Water intake and ingestive behavior of sheep fed diets based on silages of cactus pear and tropical forages.

The objective was to evaluate the water intake and ingestive behavior of sheep fed diets containing silages of cactus pear combined with tropical forages. Forty sheep without defined breed, intact, with initial average weight of 22.65 ± 1.01 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 8 replications. The experimental diets consisted of cactus pear silage (CPS), cactus pear + buffel grass silage (CPBS), cactus pear + gliricidia silage (CPGS), cactus pear + pornunça silage (CPPS), and corn silage (CS). CPGS provided higher water intake via food, total water intake, metabolic water, and excretion via feces and urine (P < 0.05). Animals that received diets containing CS showed higher water intake via drinking fountain, less efficient feeding and rumination of dry matter, less efficient rumination of neutral detergent fiber, grams of dry matter per cud, grams of neutral detergent fiber per cud, and the shortest average time spent in chewing per cud (P < 0.05). CPGS, CPPS, and CS provided longer times for rumination and numbers of cuds per day (P < 0.05). CPS showed animals spending more time in idleness, lower quantity of cuds per minute, higher concentration of crystals in urine, with a higher frequency of ammonia-magnesium phosphate and calcium oxalate. Silages based on cactus pear are an alternative to the supply of water via food for sheep in semi-arid.

Intake and ingestive behavior of lambs fed diets containing ammoniated buffel grass hay.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of diets with ammoniated buffel grass hay on the ingestive behavior of feedlot lambs. Thirty-two sheep of no defined breed with an average body weight of 17.7 ± 1.8 kg were used. A completely randomized design with four treatments (0, 18, 36, and 54 g/kg dry matter (DM) basis) and eight repetitions was used. Ingestive behavior, rumination, and idle time were similar (P > 0.05) among the diets containing ammoniated buffel grass hay, with mean values of 294.5, 554.44, and 594.25 min per day, respectively. Regarding the chews, all of the variables resulted in similar behavior (P > 0.05). The quadratic effect (P < 0.05) observed for daily intake can be explained based on the amount of DM and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) per meal per rumination. There was no effect of urea levels from the ammoniation (P > 0.05) on the efficiency of DM and NDF consumption. However, the rumination efficiency of DM and NDF showed a quadratic effect (P < 0.05). Thus, the use of ammoniated buffel grass hay with urea in lamb diet affects the ingestive behavior by increasing the rumination efficiency, increased intake, and feed utilization.

Ingestive behavior of lambs fed diets containing castor seed meal.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the substitution of soybean meal for castor seed meal (CSM) in diets for feedlot lambs and the effects of these diets on their ingestive behavior. Fifty male Santa Inês lambs were used. The diets were composed of Tifton 85 hay and a concentrate containing detoxified CSM substituting 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100 % of the soybean meal. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of the CSM levels on the feeding, rumination, idle times, chews and time spent chewing per bolus, total chewing time, number of boli chewed, and number of chews per day. The dry matter (DM) intake decreased linearly (P < 0.05), but did not affect the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake. The feeding and rumination efficiencies had a quadratic response (P < 0.05). The experimental diets did not affect (P > 0.05) the numbers of feeding, rumination, and idle periods, but had a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on the time per feeding activity and on the chewing periods. Substitution of soybean meal for detoxified CSM reduces the DM intake but does not change the ingestive behavior.

Feeding behavior of feedlot-finished young bulls fed diets containing peanut cake.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feeding behavior of feedlot-finished young bulls fed diets containing peanut cake instead of soybean meal. A total of 32 Nellore young bulls with an initial body weight of 390 ± 43.5 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design. The animals were individually housed in stalls and fed Tifton 85 hay with four concentrate mixtures containing 0, 33, 66, or 100% peanut cake substituting for soybean meal. The diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous (with 15% crude protein) and isocaloric (with 65% total digestible nutrients), with a 40:60 forage:concentrate ratio, in the form of total mixed diet. The experimental period was 90 days, and data were collected every 28 days. Feeding behavior was assessed by means of observation and recording of the daily time spent feeding, ruminating, and idling, quantification of the periods and calculation of variables related to mastication characteristics as well as feeding and rumination efficiencies. Substitution of soybean meal for peanut cake in the diets caused a linear decrease in the intake of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber but did not affect the behavioral activities of the young bulls. Peanut cake may therefore replace up to 100% of soybean meal in the diet of feedlot-finished young Nellore bulls because it does not affect the feeding behavior of these animals.

Effects of substituting soybean meal for sunflower cake in the diet on the growth and carcass traits of crossbred boer goat kids.

