Cashew nut meal as feed supplement for lambs.

Cashew nut meal (CNM) is widely used in tropical countries due to the high protein and energy levels; therefore, it has potential to be an alternative feed supplementation for livestock. Our objective was to evaluate the use of CNM as feed supplement for lambs. Twenty-four lambs were divided into a randomized block design with four treatments, starting with a diet control of Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) hay and CNM as a supplement at three different levels representing 6, 12, and 18% of the total mixed ration (TMR) provided. There were evaluated intake (g/day and g/kgBW0.75); the digestibility of DM and nutrients; nitrogen balance; and ingestive behavior. The CP and ether extract (EE) intake (g/day) as well as DM, and organic matter (OM) intake (g/kgBW0.75) were influenced by supplementation with CNM in a positive linear increase (P < 0.05). The digestibility of DM, OM and NDF increased according to the levels of CNM up to 12% and markedly decreased at the higher level (P < 0.05). The EE and CP digestibility raised according to the CNM levels (P < 0.05) and consequently increased the nitrogen retention resulting in a positive nitrogen balance. The protein and energetic characteristics of CNM show that it can be used as an alternative supplementation to low-quality forages for lambs. However, its use as a single supplement ingredient above 7% on total mixed ration may reduce fiber digestibility.

Biomass components and structure of massai grass fertilized with nitrogen and grazed by sheep / Componentes da biomassa e estrutura do capim-massai adubado com nitrogênio e pastejado por ovinos

To evaluate the biomass components of massai grass subjected to nitrogen (N) fertilization levels (control - 0; 400; 800 and 1200 kg ha-1 year-1 of N) and under rotational stocking with sheep, this study was undertaken using a completely randomized design with measurements repeated in time. A quadratic response was observed reaching maximum values as the levels of nitrogen fertilization increased for green forage biomass, green leaf biomass, green stem biomass (5,172.9; 4,146.3; 1,033.9 kg ha-1 cycle-1, respectively), forage total density (179.1 kg ha-1 cm-1), canopy height (36.8 cm) and live material/dead material ratio (4.0) at levels 896; 934; 797; 879.2; 751.4 and 1,161 kg ha-1 year-1 of N, respectively. For all variables, oscillation was observed between the grazing cycles studied. Nitrogen fertilization has a positive response on the biomass components and canopy structure of massai grass.(AU)

Objetivou-se avaliar os componentes da biomassa do capim-massai sob lotação rotativa com ovinos e adubado com doses de nitrogênio (controle - 0; 400; 800 e 1200 kg de N ha -1 ano -1 ), em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com medidas repetidas no tempo. Constatou-se resposta quadrática, alcançando valores máximos com o incremento das doses de nitrogênio para as produções de biomassa de forragem verde, de lâmina foliar verde, de colmo verde (5172,9; 4146,3; 1033,9 kg ha -1 ciclo -1 , respectivamente) e para a densidade total de forragem (179,1 kg ha -1 cm -1 ), altura do dossel (36,8 cm) e relação material vivo/material morto (4,0) nas doses 896; 934; 797; 879,2; 751,4 e 1161 kg ha -1 ano -1 de N, respectivamente. Para todas as variáveis, verificou-se oscilação entre os ciclos de pastejo estudados. A adubação nitrogenada exerce respostas positivas sobre os componentes da biomassa e a estrutura do dossel do capim-massai.(AU)

Net mineral requirements for the growth and maintenance of Somali lambs.

