Creatinine as a Urinary Marker of the Purine Derivatives Excretion in Urine Spot Samples of Lambs Fed Peach Palm Meal.

The objective was to evaluate the influence of diets on lambs using different levels of peach palm meal as a replacement for maize (0, 10, 40, 60, and 85% of diet dry matter) on the endogenous creatinine clearance (CC), urine concentration ratio of purine derivatives to creatinine (PDC index), and daily creatinine excretion (DCE) as a marker to estimate purine derivatives (PD) excretion from urinary spot samples collected at different time points (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 h after morning feeding) compared to 24-h total urine collection. The measured parameters were voluntary intake, urinary volume, CC, DCE, the concentration of plasma creatinine, and PD and purine derivatives' excretion (PDE). Five lambs were allocated to metabolic cages and distributed in a 5 × 5 Latin square. Urine collection was taken daily on days 16 to 19 of each experimental period. The inclusion of peach palm meal linearly reduced the intake of dry matter (g kg BW−0.75, p = 0.005), crude protein (g kg BW−0.75, p = 0.010), metabolizable energy (MJ kg BW−0.75, p = 0.010) and CC (p < 0.0001). It also quadratically affected the urinary volume (p = 0.008) and DCE (p = 0.004). There was a linear decrease for PDC index (p = 0.032) and PDE (p < 0.0001) measured in the 24-h total urine with peach palm meal levels. The different times of spot urine sampling did not affect (p > 0.05) the PDC index and PDE. Peach palm meal decreases the CC thereby compromising the use of a mean value of DCE as a PDE marker in spot urine samples. There is greater accuracy when using different values of DCE obtained for each diet as markers for the PDE in spot urine samples. Unconventional foodstuffs of low palatability affecting the voluntary intake of feed change the renal function.

Carcass and meat traits of goats fed diets containing cottonseed cake.

The cottonseed cake has the necessary nutritional characteristics to be able to substitute the traditional ingredients (such as soybean meal) and reduce the costs of the diet. However, it is necessary to determine the best level of inclusion of cottonseed cake in the diets of fattening goats to improve meat production and quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate carcass and meat traits of feedlot goats fed diets containing cottonseed cake replacing soybean meal (33 %, 66 % and 100 %). Thirty-two uncastrated Boer crossbred goats (4 months old, 16  ±  2 kg initial body weight) were used in a completely randomized experimental design. Replacing soybean meal with cottonseed did not compromise ( P > 0.05 ) slaughter weight, carcass traits (dressing percentage, loin-eye area and back-fat thickness), primal cuts or carcass morphometric measurements; moisture, protein, or total lipid contents of meat; or the physicochemical traits of color ( L * , a * and b * coordinates), pH, shear force, and cooking loss. However, there was a reduction ( P = 0.001 ) in the mineral matter content (from 1.08 % to 0.97 %) and an increase ( P = 0.006 ) in the cholesterol content (from 50.85 to 70.55 mg/100 g of meat) of the meat as the dietary levels of cottonseed cake were increased. Based on the results of production and meat quality, we recommend using cottonseed cake as an alternative protein source to replace up to 100 % of soybean meal in feedlot goat diets.

Effect of high-concentrate diets with calcium lignosulfonate and cottonseed processing method on quantitative traits and non-carcass components of feedlot cull ewes.

This study examined the effects of cottonseed processing form and the inclusion of calcium lignosulfonate in high-concentrate diets for feedlot cull ewes on carcass traits and non-carcass components. Thirty Santa Inês cull ewes with an average body weight of 44.2  ±  5.2 kg and an average age of 50 months were distributed into collective stalls in a completely randomized design. The treatments consisted of diets including whole cottonseed, crushed cottonseed, whole cottonseed treated with lignosulfonate (100 g/kg, as fed), crushed cottonseed treated with lignosulfonate (100 g/kg, as fed), and a control diet without cottonseed. The experimental diets did not influence ( P > 0.05 ) average daily weight gain (0.195 kg/day), slaughter weight (51.74 kg), or in vivo biometric and on-carcass measurements. There was no difference ( P > 0.05 ) in loin-eye area or subcutaneous fat thickness as evaluated in vivo by ultrasound. There was no diet effect on hot carcass weight and yield (24.8 kg and 47.8 %), cold carcass weight and yield (24.2 kg and 46.8 %), or chilling loss (2.1 %). Non-carcass components did not differ in response to the diets ( P > 0.05 ). Dietary inclusion of calcium lignosulfonate increases the proportions of udder and liver relative to empty body weight ( P < 0.05 ). Neither the cottonseed processing method nor the inclusion of calcium lignosulfonate in high-concentrate diets for cull ewes affects their performance, biometric or morphometric measurements, non-carcass components, or qualitative traits of their carcass.

Estimation of ruminal outflow in buffaloes fed diets with different energy and protein sources by use of reticular and omasal sampling.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different traditional or alternative energy and protein sources, associated or not, on feeding behavior, ruminal kinetics, and post-ruminal flow of nutrients. Besides, it was assessed diets' effects on different sites (reticulum and omasum) of buffaloes. Four ruminally cannulated male Murrah buffaloes (average initial weight of 637 ± 66.37 kg) were randomly distributed in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Treatments were arranged as 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The first factor evaluated was the inclusion of energy sources (ground corn and crude glycerin), and the second factor was the inclusion of protein sources (soybean meal and cottonseed cake). Buffaloes fed cottonseed cake had a higher content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and potentially digestible detergent fiber (pdNDF) in the rumen environment than buffaloes fed soybean meal. There was a sampling site effect on rumen digestion rates of pdNDF, passage rates of indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF), and pdNDF, and flow of iNDF. In this study, omasal collections were more representative. Total replacement of ground corn by crude glycerin promoted less NDF ruminal digestibility, and care should be taken to include this energy source. The cottonseed cake does not cause a difference in rumen dynamics and can totally replace soybean meal in feedlot buffaloes' diet.

