Evaluation of days of total collection and use of internal markers in nutritional trials with small ruminants.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the number of days required for total fecal collection and the viability of using the indigestible dry matter (iDM), indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF), and indigestible acid detergent fiber (iADF) internal markers to determine the fecal excretion of dry matter (FEDM) and digestibility in nutritional trials with small ruminants. Eight sheep in the first experiment and eight goats in the second experiment were distributed into two 4 × 4 Latin square designs. There were no significant differences between days of total fecal collection for FEDM; digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (NDFap), and non-fibrous carbohydrates corrected for ash and protein (NFCap); and total digestible nutrients (TDN) in both species. The results suggest that only 1 day of total collection is sufficient to obtain the FEDM and the digestibility of the nutritional components in sheep and goats. The markers are efficient in determining fecal production and digestibility in these animal species.

Intake and ingestive behavior in lambs fed low-digestibility forages.

Ingestive behavior of lambs fed diets consisting of fresh sugarcane with urea, bagasse treated with calcium oxide, and urea ammoniated sugarcane bagasse supplemented with concentrate mixture in 50:50 ratio were evaluated. For this, 34 wethers Santa Inês in their growing phase, with an average age of 3.0 ± 0.6 months and a mean initial live weight of 17.8± 5.2 kg were used. The animals were distributed in a completely randomized design and subjected to visual observation periods of 5 days, for 24 h a day, during the experimental period. Dry matter (DM) intake and intake efficiency of DM were higher (P < 0.05) for animals receiving fresh sugarcane with urea. The animals which were fed with bagasse treated with calcium oxide had higher (P < 0.05) consumption of neutral detergent fiber, longer feeding and chewing time (P < 0.05), and shorter (P < 0.05) idling time. The time spent on chewing the ruminal bolus did not differ from one diet to the other (P > 0.05). Grams of dry matter per ruminated bolus were similar among animals fed with fresh sugarcane and ammoniated bagasse (P > 0.05) but lower (P < 0.05) in animals fed with bagasse treated with calcium oxide. Rumination efficiency values, in grams of dry matter per hour, and grams of neutral detergent fiber per hour for all three diets were similar (P > 0.05) to those found for feeding efficiency. The number of feeding and rumination periods was not affected (P > 0.05) by diet. Based on the intake and ingestive behavior responses, the fresh sugarcane with urea compared to bagasse treated with calcium oxide and ammoniated bagasse was found to be the better alternative feed for use in lamb diets.

Protected or Unprotected Fat Addition for Feedlot Lambs: Feeding Behavior, Carcass Traits, and Meat Quality.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of protected or unprotected fats in the diet of feedlot lambs on feeding behavior, productive characteristics, carcass traits, and meat quality. Forty male Dorper × Santa Inês lambs (22.27 ± 2.79 kg) were randomly assigned to treatments in a completely randomized design. The experimental treatments consisted of five diets: no added fat (NAF), whole soybeans (WSB), calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFA), soybean oil (SO), and corn germ (CG). The total intake of dry matter (DMI) (p < 0.001) and neutral detergent fiber (NDFI) (p = 0.010) were higher in the CSFA and NAF diets. Feeding behavior, morphometric measurements, physicochemical characteristics, and centesimal composition of the Longissimus lumborum muscle were similar between treatments (p > 0.05). The CSFA diet provided higher production (p < 0.05) and better-quality carcasses. The inclusion of fat sources increased the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (p < 0.05). The use of calcium salts of fatty acids in feedlot lambs' diets provides better quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the meat and carcass.

Effects of Whole Corn Germ, A Source of Linoleic Acid, on Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality of Feedlot Lambs.

The whole corn germ (WCG), due to its desirable nutritional characteristics, has been studied as feed for ruminants. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of WCG inclusion as a linoleic acid source in diets for feedlot lambs on carcass characteristics, physicochemical composition, sensory attributes, and fatty acid profile of the meat. Forty non-castrated, crossbreed Dorper x Santa Inês lambs were distributed in a completely randomized design to evaluate the inclusion levels (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 g/kg dry matter (DM)) of whole corn germ (WCG) in the diet. The dietary inclusion of WCG did not influence (p > 0.05) the weight gain and carcass characteristics, with the exception of the subcutaneous fat thickness (p < 0.01), which was higher in animals fed diets with higher levels of WCG. Lightness (L *; p = 0.04), yellowness (b *; p < 0.01), shear force (p = 0.04), linoleic fatty acid concentrations (p = 0.03), and total polyunsaturated fatty acids (p = 0.04) had a quadratic increase due to WCG inclusion in the diets. The use of up to 120 g/kg DM of WCG in lamb diets does not affect the carcass characteristics, physicochemical composition, and sensory attributes of the meat. Despite this, the best polyunsaturated fatty acid profile in lambs' meat is obtained using 76.7 g/kg DM of WCG.

