Thermoregulatory responses and ingestive behavior of sheep subjected to water restriction and high- and low-energy diets in a semi-arid environment.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of water restriction and low- and high-energy diets on sheep's thermoregulatory responses and ingestive behavior. Forty sheep, non-castrated, with an average body weight of 18.85 kg (SD = 2.80 kg) and an average age of 5 months were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, comprising 2 diets (high- and low-energy) and 2 water offers (ad libitum and 50% water restriction), with 10 replicates. Thermoregulatory responses were evaluated in two periods (morning and afternoon). There was an interaction effect of Diet x Water supply x Periods on respiratory rate (P < 0.05). High-energy diets resulted in increased heart rate, idleness, dry matter feeding and rumination efficiency, and water intake. Low-energy diets increased feeding time, rumination time, the number of ruminal cuds, chews per day, total chewing time, neutral detergent fiber intake and rumination efficiency, number of ruminations per day, average duration of rumination, and defecation frequency. Water supply affected heart rate and idleness (P < 0.05). Sheep had higher values of heart rate and rectal and surface temperatures during the afternoon (P < 0.05). Water restriction combined with a low-energy diet and high environmental temperature leads to a reduction in the respiratory rate of Santa Inês crossbred sheep. Regardless of the dietary energy value, water restriction by 50% of the daily requirement of sheep reduces dry matter intake and increases idleness.

Non-invasive methods to quantify the carcass parameters of sheep: Interaction between thermal environment and residual feed intake.

The thermal environment is important in unit production because the perception of thermal stress can reduce fertility, and productive performance, therefore its management is necessary. The use of non-invasive methods, such as infrared thermography and real-time ultrasonography, are widely used to evaluate indicators in animal production, without the need to slaughter the animals. Thus, we aimed to assess the effect of the thermal environment on the physiological parameters and carcass characteristics of Dorper sheep with positive and negative residual feed intake (RFI) using infrared thermography and real-time ultrasonography techniques. Twenty uncastrated male Dorper sheep (17.8 ± 2.4 kg) were confined for 40 days for RFI classification. Sheep were separated into positive RFI (n = 10) and negative RFI (n = 10). The experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with 2 thermal environments (full sun or shade) and two feed efficiency groups (positive RFI or negative RFI), with 5 replications. The sheep remained in confinement for 60 days. The animals were slaughtered at the end of the experiment and the carcasses dissected for tissue separation. Rectal temperature (RT) and respiratory rate (RR) were measured at two times (14:00 h and 18:00 h) for periods of 5 days. The RR was determined by indirect auscultation of heart sounds at the level of the laryngotracheal region. The RT was measured introduced a digital clinical thermometer into the animal's rectum. Surface temperature (ST) was obtained using a thermographic infrared camera, collecting the temperatures of the eyeball and skin surface in the regions of the head, ribs, rump, flank and shin. Sheep confined in full sun showed higher RR (P = 0.0001), ST ribs (P = 0.0020), ST rumb (P = 0.0055), ST flank (P = 0.0001) and heat tolerance coefficient (HTC) (P = 0.0010). For sheep confined in full sun, a strong correlation was observed between the RR and the mean ST (MST; r = 0.6826; P = 0.0236) and between the final loin eye area (LEAf) with the real LEA (LEAr) (r = 0.9263; P = 0.0001) and slaughter body weight (SBW) (r = 0.7532; P = 0.0325). For negative RFI sheep, a positive correlation was observed between the RR and the ST rump (r = 0.7343; P = 0.0025) and ST ribs (r = 0.6560; P = 0.0178) and the MST (r = 0.7435; P = 0.0001), between the MST and the LEAr (r = 0.6837; P = 0.0025) and the final LEA (r = 0.6771; P = 0.0144), and between the final LEA and LEAr (r = 0.9942; P = 0.0001), BW (r = 0.8415; P = 0.0277) and MST (r = 0.6771; P = 0.0045). Positive RFI sheep confined to shade showed a high correlation between final LEA and LEAr (r = 0.9372; P = 0.0001). The use of shading in confined Dorper sheep, regardless of the RFI classification, reduces the effects of heat stress on physiological parameters.

Retracted: Economic viability in free-range chicken production.