Minerals are limiting factors in animal production, and the knowledge of mineral requirements for livestock is crucial to the success of a commercial enterprise. Hair sheep may have different mineral requirements than those presents by the international committees. A study was carried to evaluate the net calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) requirements for the growth and maintenance of Brazilian Somali lambs. A total of 48 hair lambs (13.5±1.8 kg) aged 60±15 days were allocated to individual pens. Eight animals were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment to serve as a reference group to estimate initial empty BW (EBW) and initial body composition. The remaining lambs (n=40) were assigned to a completely randomized design with eight replications in five levels of metabolizable energy (ME; 4.93, 8.65, 9.41, 10.12 and 11.24 MJ/kg DM). When the lambs of a given treatment reached an average BW of 28 kg, they were slaughtered. Initial body composition was used to calculate the retention of minerals. Mineral body composition was fit using a logarithmic equation in the form of a nonlinear model. The maintenance requirements were estimated from regressions of mineral retention in the empty body on mineral intake. The body mineral concentration decreased in lambs with a BW ranging from 15 to 30 kg. The net mineral requirements (100 g/day of average daily gain (ADG)) decreased from 0.52 to 0.51 g for Ca, 0.28 to 0.23 g for P, 0.02 to 0.02 g for Mg, 0.09 to 0.08 g for Na, 0.11 to 0.09 g for K, 1.30 to 1.08 mg for Zn, 3.77 to 3.22 mg for Fe, 0.08 to 0.06 mg for Mn and 0.09 to 0.08 mg for Cu when BW increased from 15 to 30 kg. The daily net requirements for maintenance per kilogram of BW were 30.13 mg of Ca, 27.58 mg of P, 1.26 mg of Mg, 4.12 mg of Na, 8.11 mg of K, 0.133 mg of Zn, 0.271 mg of Fe, 0.002 mg of Mn and 0.014 mg of Cu. The results of this study indicate that the net mineral requirements for weight gain and maintenance in Brazilian Somali lambs are different than the values that are commonly recommended by the main evaluation systems for feed and nutritional requirements for sheep. These results for the nutritional requirements of minerals may help to optimize mineral supply for hair sheep.

Nutritional quality of Pilosocereus gounellei using different spine removal and plant storage methods / Qualidade nutritiva de Pilosocereus gounellei em relação a diferentes métodos de retirada dos acúleos e ao armazenamento

This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional quality of Pilosocereus gounellei using different methods of spine removal and plant storage. A total of 600 P. gounellei cacti were randomly selected in 10 hectares of Caatinga. The experimental design was completely randomised using a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement and three replicates. The variables evaluated were the storage conditions (under trees; and ventilated storage facilities) and four types of spine removal techniques assessed 31 days after storage (fresh plants with spines [control]; use of flamethrowers before storage; slash-and-burn ["coivara"] before storage; and use of flamethrowers after storage). The P. gounellei subjected to slash-and-burn during the cladode harvest (cutting) process deteriorated rapidly and exhibited a smooth consistency; dark colour. The burning process resulted in increased in situ degradability of dry matter compared with the control treatment. The results of treatment 4 were similar to those of the control treatment regarding the preservation of the nutritional properties of P. gounellei. Therefore, P. gounellei can be harvested and stored fresh for 31 days without losing their nutritional properties, and spines should be removed using flamethrowers after the storage period, i.e., when using the plants as livestock feed.(AU)

Objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar a qualidade nutritiva do Pilosocereus gounellei em relação a diferentes métodos de retirada dos acúleos e ao armazenamento. Foram selecionadas ao acaso 600 P. gounelleis em 10 hectares de caatinga nativa. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema fatorial (2 x 4), com três repetições. Os fatores constaram dos locais de armazenamento (primeiro local: árvore. segundo local: galpão) e de quatro tipos de processamento de eliminação dos acúleos do P. gounellei (tratamento 1: in natura, com acúleo (testemunha); tratamento 2: utilização de lança-chamas por ocasião do armazenamento; tratamento 3: queima em coivara por ocasião do armazenamento; tratamento 4: lança-chamas após o armazenamento), avaliado após 31 dias do armazenamento. O P. gounellei queimado em coivara por ocasião do corte (tratamento 3) degradou-se rapidamente, apresentando consistência lisa e coloração escurecida. Em relação à degradabilidade in situ da matéria seca, os tratamentos com fogo proporcionaram maiores valores que o tratamento 1. O tratamento 4 foi o que apresentou resultados mais próximos ao 1 (P. gounellei in natura), conservando as propriedades nutricionais do P. gounellei. O P. gounellei pode ser colhido e armazenado in natura por 31 dias, sendo preservadas suas qualidades nutricionais, com retirada dos acúleos com lança-chamas após o armazenamento, no momento de fornecer aos animais.(AU)

