Intake, digestibility and intake behaviour in cattle fed different levels of palm kernel cake / Consumo, digestibilidad, y comportamiento ingestivo del ganado alimentado con diferentes niveles de torta de palma

Objective. The potential use of palm kernel cake was evaluated as a replacement for soybean and corn meal in cattle feed, by investigating their intake, digestibility levels and the intake behaviour of cattle fed diets containing different levels of palm kernel cake concentrate. Materials and methods. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of the Federal University of Bahia, between August and October 2009. Five crossbred Holstein x Zebu adults, were used. A 5 x 5 Latin square experimental design was used. The animals were fed Tifton-85 Bermudagrass, which made up 65% of their diet, plus one of five different levels of palm kernel cake concentrate (0, 7, 14, 21 and 28%). Results. A linear decrease in dry matter (kg/day) was observed due to the lower palatability and higher fiber content of the palm kernel cake. Neutral detergent fiber intake by the animals showed a quadratic behavior. The coefficients of fractional digestibilities of the analyzed feed, did not differ due to the inclusion of palm kernel cake. The ingestive behavior of the animals was not influenced by the inclusion of palm kernel cake in the diet. Conclusions. Palm kernel cake can be used as an alternative feed supplement in ruminant production systems to reduce feed costs without changes in the studied variables.

Objetivo. Se evaluó el uso potencial de la torta de palma como sustituto de harina de soja y harina de maíz en la alimentación del ganado mediante el estudio de su consumo, niveles de digestibilidad y el comportamiento ingestivo de los bovinos alimentados con dietas con diferentes niveles de torta de palmiste. Materiales y métodos. El experimento se realizó en la Granja Experimental de la Universidad Federal de Bahía, entre agosto y octubre de 2009. Cinco animales cruzados Holstein x Cebú, fueron utilizados. Se utilizó un diseño experimental de cuadrado latino 5x5. Los animales fueron alimentados con heno de Tifton-85 Bermuda (65% de la dieta). Además, cinco niveles diferentes de concentrado de palma torta de palmiste (0, 7, 14, 21 y 28%). Resultados. Se observó una disminución lineal en la materia seca (kg/día) debido a la palatabilidad inferior y al contenido de fibra superior de la torta de palmiste. La ingesta de fibra en detergente neutro por los animales mostró un comportamiento de segundo grado. Los coeficientes de digestibilidad fraccional de los alimentos analizados no fueron diferentes debido a la inclusión de la torta de palma. El comportamiento ingestivo de los animales no fue afectado por la inclusión de hasta 28% de torta de palma en la dieta. Conclusiones. La torta de palma se puede utilizar como un suplemento alimenticio alternativo en los sistemas de producción de rumiantes para reducir los costos de alimentación, sin cambios de las variables estudiadas.

Rendimiento productivo y características de la canal de corderos alimentados con dietas con diferentes niveles de torta de palma / Productive performance and carcass characteristics of lambs fed diets containing different levels of palm kernel cake

Objective. The objective of this study was to determine the effect on productive performance and carcass characteristics in lambs fed with different amounts of palm kernel cake. Material and methods. Thirty-two Santa Inês lambs, with an initial live body weight of 24.8 ± 3.59 kg were used. Treatments consisted of four levels (0; 6.5; 13.0 and 19.5%) of palm kernel cake added to the dry matter diet. Lambs were fed for 80 days, and then slaughtered to be evaluated for the quantitative characteristics of the carcass. Results. Intake of dry matter and non-structural carbohydrates decreased with increasing levels of palm kernel cake. The intake of neutral detergent fiber showed a linear increase. Crude protein and total digestive nutrient intake were not affected. Weight gain, and the feed:gain ratio of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and total digestive nutrients were similar among the four treatments. There was an increase on the feed:gain ratio of neutral detergent fiber and a decrease of nonstructural carbohydrates. The weight gain at slaughter and biometric measures were not affected by treatment. The carcass compactness index showed a linear decrease. The indexes of leg muscularity, compactness of the leg and rib eye area were similar among treatments. There was a linear decrease in the cold carcass weight and commercial yield of the carcass. Conclusions. The diet made of up to 19.5% palm kernel cake reduced DM intake, the carcass compactness index and carcass commercial yield, but did not alter weight gain, or feed dry matter intake.