Agronomic characterization of sunflower cultivars for animal feeding in tropical conditions

This study was developed to examine morpho-agronomic traits of 18 sunflower cultivars and identify superior cultivars in terms of grain yield, forage quality, or both, for animal feeding. Twenty-two morpho-agronomic traits related to plant development and architecture; earliness of maturity; grain yield (achenes); dry matter yield; and dry matter content were evaluated. Cultivars Hélio 253, Hélio 358, Embrapa 122, BRS 321, and Hélio 360 showed inflorescence at the final stage. Aguará 4 showed the lowest flowering rate, characterizing it as late-maturing. For grain yield, cultivars Charrua, Olisun 3, BRS 321, Paraíso 103CL, Paraíso 65, Aguará 6, and CF 101 are recommended, as they showed the highest achene yields (average: 1,541.67 to 2,148.81 kg.ha−1, respectively). Cultivars Charrua, Hélio 251, Olisun 3, Hélio 360, Paraíso 55, and Paraíso 103CL exhibited higher dry matter yields (9,550.93 to 11,789.91 kg ha−1) and were thus indicated for forage production. Cultivars Charrua, Olisun 3, BRS 321, Paraíso 103CL, Paraíso 65, Aguará 6, and CF 101 are recommended for grain yield, for the diet of monogastric animals; Charrua, Hélio 251, Olisun 3, Hélio 360, Paraíso 55, and Paraíso 103CL for forage yield, for ruminant feeding; and Charrua, Olisun 3, and Paraíso 103CL for both purposes.

Caracterização, uso e limitações da glicerina na alimentação de suínos: revisão / Characterization, use and limitations of glycerin in pig feed: a review / Caracterización, uso y limitaciones de glicerina en alimentación de cerdos: revisión

Glicerina é um líquido adocicado, higroscópico, inodoro, viscoso, energético, contendo variáveis níveis de glicerol, sendo utilizado como nutriente glicogênico ou lipogênico, dependendo da condição energética do animal. O glicerol ou 1,2,3-propanotriol é pertencente a função álcool, com três hidroxilas, de fórmula molecular C3H8O3. Em suínos, altos níveis de inclusão de glicerina podem proporcionar baixo conteúdo energético, pois o sistema enzimático da glicerol quinase torna-se saturado na conversão do glicerol para glicerol-3-fosfato, sendo o excesso excretado pela urina. A matéria-prima é um dos fatores que mais influenciam na composição da glicerina, podendo ser produzida a partir de óleo de soja, sebo bovino, gordura amarela e gordura de aves. Os componentes com maior participação na composição são glicerol, água e lipídios, contudo as limitações de seu uso na alimentação animal estão ligadas aos níveis residuais de sódio, potássio, metanol e umidade. Os níveis de glicerina bruta mais indicados para a viabilidade técnica e econômica estão em torno de 10%, sendo que acima de 15% compromete o desempenho e a viabilidade econômica. Por possuir características favoráveis e teores de energia em torno de 3.579 kcal/kg de energia metabolizável, a glicerina pode ser utilizada como ingrediente energético em rações para suínos.

Glycerin is a sweet, hygroscopic, odorless, viscous, energetic liquid containing variable glycerol levels being used as glycogen or lipogenic nutrient, depending on the energy condition of the animal. Glycerol, or 1,2,3-propanetriol, belongs to the alcohol group, with three hydroxyls, and the molecular formula of C3H8O3. In pigs, the inclusion of high levels of glycerin can provide low energy content, since the enzyme system in glycerol kinase becomes saturated in the conversion of glycerol to glycerol-3-phosphate, with the excess being excreted in the urine. The feedstock is one of the factors that most influence the composition of glycerin, which may be produced from soybean oil, beef tallow, yellow grease, and poultry fat. The components with the highest involvement in the composition are glycerol, water and lipids, however, the limitations of use in animal feed are connected to residual levels of sodium, potassium, methanol and humidity. Crude glycerin levels better suited to the technical and economic viability are at approximately 10%, while compromising the performance and economic viability if above 15%. Since it has favorable characteristics and energy levels around 3.579 kcal/kg of metabolizable energy, glycerin can be used as an energy ingredient in pig feed.

La glicerina es un líquido dulce, higroscópico, inodoro, viscoso, energético, que contiene niveles de glycerol variables, que se utililiza como nutriente glicogénico o lipogénico, dependiendo de la condición de energía del animal. El glicerol o 1, 2, 3 ­ propanotriol, es perteneciente a función alcohol, con tres hidroxilas, de formula molecular C3H8O3. En cerdos, los altos niveles de inclusión de glicerina pueden proporcionar un bajo contenido energético, pues el sistema enzimático de glicerol quinase se hace saturado en la conversión de glicerol en glicerol-3-fosfato, siendo el exceso excretado por la orina. La materia prima es uno de los factores que más influyen en la composición de la glicerina, pudiendo ser producida a partir del aceite de soja, sebo de ganado, grasa amarilla y grasa de aves. Los componentes con mayor participación en la composición son glicerol, agua y lepidios, sin embargo, las limitaciones de su uso en la alimentación animal están conectadas a niveles residuales de sodio, potasio, metanol y humedad. Los niveles de glicerina cruda más adecuados para la viabilidad técnica y económica están alrededor de 10%, siendo que más de 15% compromete el rendimiento y la viabilidad económica. Por tener características favorables y niveles de energía alrededor de 3579 kcal/kg de energía metabolizable, la glicerina puede ser utilizada como ingrediente de energía en alimentación de cerdos.