The present study was conducted to determine the best level of substitution of soybean meal by sunflower cake in diets for kids through the evaluation of quantitative carcass traits. Thirty-two Boer kids X 1/2 NDB (no defined breed), males, non-castrated, with 4 months of age and initial body weight of 15±3.2 kg, were randomly assigned to individual pens. The treatments contained four substitution levels of soybean meal by sunflower cake (0, 33, 66 and 100% DM). At the end of the experimental period, the animals were slaughtered. There was no influence of the treatments on any of the mean values of the evaluated measures (p>0.05): 21.78 kg (body weight at slaughter), 8.65 kg (hot carcass weight), 8.59 kg (cold carcass weight), 40.27% (hot carcass yield), 39.20% (cold carcass yield), 7.73 cm(2)(rib eye area), 46.74 cm (carcass outer length), 45.68 cm (carcass internal length), 36.92 cm (leg length), 26.04 cm (leg perimeter), 48.66 cm (hind perimeter), 58.62 cm (thoracic perimeter), 0.20 (carcass compactness index), 68.48% (total muscle of the leg), 2.79% (total leg fat), 55.19% (subcutaneous leg fat), 28.82% (total bone), 81.66 g (femur weight), 14.88 cm (femur length), 0.38 (leg muscularity index), 2.53 (muscle:bone ratio) and 33.42 (muscle:fat ratio). The substitution of soybean meal by sunflower cake may be recommended up to a level of 100% without alterations to quantitative carcass traits.

Características morfogênicas do capim-Tanzânia fertilizado ou não com nitrogênio nas estações do ano / Morphogenic characteristics of Tanzania grass fertilized or not with nitrogen in the seasons of the year

O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda Experimental de Iguatemi ­ UEM, entre Abril de 2008 a Setembro de 2009, com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito de crescentes doses de N sobre as características morfogênicas do Panicum maximum Jacq cv. Tanzânia nas estações do ano, sob pastejo intermitente. Utilizou-se um delineamento em blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas no tempo, com quatro repetições sendo os tratamentos: N1 = zero, N2 = 150, N3 = 300 e N4 = 450 kg.ha-1 de nitrogênio e as estações do ano: outono, inverno, primavera e verão de 2008 e outono e inverno de 2009. No outono e inverno de 2009, os maiores comprimentos finais de lâminas foliares foram obtidos na maior dose de nitrogênio (450 kg). Tanto a taxa de aparecimento e alongamento de folhas responderam ao nitrogênio apresentando maiores taxas nas maiores doses de nitrogênio (300 e 450 kg) e no verão, seguida de primavera contribuindo com a queda do filocrono e da duração de vida das folhas. Em geral, houve efeito das doses de nitrogênio assim como das estações avaliadas para as todas as variáveis morfogênicas.

The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of Iguatemi - UEM, from April 2008 to September 2009 in order to evaluate the effect of increasing doses of nitrogen on the morphogenesis of Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania in the seasons of the year under intermittent grazing. It was used a randomized block design with split plot with four replications and the treatments: N1 = zero, N2 = 150, N3 = 300 and N4 = 450 kg of N.ha-1 and the seasons: autumn, winter, spring and summer of 2008 and autumn and winter of 2009. In autumn and winter of 2009, the largest final lengths of leaf blade were obtained at the highest nitrogen dose (450 kg). In the fall and winter of 2009, the largest final leaf blade length was obtained at the highest dose of nitrogen (450 kg). Both the leaf appearance and elongation rate responded to nitrogen with higher rates at higher nitrogen doses (300 and 450 kg) and in summer, followed by spring contributing to the fall of phyllochron and life span of leaves. In general, there was effect of nitrogen doses as well as the stations evaluated for all variables analyzed.

Produção animal, composição química e digestibilidade de forrageiras tropicais em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária / Animal production, chemical composition and digestibility of tropical forages in crop-livestock system

Os objetivos neste trabalho foram avaliar a composição química, digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS) em forrageiras tropicais implantadas sob métodos de plantio em sucessão a cultura da soja, bem como a produção e composição química do leite de vacas cruzadas. Utilizou-se pastos de Brachiaria ruziziensis implantados sob dois métodos de plantio em linha e sobressemeadura, assim como Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, sob plantio em linha, ambos consorciados com Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzânia-1 e semeados em sucessão a cultura da soja nos meses de fevereiro/março de 2009. O período de pastejo teve início em 10/08/2009 e finalizado em 26/09/2009. As áreas pastoris foram manejadas em sistema de lotação contínua, para tal, foram utilizadas 24 vacas cruzadas Holandês x Zebu, com peso médio de 470 kg de PV, em um delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com oito vacas por tratamento. As frações lâminas foliares tinham em média teores de proteína, fibra em detergente neutro e digestibilidade in vitro de, 13,07, 58,68 e 58,95, respectivamente. Da mesma forma, a produção de leite não diferiu entre os tratamentos, apresentando valores médios de 9,13 kg/vaca.dia, com teores médios de gordura e proteína de 3,30% e 3,20%. Vacas cruzadas Holandês x Zebu, com potencial de produção de leite de até 10 kg por dia podem ser manejadas em pastos de B. ruziziensis e capim-marandu, consorciados com capim-tanzânia, quando implantados em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária com taxa de lotação de 3,71 UA/ha.

