Potential alternative feed sources for ruminant feeding from the biodiesel production chain by-products

This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, fractionation of nitrogen compounds and carbohydrates, digestibility parameters, gas production kinetics and ruminal fermentation of fruit seed cakes. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three fruit seed cakes (treatments) and four replications. The cakes were made of seeds of custard apple (Annona squamosa), soursop (Annona muricata) and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), which were collected in a biodiesel plant. The passion fruit seed cake presented the highest content of dry matter, neutral detergent fibre crude protein (NDFcp), acid detergent fibre (ADF), lignin and total carbohydrates (P<0.05). The custard apple seed cake presented high proportions of crude protein, condensed tannins and digestible energy (P<0.05). The soursop seed cake presented higher values for ether extract and total digestible nutrients (P<0.05). For potential degradability, the authors detected a difference between the custard apple, soursop and passion fruit seed cakes. The total volume of gases was higher for custard apple and soursop seed cakes. Custard apple seed cake presented higher proportions of in vitro degradation parameters (P<0.05). Thus this cake could provide greater nutrient levels when supplied in ruminant diets, followed by soursop seed cake and passion fruit seed cake. Keywords: alternative food, by-products, ruminant feeding, seed cake, semi-ari

Metabolic profile and histopathology of kidneys and liver of lambs fed silages of forages adapted to a semi-arid environment

Thirty-two mixed-breed ram lambs (average age, 5.6 ± 0.4 months, and average live weight, 17.61 ± 2.63 kg) were used to evaluate the effect of diets containing silages of forages adapted to a semi-arid environment on the metabolic profile in serum and the histopathological assessment of liver and kidney tissues of the lambs. Lambs were allocated, in a completely randomised design, to four treatments (silage of old man saltbush (Atriplex nummularia Lind), buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris), gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) and ‘pornunça’ (Manihot sp.). The feedlot period was 49 days, and animals were slaughtered at an average weight of 27 ± 4.6 kg. On the last day of the experiment, blood was collected from the jugular vein of all animals to measure the protein, metabolic and energy profiles of the lambs. At slaughter, kidney and liver samples were collected for histopathological examination. The consuming of the diet containing buffelgrass silage resulted in a significantly higher activity of alanine-aminotransferase (30.14 IU/L) and the concentrations of urea (44.25 mg/dL), creatinine (0.94 mg/dL) and albumin (4.48 g/dL) in serum. Diets containing gliricidia silage resulted in significantly higher gamma-glutamyl transferase activity (92.0 IU/L), while the diets with pornunça silage resulted in higher serum levels of triglycerides (37.85 mg/dL). The diets had no effect on aspartate-aminotransferase enzyme activity and total protein, cholesterol and globulin concentrations, or the albumin : globulin ratio in serum. Mild congestion, necrosis and foci of mineralisation were observed in the kidneys of animals fed diets containing old man saltbush (50%) and pornunça (25%) silages, and mild fatty degeneration and mild mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate in their livers. In conclusion, diets containing silages of forages that are adapted to semi-arid environments may be used for feeding lambs, given the absence of dysfunctioning plasmatic levels of liver enzymes and energy and protein profiles. Additionally, kidney failure was not observed in lambs fed these diets during the feedlot period.Keywords: blood parameters, buffelgrass, gliricidia, old man saltbush, pornunç

Characteristics of carcass and non-carcass components of lambs fed diets containing silages of forages adapted to the semi-arid environment

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of diets containing silages of forages that are adapted to the semi-arid environment on the characteristics of the carcass and of non-carcass components of 32 mixed-breed lambs at approximately six months old, with an average live weight of 17.61 ± 2.63 kg. Lambs were assigned to four treatments (diets containing silages of Atriplex nummularia Lind, Cenchrus ciliaris, Gliricidia sepium and Manihot sp.) in a completely randomized design with eight replicates. Animals fed the diet containing old man saltbush showed higher values for the intakes of dry matter (1.080 g/day), crude protein (190 g/day) and total digestible nutrients (740 g/day), body condition score (2.81 points), fatness (2.87 points), carcass conformation (3.19 points), live weight (29.1 kg), empty bodyweight (23.41 kg), weights of the commercial cuts neck, shoulder and ribs (0.46, 0.82 and 1.12 kg, respectively), and skin weight (1.972 kg). No differences were found between the diets for carcass dressing percentage, external and internal carcass lengths, leg length and circumference, rump circumference and width, chest width and depth, full bodyweight, empty bodyweight, cooling losses, pH before and after cooling, loin, and leg. Silages of old man saltbush, buffelgrass, gliricidia and pornunça are recommended for inclusion in lamb diets. Diets with old man saltbush silage provide the best results for characteristics of the carcass and of non-carcass components besides weight gain, which can reach up to 200 g/day depending on the formulation.Keywords: Carcass composition, feedlot, saltbush, shee

