Palatability and nycterohemeral patterns of ingestive behavior of sheep fed different roughage sources.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the nycterohemeral patterns of ingestive behavior at 24, 48, and 72 h (Trial I) of sheep fed different roughages and the palatability index (Trial II) for sheep and goats fed different roughages used in a semiarid region. In the study, five sources of roughage were evaluated, namely: (1) Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck cladodes + urea + sugarcane bagasse (NUB); (2) Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw cladodes + urea + sugarcane bagasse (OUB); (3) Tifton hay; (4) corn silage; and (5) sorghum silage. Five Soinga sheep were used and arranged in a 5 × 5 Latin square design in Trial I. Six female Santa Ines sheep and six female Saanen goats were used to study the preferences for different roughages in Trial II, and three tests were carried out to determine the palatability index, comparing two roughage types at a time: test 1 - corn silage versus Nopalea cladodes + urea + sugarcane bagasse (NUB); test 2 - corn silage versus Opuntia cladodes + urea + sugarcane bagasse (OUB); and test 3 - NUB versus OUB. The highest dry matter (DM) intake was for diets composed by NUB. Feeding time (min/d) was higher for sorghum silage (291 min d-1), while rumination time was higher (P < 0.05) for corn silage (604.0 min d-1), sorghum silage (561.7 min d-1), and Tifton hay (529.7 min d-1). No difference (P > 0.05) was observed for feeding, rumination, and idleness time between species (sheep and goats), and there was no roughage × species interaction (P > 0.05). The palatability indexes were 76 and 77% (tests 1 and 2) for NUB and OUB, respectively. Sheep fed with roughage containing cactus cladodes associated with urea and sugarcane bagasse spent less time on ingestion and rumination activities. The ingestive behavior can be evaluated in a period of 48 h, using instantaneous scanning.

Spineless Cactus plus Urea and Tifton-85 Hay: Maximizing the Digestible Organic Matter Intake, Ruminal Fermentation and Nitrogen Utilization of Wethers in Semi-Arid Regions.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of replacing Tifton-85 hay (Cynodon spp. cv. Tifton 85) with 0, 150, 300, 450 and 600 g/kg dry matter (DM) of spineless cactus (SC, Nopalea cochenilifera Salm-Dyck) plus urea and ammonium sulfate (UAS; 9:1) on DM, digestible organic matter (DOM) and indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF) intakes, as well as ruminal fermentation, N-balance, and microbial protein supply (MPS). Five rumen-fistulated and cannulated crossbred wethers, weighing 43.8 ± 5.80 kg, were randomized in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Isonitrogenous diets (14% crude protein) were supplied with a roughage/concentrate ratio of 70:30. The DOM intake, N-retained, and MPS showed quadratic responses (p < 0.05), with maximum values estimated at the levels of SC+UAS of 414, 438 and 418 g/kg DM, respectively. Rumen pH and ammonia nitrogen, iNDF intake, N-urinary excretion, and serum urea and plasma ammonia reduced linearly (p < 0.05) with increasing SC+UAS inclusion. Ruminal acetate and propionate concentrations increased linearly with increasing SC+UAS inclusion. In wethers fed diets with a roughage/concentrate ratio of 70:30, roughage constituted of a SC+UAS/hay (Tifton-85) ratio of 41:29 is recommended in order to maximize the DOM intake, N-retention, and MPS.

