Energy metabolism and respirometry of lambs fed sun or shade dried hays of banana crop residues.

We aimed to evaluate the effects of different drying methods for banana residues on the energy metabolism and respirometry of growing lambs. Twenty Santa Inês x Dorper lambs were fed five experimental diets: Tifton 85 grass hay (Control), shade-dried banana leaf hay (LH Shade), shade-dried pseudostem banana hay (PH Shade), sun-dried banana leaf hay (LH Sun), and sun-dried banana pseudostem hay (PH Sun). Nutrient intake and digestibility were assessed in metabolic cages, whereas O2 consumption and CO2, methane, and heat production were measured in a respirometry chamber with animals fed at maintenance and ad libitum levels. Nutrient and energy intake was not influenced by diet. Pseudostem hay had higher apparent digestibility of dry matter (71.5%), organic matter (72.4%), and neutral detergent fiber (58.0%). However, this led to greater energy loss in the form of methane (12.1%). The banana residue hays and drying methods did not alter oxygen consumption, CO2 production, or heat production of animals fed ad libitum or during maintenance. On the other hand, the use of leaf hay resulted in a reduction of 24.7% in enteric methane production of animals fed ad libitum. The inclusion of pseudostem hay is recommended in sheep feedlot diet. This residue provided greater use of DM, however promoted a greater loss of energy in the form of methane, resulting in similar energy consumption. The drying methods did not reduce the availability of nutrients and the sun drying method is recommended, since it is a faster drying method.

Does macauba cake alter nutrient digestibility and microorganism population in the rumen of sheep?

Twenty Santa Inês male sheep were used in a randomized block design to evaluate the effects of different levels of macauba cake (MC) on nutrient digestibility and the population of microorganism in the rumen. The animals were divided into four groups according to MC levels (0, 10, 20, and 30% of DM) and initial body weight ranging from 32.75 to 52.17 kg. Diets were isonitrogenous and formulated to attend metabolizable energy requirements, and feed intake was regulated with 10% allowance for leftovers. Each experimental period lasted 20 days, with the final 5 days reserved for sample collection. Macauba cake inclusion did not affect the dry matter, organic matter, or crude protein intake but increased the ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber intake, mainly because of changes in the concentrations of these components in diets with a higher level of MC. With MC inclusion, a linear decreasing effect was observed for the dry matter and organic matter digestibility, and a quadratic effect with a maximum point of 21.5% was observed for the acid detergent fiber digestibility. A relative reduction of 73% in anaerobic fungal populations was observed with the lowest level of MC inclusion, and a relative increase of 162% in methanogenic populations was observed with the highest level of MC inclusion. The increasing level of macauba cake up to 30% of the diet of lambs reduced the dry matter digestibility and reduced anaerobic fungi but increased methanogenic population.

Dataset of feed bunk score images of cattle feedlot.

Bunk management is an important technique to minimize the variations in consumption in feedlot cattle and can be performed according to the South Dakota State University classification system. The use of information and communication technology (ICT) can help, in an objective way, in the interpretation of these measurements. We created a dataset with the objective to develop an automatic classification method of feed bunk score. In May, September and October on the 2021 and September on the 2022 we captured 1511 images in the morning on the farms, in natural lighting conditions with different angles and backgrounds and at a height of about 1.5 m from the bunk. After acquisition data, each image was classified according to its score classification. Additionally, we resized the images to 500 × 500 pixels, generated annotations files, and organized the dataset in folders. The images in this dataset can be used to train and validate a machine learning model to classify feed bunk images. This model can be used to develop an application to support bunk management.