Effects of different lipid sources on intake, digestibility and purine derivatives in hair lambs.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different lipid sources on the nutrient intake, digestibility and purine derivative excretion of lambs. Thirty-five 60-day-old, male, non-castrated Santa Ines lambs with an initial average body weight (BW) of 13.00 ± 1.80 kg were used in a randomized complete block design with seven blocks and five treatments. The experimental treatments consisted of a control diet without supplemental lipids and four test diets with different lipid supplements, selected according to the degree of ruminal protection from hydrogenation: supplementation, being supplementation with whole cottonseed (WC), supplementation with cashew nut meal (CNM), supplementation with both cottonseed and cashew nut meal (WC-CNM) and supplementation with calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids (Ca-LCFA). The lambs were slaughtered after reaching 28 kg average BW for each treatment. The ether extract intake (EEI) was higher (p < 0.01) for the lipid supplemented compared to control diet lambs. Supplementation with WC decreased the digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and total carbohydrate (TC) (p < 0.01), whereas supplementation with CNM, WC-CNM and Ca-LCFA reduced non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC) digestibility (p < 0.01). The ether extract (EE) digestibility coefficient was higher with CNM, followed by Ca-LCFA and WC, when compared to WC-CNM and control diets. Nitrogen balance (NB) was not influenced (p > 0.05) by the different lipid sources. A lower purine derivative (PD) excretion and thus lower microbial protein supply (MPS) was observed for animals supplemented with Ca-LCFA (p < 0.01) compared to the WC-CNM and control diets. In conclusion, WC, CNM and WC-CNM supplementation did not have negative effects on MPS, although negative effects have been observed on nutrient digestibility.

Mineral requirements of hair sheep in tropical climates.

In this study, we evaluated the requirements of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and potassium (K) for sheep hair growth. Experimental diets contained different levels of metabolizable energy [ME; 0.96, 1.28, 1.72, 2.18 and 2.62 Mcal/kg of dry matter, (DM), corresponding to 4.23, 5.64, 7.58, 9.61 and 11.55 MJ/kg DM]. The lambs' hair (n = 48) at 2 months of age presented an average body weight (BW) of 12.05 ± 1.81 kg. At the beginning of the experiment, eight animals were slaughtered as a reference group to estimate the initial empty body weight and body composition. Net mineral requirements (g/day) ranged from 0.73 to 0.71 g of Ca, 0.51 to 0.49 g of P, 0.026 to 0.026 g of Mg, 0.16 to 0.19 g of Na and 0.15 to 0.13 g of K for animals with a BW ranging from 15 to 30 kg and a daily gain of 100 g. The results of this study indicate that the net macromineral requirements for weight gain in Morada Nova lambs are different from the values commonly recommended by the Agricultural and Food Research Council.

Parâmetros nutricionais e padrões nictemeral do comportamento ingestivo de cordeiros Somalis Brasileira alimentados com diferentes níveis de energia metabolizável / Nutritional parameters and nycterohemeral patterns of ingestive behavior of Brazilian Somali lambs fed different levels of metabolizable energy

O presente estudo foi conduzido para determinar o consumo e a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, bem como o comportamento ingestivo de cordeiros Somalis Brasileira, alimentados com diferentes níveis de energia metabolizável (EM). Foram utilizados 40 animais, não castrados, com peso vivo médio de 13,47±1,76kg. Os animais foram distribuídos em delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com cinco dietas com diferentes níveis de energia metabolizável (1,18; 2,07; 2,25; 2,42 e 2,69Mcal/kg de MS). O consumo de MS, PB, FDN, CF (g/dia), MS (g/kg0,75) e FDN (%PC e g/kg0,75) apresentaram efeito quadrático (P<0,05), assim como os coeficientes de digestibilidade (P<0,05) da PB, da FDN e dos CF. Foi averiguado efeito linear crescente (P<0,05) para digestibilidade da MS, da MO e dos CNF com o aumento da EM na dieta. Os tempos de alimentação e ócio (h/dia) foram influenciados pelos níveis de energia (P<0,05), e as eficiências de alimentação e ruminação (g FDN/h) apresentaram efeito quadrático (P<0,05). Conclui-se que o aumento dos níveis de EM das rações influencia o consumo e a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, bem como o comportamento ingestivo de cordeiros Somalis Brasileira...