Nutritional effects of using cactus cladodes (Opuntia stricta Haw Haw) to replace sorghum silage in sheep diet.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of replacing the sorghum silage in sheep diet with cactus cladodes [CC - Opuntia stricta (Haw) Haw] on dry matter and its compound intake and digestibility, feeding behavior, and nitrogen balance. The diets consisted of five replacement levels [0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 g/kg on a dry matter (DM) basis] and were formulated to be isonitrogenous [140 g/kg crude protein [CP], considering the ingredients' composition, with a roughage/concentrate ratio of 65:35, on a DM basis. Five uncastrated crossbred sheep, with an average body weight of 52.9 ± 6.0 kg, were assigned to a 5 × 5 Latin square. The trial lasted for 105 days with five consecutive 21-day periods, divided into 14-day adaptation and 7-day sampling periods. Dry matter (DM), organic matter, non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC), total digestible nutrient intake, and DM and NFC digestibility, increased (P ≤ 0.04) with the replacement of sorghum silage by CC. However, the time spent feeding and ruminating decreased, while idle time increased (P ≤ 0.03). Only feeding and rumination efficiency of DM improved (P ≤ 0.01) with the replacement, whereas feeding and rumination efficiency of neutral detergent fiber corrected to ash and protein did not. Nitrogen intake and nitrogen balance were not influenced, and urinary volume increased (P ≤ 0.01) with the addition of CC in the diet. In conclusion, we recommend replacing 80% of the sorghum silage with CC in sheep diets (with 35% concentrate), as CC was found to substantially increase the intake of nutrients, primarily energy.

Nutritional and performance viability of cactus Opuntia-based diets added to concentrate levels for Girolando lactating dairy cows.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of different concentrate levels in diets based on cactus Opuntia Stricta (Haw.) Haw cladodes over the performance of lactating Girolando cows. METHODS: The experiment involved 10 Girolando multiparous dairy cows (512.6 kg of body weight and producing 13.2kg milk/day), allocated into two 5 x 5 Latin squares. The experimental treatments consisted of control diet composed by cactus Nopalea cochenillifera. Salm-Dyck. cladodes (Nopalea), forage sorghum silage and concentrate (20% at DM basis), and four concentrate levels diets (20, 24, 28 and 32%) plus cactus Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. cladodes (Opuntia) and forage sorghum silage. RESULTS: Regarding cows fed control diet, the nutrients intake were greater than for cows fed with cactus Opuntia and concentrate. Regarding concentrate levels, intakes of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) of cows increased linearly. The OM, CP and NDF digestibilities were similar in between to control diet and cactus Opuntia-based diets. The digestibility of NFC increased linearly when the concentrate was inserted. The N balance was the same for control diet and cactus Opuntia-based diets, irrespective the concentrate levels. CONCLUSION: For cows producing 14 kg/day with 3.5% of fat, it is recommended 32% of concentrate inclusion in cactus Opuntia-based diets, and the increase in concentrate level promotes a linear increase in milk yield.

Cactus cladodes associated with urea and sugarcane bagasse: an alternative to conserved feed in semi-arid regions.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional value of different roughage sources as an exclusive feed for goats and sheep from the determination of nutrient intake and digestibility. Five goats and five sheep were used and arranged in a double 5 × 5 Latin square design. Treatments consisted of cactus Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck cladodes (Nopalea) + urea + sugarcane bagasse (NUB), cactus Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw cladodes (Opuntia) + urea + sugarcane bagasse (OUB), Tifton hay (TH), maize silage (MS), and forage sorghum silage (SS). Dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) intakes of NUB were greater than SS (0.620 and 0.058 versus 0.416 and 0.040 kg/day). Metabolizable energy (ME) intake was higher for NUB (1.52 Mcal/day). The DM digestibility did not change between the roughages (59%). The NUB, OUB, and MS organic matter digestibility (OMD; 62.4%) were greater than that of SS (57.4%). The roughage consisting of cactus cladodes associated with urea and sugarcane bagasse presented a greater nutritional value, similar to MS and TH, and higher than SS. Cactus cladodes associated with urea and sugarcane bagasse are recommended as an alternative to conserved feed.

Can cactus (Opuntia stricta [Haw.] Haw) cladodes plus urea replace wheat bran in steers' diet?