The purpose of this study were to evaluate the chemical composition and dry matter in vitro digestibility (DMID) of tropical forages, implanted under different planting methods after soybean, crop as well as was the production and chemical composition of milk of crossbred cows, on pasture. There were used pastures of Brachiaria ruziziensis planted in line oroverseeding, as well as Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu planted in line, both mixed with Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzania-1, after soybean crop in February/March of 2009. The grazing period began on 08/10/2009 and ended on 09/26/2009. The pasture were under continuous stocking grazing using 24 Holstein x Zebu crossbred cows, with live weight of ± 470 kg in a randomized block design with eight cows per treatment. The leaf fractions had an average crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and dry matter in vitro digestibility of 13.07, 58.68 and 58.95, respectively.In the same way, milk production did not differ between treatments with mean values of 9.13 kg / cow/day; with average levels of fat and 3.30% protein and 3.20%. Holstein x Zebu crossbred cows with milk production potential of up to 10 kg per day, can be managed in pastures of B. ruziziensis and marandu grass, mixed with tanzania grass, in integrated crop-livestock system using a stocking rate of 3.71 AU / ha.

Produção e composição morfológica do capim-tanzânia fertilizado com nitrogênio nas estações do ano / Production and morphological composition of tanzania grass fertilized with increasing doses of nitrogen in the seasons of the year

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a produção e os componentes morfológicos do capim-Tanzânia (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia), adubado com nitrogênio nas estações dos anos, sob pastejo intermitente. Utilizou-se um delineamento em blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas no tempo, com quatro repetições sendo os tratamentos: zero, 150, 300 e 450 kg de N ha-1 ano-1 e as estações do ano: outono, inverno e primavera de 2008 e verão de 2008/09. O maior acúmulo de matéria seca por corte foi obtido na maior dose de N e na primavera e verão. A adubação nitrogenada, especialmente quando em altas doses, proporciona as maiores porcentagens de lâmina foliar e colmo+bainha, porém com redução nas porcentagens de material morto. Independentemente da dose de N, maiores porcentagens de lâmina foliar e menores de material morto foram obtidas na primavera e verão. A maior porcentagem de colmo+bainha foi obtida principalmente no verão e outono. Elevadas doses de N associadas a intervalos menores de pastejo promovem uma maior produção do capim-Tanzânia sob lotação intermitente.

The objective was to evaluate the production and morphological components of Tanzania grass (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania), fertilized with nitrogen at the times of the year, under intermittent grazing. Was used a randomized blocks with split plot with four replications and the treatments: zero, 150, 300 and 450 kg of N.ha-1.year-1 and seasons of the year: fall, winter and spring 2008 and summer of 2008/09. The largest accumulation of dry matter per cutting was obtained at higher N and in spring and summer. The fertilizer N, especially at high doses, provides the highest percentage of leaf and stem + sheath, but with reduction in the percentage of dead material. Regardless of N, higher percentages of leaf and smaller dead material were obtained in spring and summer. The highest percentage of stem + sheath was obtained mainly in summer and autumn. High doses of N associated with shorter intervals grazing encourage greater production of Tanzania grass under intermittent stocking.

Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of finishing bulls fed crude glycerin-supplemented diets

This study was conducted to evaluate the performance, carcass characteristics and chemical composition of Longissimusmuscle (LM) of the bulls. Twenty-four Nellore bulls were used in a complete randomised design. The bulls were randomly assigned to one of the three diets containing 0, 5 or 12% glycerin. Final BW and ADG were similar (P>0.05) between the bulls fed with 5 or 12% of glycerin but were higher (P<0.10) compared to the bulls fed without glycerin. DMI and feed efficiency was not affected (P>0.05) by glycerin level. Hot carcass weight increased (P<0.10) when glycerin was fed at 5%. Glycerin level did not affect (P<0.05) the dressing percentage and fat thickness. LM increased (P<0.10) when glycerin was fed at 12%. Dietary glycerin did not affect (P>0.05) the conformation, colour, texture, marbling and pH. There was difference (P>0.05) for moisture, ashes and crude protein among glycerin levels. Bulls fed 12% glycerin present the highest (P<0.03) total lipids on LM. The percentage of saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated acids (MUFA), polyunsaturated acids (PUFA), n-6 and n-3 fatty acids and PUFA/SFA and n-6:n-3 ratios of the LM were similar among the diets. In conclusion, glycerin level did not affect the animal performance and carcass characteristics of Nellore bulls finished in feedlot.