Performance and microbiota of the digestive tract of Nellore calves supplemented with fungi isolated from bovine rumen.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In tropical semiarid regions, supplementation with fungi could contribute to rumen modulation, promoting greater production of fibrolytic enzymes and degradation of forage. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of supplementation with fungi, isolated from the bovine rumen, on the performance and microbiota of the digestive tract of Nellore calves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks evaluating eight Nellore calves that were daily supplemented with isolates of Aspergillus terreus and Trichoderma longibrachiatum, along with eight calves that were not supplemented. After 55 days, the animals were weighed, and samples of rumen fluid and feces were collected for analysis. The characteristics that showed normal distribution were subjected to analysis of variance and compared using Tukey's test. Whereas, the variables that did not show normal distribution were subjected to the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the frequencies of the bacterial and fungal genera were compared using the Chi-square test. RESULTS: Supplementation with fungi promoted the reduction in ruminal pH (p<0.05). However, the final live weight; average daily weight gain; total weight gain; rumen protozoa; and the count of Enterobacteriaceae, mycelial fungi, and yeasts of ruminal fluid and feces were not influenced by supplementation (p>0.05). Moreover, the protozoa Eodinium spp. was identified only in supplemented calves (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Supplementation with the fungi presented the potential for use as possible additives because it did not alter the physiological parameters of the facultative anaerobic microbiota composition in the rumen and feces. In addition, it favored the presence of the ciliate genus Eodinium. However, further studies should be performed to better define suitable dosages for supplementation.

Physically effective fiber changes nutrient levels of total mixed ration and fecal parameters in beef feedlots / A fibra fisicamente efetiva altera os nutrientes da dieta e parâmetros fecais em confinamentos de bovinos de corte

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the effects of the physically effective fiber (peNDF) content on nutrient composition of the total mixed ration (TMR), orts and fecal parameters in 15 commercial beef feedlots. The particle size distribution of TMR was measured adopting Penn State Particle Size Separator (PSPS). Samples were evaluated for dry matter (DM), ash, ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and starch content. Fecal samples were also evaluated for pH and score. The feedlots were categorized into peNDF<20% and peNDF ≥ 20%. Data were analyzed by a model that included fixed effects of treatment and covariates (sex and genetic groups). Levels of DM, CP, EE and starch were lower in TMR with peNDF ≥ 20% (P<0.05). Fecal dry matter was higher and morning fecal pH was lower for TMR with peNDF<20% (P<0.05). Physically effective fiber changed nutrient levels in TMR, orts, fecal pH and DM. So, using PSPS and fecal parameters are practical and indirect tools for measuring fecal starch and assessing the effectiveness of the diet supplied to ruminants.

RESUMO: O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o teor de fibra fisicamente efetiva (FDNfe) de dietas totais e seus efeitos nos nutrientes da dieta, das sobras e nos parâmetros fecais de bovinos de corte em 15 confinamentos comerciais. As amostras da dieta foram separadas utilizando a peneira Penn State Particle Size Separator (PSPS). As amostras foram analisadas quanto aos teores de matéria seca (MS), matéria mineral (MM), extrato etéreo (EE), proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ácido (FDA) e amido. Nas amostras de fezes também foram avaliadas o escore e pH fecal. Os confinamentos foram categorizados em dois tratamentos: FDNfe<20% e FDNfe≥20%. Os dados foram analisados ​​ por um modelo que incluiu os efeitos de grupo e covariável (sexo e grupo genético). Os teores de MS, PB, EE e amido foram menores nas dietas com FDNfe≥20%(P<0,05). A MS fecal foi maior e pH fecal matinal foi menor nas dietas com FDNfe<20% (P<0,05). Sendo assim a efetividade da fibra alterou os nutrientes da dieta total e sobras, bem como as variáveis pH e MS fecal. Com isso, o uso de PSPS e parâmetros fecais são ferramentas práticas e indiretas para medir o amido fecal e a efetividade da dieta em confinamentos de bovinos comerciais.

Performance of calves submitted to protocols using extruded or ground starter

Feed processing can affect rumen development in new born calves, and potentially define animal performance. Two feed management systems, extruded starter (Ruter) with possible early weaning and ground starter (control), were evaluated in thirty-two Holstein calves (16 females and 16 males). Animals were randomly assigned to the treatments using a randomized block design with birth weight as a covariate. They were weaned when starter intake reached 800 g for two consecutive days. Twenty-one days after the weaning, males were slaughtered and the stomach compartments were isolated. Rumen and omasum fragments were processed for morphological evaluation. Animal performance, clinical condition and stomach compartment weight did not differ between the treatments (P> 0.05), despite weaning weight of animals receiving extruded starter being 5.68% higher than the control animals. Extruded starter stimulated cell proliferation of the ruminal epithelium (P <0.05), but did not affect the dimensions of the papillary rumen and omasum mitotic index (MI). The Ruter feeding system was potentially beneficial for weight gain and morphofunctional rumen development in lactating animals; however, this treatment did not allow early weaning as proposed by the feeding system.