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of replacing wheat bran for cactus cladodes plus urea (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) on the intake of nutrients, nitrogen balance, microbial protein synthesis, and rumen fermentation for steers. METHODS: Five crossbred steers (1/2 Holstein-Zebu), with rumen cannula and an average body weight of 180±5.3 kg, were assigned to a 5×5 Latin square design. Dietary treatments consisted of the replacement of the total of wheat bran in basal diet by cactus cladodes using the following proportions: 0% for basal diet, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% cactus cladodes replacing wheat bran. Urea was added to the diets to adjust the crude protein (CP) content to 130 g/kg dry matter. RESULTS: Maximum dry matter intake (5.73 kg/d) and maximum nitrogen balance (103 g/d) were estimated for 54.6% and 70.8% replacement levels of wheat bran. The maximum microbial protein production (44.6 g/d) was obtained at a replacement level of 49.7%, and a medium value (125 g CP mic/kg total digestible nutrients) of microbial protein efficiency was observed. The rumen pH increased linearly according to cactus cladodes inclusion, while the ammonia nitrogen medium value was 24.5 mg/dL. CONCLUSION: The replacement of 55% wheat bran for cactus cladodes plus urea in the diet of crossbred steers is recommended.

Feed handling of lactating crossbred cows maintained in a semi-arid region during the hot season: physiological parameters, ingestive behavior and performance.

The effects of time of feed delivery (14.00 hours; 14.00 and 20.00 hours; 16.00 and 18.00 hours) on the physiological parameters, ingestive behavior, nutrient intake and production of lactating cows maintained in a semi-arid region during the hot season were evaluated. Regardless of treatment, all animals received the first feeding supply at 06.00 hours. Eight cows with an average body weight of 600 kg, average milk yield of 20 kg/day and 80 days in milk were utilized. The rectal temperature, respiratory rate and sweating rate were not affected (P > 0.05), with average values of 38.5°C, 53.8 movements/min and 104 g/m2 /h respectively. There was no effect (P > 0.05) on the eating time (314 min/day), ruminating time (564 min/day), drinking time (61 min/day) and idle time (502 min/day). Similarly, the intake of nutrients and performance of lactating cows were not affected (P > 0.05), with average dry matter intake of 19.8 kg/day, 4% fat-corrected milk of 20.6 kg/day and milk fat concentration of 4.03 g/100 g. Since the behavior and performance have not altered, any times of feed delivery evaluated could be used to crossbred Holstein × Zebu cows maintained on a feedlot in semi-arid regions during the hot season.

Tifton hay, soybean hulls, and whole cottonseed as fiber source in spineless cactus diets for sheep.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effect of three different sources of fiber (tifton hay, soybean hulls, and whole cottonseed) in spineless cactus diets for sheep in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil. Twenty-one sheep in finishing phase with indeterminate breed, non-castrated, and with initial weight of 18.90 ± 1.07 kg were randomly distributed to individual stalls where they were confined for the duration of the experiment. The intakes of dry and organic matter, total carbohydrates, and total digestive nutrients were not influenced (P > 0.10) by the different fiber sources (1.10, 0.97, 0.73, and 0.80 kg/day, respectively). However, sheep which received the whole cottonseed diet were characterized by a lower (P < 0.10) intake of crude protein and neutral detergent fiber and greater (P < 0.10) intake of ether extract (0.11, 0.29, and 0.048 kg/day, respectively). The different sources of fiber resulted in similar times spent feeding (P > 0.10), although the rumination time was greater for tifton hay (P < 0.10) (429.05 min/day). The digestibility coefficient of dry and organic matter differed between the treatments (P < 0.10), with the soybean hull diet showing a higher level of digestion (83.23 and 86.72 %, respectively). The whole cottonseed diet gave the smallest digestibility coefficient of crude protein (68.95 %) and greatest for ether extract (85.94 %). The daily weight gain of animals fed on whole cottonseed was significantly lower (P < 0.10). On the basis of these findings, we recommend the use of tifton hay or soybean hulls as important additional source of fiber in forage spineless cactus diets for sheep in finishing phase.