Performance and serum parameters of growing pigs fed semi-purified glycerin / Desempeño productivo y parámetros séricos de cerdos en crecimiento alimentados con glicerina semi-purificada / Desempenho e parâmetros séricos de suínos em crescimento alimentados com glicerina semipurificada

Summary Background: the use of semi-purified glycerin in pig diets has been studied as an alternative energy source. Objective: to evaluate growth performance and serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, and urea in pigs fed diets containing semi-purified glycerin during the growth phase. Methods: forty barrows with an initial weight of 27.30 ± 1.74 kg, distributed in a randomized complete block design, with four treatments and five replicates were used. The dietary treatments were a combination of corn and soybean meal diets with the addition of 0, 5, 10 or 15% semi-purified glycerin. The experimental period lasted 27 days and was divided into two periods. Results: during Period 1, pig performance did not differ with the inclusion of semi-purified glycerin in the diet. In Period 2, an improvement in average daily weight gain was observed. In the total period, an improvement was observed in the average daily weight gain, feed/gain ratio and final weight of the animals. However, serum parameters were not affected by the inclusion of semi-purified glycerin in the diets. Conclusions: the addition of up to 15% semi-purified glycerin to the diet of growing pigs improves growth performance without affecting serum parameters.

Resumen Antecedentes: el uso de la glicerina semi-purificada en la dieta de cerdos se ha estudiado como una fuente alternativa de energía. Objetivo: evaluar el desempeño y los niveles séricos de glucosa, triglicéridos, colesterol y urea en cerdos alimentados con dietas que contienen glicerina semi-purificada durante la fase de crecimiento. Métodos: fueron utilizados 40 machos castrados con un peso inicial de 27,30 ± 1,74 kg, distribuidos en un diseño experimental en bloques al azar con cuatro tratamientos y cinco repeticiones. Los tratamientos se basaron en maíz y harina de soja con adición de 0, 5, 10 o 15% de glicerina semi-purificada. El período experimental duró 27 días, dividido en dos períodos. Resultados: en el período 1, el desempeño productivo de los cerdos no fue alterado por la inclusión de glicerina semi-purificada en la dieta. En el período 2 se observó una mejora en la ganancia diaria de peso. En el período total se observó una mejora en la ganancia diaria de peso, conversión alimenticia y el peso final de los animales. Los parámetros séricos no se afectaron por la inclusión de glicerina semi-purificada en la dieta. Conclusiones: la adición de glicerina semi-purificada hasta en un 15% en la dieta de cerdos en crecimiento mejora el desempeño productivo, sin afectar los parámetros séricos.

Resumo Antecedentes: utilização da glicerina semipurificada na alimentação de suínos vem sendo estudada como uma fonte alternativa de energia. Objetivo: avaliar o desempenho e níveis séricos de glicose, triglicerídeos, colesterol e uréia em suínos alimentados com dietas contendo glicerina semipurificada na fase de crescimento. Métodos: foram utilizados 40 machos castrados com peso inicial de 27,30 ± 1,74 kg, distribuídos em desenho experimental de blocos casualizados com quatro tratamentos e cinco repetições por tratamento. Os tratamentos foram baseados em milho e farelo de soja com adição de 0, 5, 10 ou 15% de glicerina semipurificada. O período experimental durou 27 dias dividido em dois períodos. Resultados: no período 1 o desempenho dos suínos não foi alterado pela inclusão de glicerina semipurificada. No período 2 foi observado melhora no ganho de peso diário. No período total observou-se melhora no ganho de peso diário, conversão alimentar e peso final dos animais. Os parâmetros séricos não foram afetados pela inclusão de glicerina semipurificada nas dietas. Conclusões: a adição de até 15% de glicerina semipurificada em dietas de suínos em crescimento melhora o desempenho e não altera os parâmetros séricos.