Carbohydrate fractionation and nitrogen compounds, mineral status, and gas production in arboreal cotton and cactus silages

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the fractionation of carbohydrates and nitrogen compounds, mineral status, and in vitro gas production of arboreal cotton silages combined with different cactus levels (0, 150, 300, 450 and 600g.kg-1 on dry matter basis), distributed in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 4 replicates. For carbohydrate fractionation, there was an increase in fraction B2, and a decrease in fraction C (P<0.05). In nitrogen compounds, there was a decrease in B3 and C fractions (P<0.05). A quadratic effect was observed on mineral matter, crude protein, nitrogen, potassium and latency phase (P<0.05). Under the experimental conditions, the use of cactus in arboreal cotton silages increases the levels of minerals, carbohydrates and gas production in the silage, however, it reduces the protein content in the silages when cactus levels above 150 g.kg are inserted in arboreal cotton silages

Meta-análise do impacto da fibra em detergente neutro sobre o consumo, a digestibilidade e o desempenho de vacas leiteiras em lactação

Avaliaram-se os efeitos das características químicas e da digestibilidade in vivo da FDN (DFDN) sobre o consumo, a digestibilidade e o desempenho de vacas leiteiras em confinamento utilizando-se meta-análise a partir de 285 observações de seis experimentos. Utilizaram-se dados de animais alimentados com dietas à base de silagem de milho (n = 213) ou cana-de-açúcar (n = 72). Apesar do menor teor de FDN da cana-de-açúcar (45,27% da MS) em relação à silagem de milho (54,48%), observaram-se menores consumos de MS e FDN, que refletiram em menor produção de leite. Verificou-se maior redução no comsumo de matéria seca (kg/dia) com aumento do teor de FDNf (FDN de forragem, % da MS) em dietas com canade-açúcar (332,4 g de MS para cada 1% no teor de FDNf) em relação à silagem de milho (96 g de MS para cada 1% no teor de FDNf). O maior efeito de repleção ruminal da FDN da cana-de-açúcar deve-se à fração indigestível, majoritária, apesar da maior taxa de degradação da fração potencialmente degradável da FDN em relação à silagem de milho. A produção de leite não-corrigida (PL) e corrigida para 4% de gordura (PLC) e o teor de proteína do leite reduziram linearmente com o aumento no teor de FDNf, independentemente da fonte de forragem. Porém, a PL e PLC não foram afetadas pelo nível de FDNnf (FDN de não-forragem). Os consumos de MS, FDN e NDT e o teor de gordura no leite reduziram linearmente com aumento na relação lignina:FDN, com maior amplitude em dietas à base de cana-de-açúcar em relação à silagem de milho. O consumo de MS, a produção de leite e a produção de leite corrigida reduziram linearmente e na mesma magnitude entre as fontes de forragens, com o aumento na DFDN da dieta. O efeito do teor FDN e lignina sobre o consumo, a digestibilidade e o desempenho animal depende da fonte utilizada.It was evaluated the effects of the chemical characteristics and in vivo NDF digestibility (IVNDFD) on intake, digestibility and performance of dairy cows in fedlot by using a meta-analysis procedure from 285 observations of six experiments. It was used data of animals fed diets based on corn silage (n = 213) or sugarcane (n = 72). Despite the lower NDF content of sugarcane (45.27% of DM) compared to corn silage (54.48%), it was noted lower intakes of dry matter (DMI) and NDF, which responded with a lower milk yield. It was observed a greater reduction in DMI (kg/day) with the increase of NDFf (NDF forage, % DM) in sugarcane diets (332.4 g of DM for each 1% of NDFf) in relation to corn silage (96 g of DM for each 1% of NDFf). The greatest effect of ruminal repletion of sugar cane NDF is caused by the indigestible fraction, majoritary, despite the highest degradation rate of NDF potentially degradable fraction in relation to corn silage. Milk production not corrected (MP) and MP corrected to 4% fat (MPC) and the content of milk protein decreased linearly with the increase of NDFf content, regardless of the forage source. However, MP and MPC were not affected by NDFnf (non-forage NDF) level. Intakes of DM, NDF, TDN and milk fat content decreased linearly with increase in the lignin:NDF ratio, with greater amplitude in sugarcane based diets in relation to silage corn. Dry matter intake, MP and MPC reduced linearly and at the same magnitude among forage sources, with the increase in NDFD of the diet. The effect of NDF and lignin on intake, digestibility and animal performance depend upon the source used