination efficiency.

Colorimetria da carne de cordeiros alimentados com dietas contendo glicerina bruta / Colorimetry of meat lambs fed diets with crude glycerin

Foram utilizados 40 cordeiros machos distribuídos casualmente em quatro tratamentos e dez repetições. Ao final do experimento os animais foram abatidos, para obtenção das carcaças e análise qualitativa da carne, onde foi utilizado o Longissimus lumborum. As leituras foram realizadas com auxílio de um colorímetro, através de três mensurações em diferentes pontos do músculo, utilizando-se os valores médios de cromaticidades L*, a* e b* para representação da coloração. Os resultados da análise de regressão demonstraram que não houve influência da substituição do milho pela glicerina bruta sobre a colorimetria da carne. Conclui-se que a glicerina bruta pode substituir o milho sem que influencie nas características qualitativas da carne de cordeiros, não alterando os parâmetros físico-químicos de cromaticidade do músculo.

Multivariate techniques in the analysis of carcass traits of Morada Nova breed sheep / Aplicação de técnicas multivariadas em características de carcaça de ovinos da raça Morada Nova

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to use multivariate techniques of principal component analysis and canonical discriminant analysis in a data set from Morada Nova sheep carcass to reduce the dimensions of the original data set, identify variables with the best discriminatory power among the treatments, and quantify the association between biometric and performance traits. The principal components obtained were efficient in reducing the total variation accumulated in 19 original variables correlated to five linear combinations, which explained 80% of the total variation present in the original variables. The first two principal components together accounted for 56.12% of the total variation of the evaluated variables. Eight variables were selected using the stepwise method. The first three canonical variables were significant, explaining 92.25% of the total variation. The first canonical variable showed a canonical correlation coefficient of 0.94, indicating a strong association between biometric traits and animal performance. Slaughter weight and hind width were selected because these variables presented the highest discriminatory power among all treatments, based on standard canonical coefficients.

RESUMO: Este estudo teve o objetivo de aplicar as técnicas multivariadas de componentes principais e discriminante canônica em um conjunto de dados de carcaça de ovinos da raça Morada Nova, a fim de reduzir a dimensionalidade do conjunto de variáveis originais, identificar quais as variáveis com o melhor poder discriminatório entre os tratamentos, além de quantificar a associação entre características biométricas e de desempenho. Os componentes principais gerados foram eficientes em reduzir a variação total acumulada em 19 variáveis originais, correlacionadas para cinco combinações lineares, os quais explicaram 80% da variação total contida nas variáveis originais. Os dois primeiros componentes principais juntos explicam 56,12% da variação total das variáveis avaliadas. Oito variáveis foram selecionadas pelo método stepwise. As três primeiras variáveis canônicas foram significativas, explicando 92,25% da variação total. A primeira variável canônica apresentou o coeficiente de correlação canônica de 0,94, o que indica uma alta associação entre as características de medidas biométricas e de desempenho animal. O peso corporal ao abate e a largura de garupa foram as variáveis selecionadas por apresentar o mais alto poder discriminatório dos tratamentos, com base nos coeficientes canônicos padronizados.

Carcass characteristics of Canindé goats subjected to feed restriction / Características de carcaça de caprinos Canindé submetidos à restrição alimentar

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of feed restriction on the carcass characteristics of castrated Canindé goat kids. A randomized block design was used, in which 21 goat kids with a body weight (BW) of 15.9±1.0kg were allocated to three levels of feed restriction: ad libitum, 20% and 40% restriction related to the ad libitum intake. The diet consisted of 55% forage (Tifton) and 45% concentrate. All animals were slaughtered when the kids fed ad libitum reached a BW of 25kg. After slaughter, the carcasses were chilled for 24 hours and subsequently measured. Kids fed ad libitum and subjected to 20% feed restriction showed similar morphometric carcass measurements, except for the chest circumference. Goat kids fed ad libitum exhibited greater values for warm and cold carcass yields compared with those subjected to 40% feed restriction and did not differ from the kids under 20% feed restriction. Weights of the commercial cuts showed decreasing mean values according to the intensity of feed restriction. Castrated Canindé goat kids subjected to 20% feed restriction presented similar carcass yields and proportion of commercial cuts to those fed ad libitum.

RESUMO: Objetivou-se com o presente estudo avaliar os efeitos da restrição alimentar sobre as características de carcaça de cabritos Canindé castrados. Foi utilizado um delineamento em blocos casualizados, no qual 21 cabritos com peso corporal (PC) de 15,9±1,0kg foram distribuídos por três níveis de restrição alimentar: ad libitum, 20% e 40% de restrição alimentar. A dieta consistiu de 55% de volumoso (Tifton) e 45% de concentrado. Os animais foram abatidos quando os cabritos alimentados ad libitum atingiram PC de 25kg. Após o abate, as carcaças foram resfriadas por 24 horas e, subsequentemente, mensuradas. Os cabritos alimentados ad libitum e submetidos à restrição alimentar de 20% apresentaram medidas morfométricas semelhantes, exceto para a circunferência do peito. Os cabritos alimentados ad libitum apresentaram maiores valores para rendimento de carcaça quente e fria em comparação àqueles submetidos à restrição alimentar de 40% e não diferiram entre os cabritos com restrição alimentar de 20%. Os pesos dos cortes comerciais apresentaram médias decrescentes com a intensidade da restrição alimentar. Cabritos Canindé castrados submetidos à restrição alimentar de 20% obtém rendimento de carcaça e proporção dos cortes comerciais similares aos alimentados ad libitum.