Produtividade do milho em resposta a adubação com NPK e Zn em argissolo vermelho-amarelo eutrófico e latossolo vermelho eutroférrico / Corn productivity as an answer to fertilization with NPK and Zn on eutrophic red-yellow argissol and red eutroferric latossol

Objetivando-se avaliar os componentes de produção e a produtividade da cultura do milho em função da adubação, com diferentes doses de Zn (Zinco), e NPK (nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio), realizou-se este trabalho nos municípios de Palotina - PR, em Argissolo Vermelho - Amarelo eutrófico e Marechal Cândido Rondon - PR, em Latossolo Vermelho eutroférrico. Os tratamentos foram arranjados em esquema fatorial 3x3 constituindo três doses de adubação NPK: sem adubação; uma vez (30-100-50 kg ha-1), e duas vezes a recomendação de adubação (60-200-100 kg ha-1), com base na análise do solo. Outro fator em estudo foi o Zn, em diferentes doses: 0,0; 5,0 e 10,0 mg dm-3. As parcelas corresponderam a 3,6 m de largura por 6 m de comprimento. Foram semeadas 4 linhas espaçadas com 0,9 m, utilizando-se como parcela útil as 2 linhas centrais, descartando-se 1,5 m de bordadura. A população de plantas foi de 6,5 sementes, por metro linear. Com relação à adubação de NPK (nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio), obteve-se aumento significativo para os componentes: número de grãos, massa de 1000 grãos e a produtividade, sendo a dose 60-200-100 kg ha-1 a que proporcionou os melhores resultados no Latossolo Vermelho eutroférrico e no Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo eutrófico, proporcionou aumento significativo na massa de 1000 grãos e na produtividade. Em relação à adubação com o Zn, não obteve-se aumento significativo, nos dois solos, entre os tratamentos para os componentes avaliados e a produtividade. Com este trabalho, pode-se concluir que a adubação com NPK aumentou a produtividade da cultura nos dois solos e na adubação com Zn não se obteve diferenças de produtividade, para a cultura do milho.

It's with the purpose of evaluating the production components and the corn crop productivity due fertilization with different doses of Zn (Zinc) an NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), this research has been done over the municipalities of Palotina-PR, on Eutrophic Red-Yellow Argissol and Marechal Cândido Rondon - PR, on Red Eutroferric Latossol. The treatments were arranged on a factorial scheme 3x3 constituting three doses of fertilization NPK: no fertilization, once (30-100-50 kg ha-1) and twice the fertilization recommended (60-200-100 kg ha-1), based on the soil analysis. Another factor under studying was the Zn in different doses: 0,0; 5,0 and 10,0 mg dm-3. Such parcels were corresponded to 3,6 m width by 6 m length. It were sowed 4 spaced lines with 0,9 m, using as a useful parcel the 2 central lines discarding 1,5 m of edging. The plant population was about 6,5 seeds by linear meter. Considering the NPK fertilization it was gotten a considerably increase for the components of seeds number, 1000 seeds mass and the productivity, being the dose 60 - 200 - 100 kg ha-1 the one that has given the best results on Red Eutroferric Latossol and on Eutrophic Red-Yellow Argissol that has given a considerably increase on the 1000 seeds and productivity. According to the fertilization with Zn, it has not given a considerably increase on both soils among the treatments for the evaluated components and productivity. With this word it can be concluded that the fertilization with NPK increased the crop productivity on both soils while the fertilization with Zn differences were not gotten over corn crop productivity.

Variações de massa e de nitrogênio em carne suína após descongelamento / Mass and nitrogen variations in swine meat after thawing

Objetivou-se neste trabalho avaliar a qualidade físico-química de carne suína durante o descongelamento, mediante determinação das variações de massa e de nitrogênio por exudação (gotejamento). Amostras de 300 g de carne de lombo suíno das raças Landrace, Large White e Pia foram congeladas e depois submetidas ao descongelamento lento. As avaliações das amostras das tres reças ocorreram em tres tempos de descongelamento (6, 12 e 24 horas). A carne da raça Piau evidenciou a menor perda de massa por gotejamento e a da raça Landrace revelou maior perda de massa até 12 horas de descongelamento. A raça não exerceu efeito sobre o teor de nitrogênio total contido nos exudados dos lombos nos tres períodos avaliados. No entanto, houve elevação significativa na concentração de nitrogênio do exudado com o aumento do tempo de descongelamento para as tres raças estudadas