The study was conducted to determine the intake, nutrient digestibility and ingestive behavior of Brazilian Somali lambs fed different levels of metabolizable energy (ME). Forty non-castrated Brazilian Somali lambs with average weight of 13.47±1.76kg were used. The animals were assigned to a randomized block design with eight replications per block and five diets with increasing metabolizable energy (1.18, 2.07, 2.25, 2.42 and 2.69 Mcal/kg DM). The quadratic effect (P<0.05) of the ME level was determined for DM, CP, NDF and FC (g/day) and DM (g/kg0,75) and NDF(%PC and g/kg0,75) intake, as well as the digestibility coefficients (P<0.05) for CP, NDF and CF. A linear effect (P<0.05) was observed for digestibility of DM, OM and NFC with the increase of ME in the diet. Eating and idle results (hours/day) were influenced by the energy levels (P<0.05) and efficiencies of feeding and rumination (g NDF/h) showed a quadratic effect (P<0.05). It is concluded that the increase of ME levels in the diet influences intatke, nutrient digestibility and ingestive behavior of Brazilian Somali lambs...

Valor nutritivo de dietas contendo torta de mamona submetida a métodos alternativos de destoxificação para ovinos / Nutritive value of feeds containing castor bean cake subjected to alternative methods of detoxification for sheep

Avaliaram-se o consumo e a digestibilidade de nutrientes por ovinos alimentados com rações contendo torta de mamona sem tratamento (NT), tratadas com calcário calcítico (CC), ureia (UR), fosfato monobicálcico (FOS) e por autoclave (ACL). Foram utilizados 20 ovinos em delineamento em blocos ao acaso, sendo 10 machos inteiros e 10 fêmeas, mestiços de raça Morada Nova. As dietas foram isoproteicas e isoenergéticas. A ricina foi parcialmente desnaturada pelos tratamentos de destoxificação da torta de mamona. Não houve efeito dos tratamentos de destoxificação da torta de mamona sobre o consumo de nutrientes. A digestibilidade da fibra em detergente neutro no tratamento NT foi de 57,5 por cento, maior que no tratamento CC, de 52,4 por cento. A digestibilidade do extrato etéreo foi mais alta no tratamento CC, média de 71,3 por cento, em relação ao tratamento FOS, de 68,2 por cento. Houve maior consumo de fibra em detergente neutro e fibra em detergente ácido dos machos em relação às fêmeas quando o consumo foi expresso em g/dia. A torta de mamona NT pode ser utilizada em dietas de ovinos como alimento proteico alternativo, participando em até 8 por cento da dieta total, sem ocasionar redução expressiva no consumo e na digestibilidade.

Feed intake and digestibility were evaluate in sheep fed diets containing castor bean cake with no treatment (NT), treated with calcium carbonate (CC), urea (UR), phosphate monodicalcium (FOS) and autoclave (ACL). We used 20 sheep in a randomized block design, being 10 males and 10 females, crossbred Morada Nova. The diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Ricin was partially denatured through the treatments of detoxification of the castor bean cake. There was no treatment effect of detoxification of the castor bean cake on the intake of nutrients. The digestibility of neutral detergent fiber in the NT treatment had a 57.52 percent average, higher than the CC treatment which had an average of 52.42 percent. The digestibility of ether extract was higher in CC treatment, which had an average of 71.29 percent compared to the FOS treatment that had an average of 68.22 percent. Regarding the effect of sex, there was a higher intake of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber in males compared to females when intake was expressed as g/day. The castor bean cake NT can be used in rations for sheep as an alternative protein source participating in up to 8 percent of the total ration, without causing significant reductions in intake and digestibility.