Despite the lack of large-scale farming of free-range chickens in Brazil, their production generates income in the countryside and prevents exodus of rural families in agricultural regions. The objective of this study is to evaluate the economic viability of free-range broiler production in different facilities. The experiment was conducted in two different sheds (masonry shed-SM and wooden shed-SW) located in the Plural Space of the Universidade Federal do Vale São Francisco, municipality of Juazeiro, BA. Here, 200 heavy red French free-range chickens were distributed in the two sheds and were raised from the 1st to the 88th day (slaughter). Assuming that the minimum age for slaughter is 85 days, the results indicated that at least 205 birds in SM and 217 birds in SW were necessary for the producer to earn the minimum per capita monthly wage in Brazil (2020); at least 411 birds in CG and 600 birds in GM were found to be necessary to achieve maximum productivity at the end of the production cycle. The maximum profitability in the slaughter of the chickens was achieved at an age of 60 days.

Retraction to: Economic viability in free-range chicken production.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1093/tas/txab109.].

Water restriction periods affect growth performance and nutritional status of Santa Inês sheep in the Brazilian Semi-arid / Períodos de restrição hídrica afetam o desempenho produtivo e o estado nutricional de ovinos Santa Inês no Semiárido Brasileiro

This study aimed to assess the growth performance and nutritional status of sheep under intermittent water supply by means of performance, intake, apparent digestibility of nutrients, water balance and nitrogen. Thirty-two intact male sheep (20.7 ± 2.63 kg, 8 months of age) were distributed in a completely randomized design with 4 water supply intervals via drinking trough (0h00, 24h00, 48h00, and 72h00), with 8 replicates. The extension in the water restriction period caused a reduction in the intake of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, digestible energy, and metabolizable energy (P < 0.05). The digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber showed a linear decrease with increasing periods of water restriction (P < 0.05). Water intake via food, total water intake, and water excretion via feces showed a linear increase in response to an increase in the water supply interval (P < 0.05). Water intake via drinking, metabolic water, total water excretion and water balance presented a linear decrease, with increasing periods of water restriction (P < 0.05). Nitrogen intake and absorbed nitrogen were influenced by water restriction, presenting a linear decreasing trend according to water supply periods (P < 0.05). Final weight, daily weight gain, and total weight gain, were influenced by the periods of water restriction, showing a linear reduction (P < 0.05). Feed conversion increased as the water restriction period increased (P=0.004). Intermittent water supply at intervals of up to 72h00 reduced nutrient intake and digestibility, resulting in a decrease in weight gain of the studied animals.(AU)

Objetivou-se avaliar o desempenho produtivo e o estado nutricional de ovinos de ovinos submetidos à oferta intermitente de água, através do desempenho, consumo, digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes, balanço hídrico e balanço de nitrogênio. Trinta e dois ovinos machos inteiros (20,7 ± 2,63 kg e idade de 8 meses) foram distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com 4 intervalos de abastecimento de água via bebedouro (0h00, 24h00, 48h00 e 72h00), com 8 repetições. O aumento do período de restrição hídrica proporcionou redução nos consumos de matéria seca, proteína bruta, fibra em detergente neutro, energia digestível e energia metabilizável (P < 0,05). Os coeficientes de digestibilidade da matéria seca, proteína bruta e fibra em detergente neutro reduziram linearmente (P < 0,05) com o aumento do período de restrição hídrica. A ingestão de água via alimento, a ingestão total de água e a excreção de água pelas fezes apresentaram um aumento linear em resposta ao aumento do intervalo de fornecimento de água (P < 0,05). A ingestão de água via bebedouro, água metabólica, excreção total de água e balanço hídrico apresentaram decréscimo linear, com o aumento do período de restrição hídrica (P < 0,05). O consumo de nitrogênio e o nitrogênio absorvido foram influenciados pela restrição hídrica, apresentando comportamento linear decrescente de acordo com os períodos de abastecimento de água (P < 0,05). O peso final, ganho de peso diário e ganho de peso total, foram influenciados pelos períodos de restrição hídrica, decrescendo linearmente (P < 0.05). A conversão alimentar aumentou com o aumento do período de restrição hídrica (P=0,004). O fornecimento intermitente de água em intervalos de até 72h reduziu a ingestão e a digestibilidade de nutrientes, promovendo diminuição no ganho de peso dos animais estudados.(AU)

Water intake and ingestive behavior of sheep fed diets based on silages of cactus pear and tropical forages.

The objective was to evaluate the water intake and ingestive behavior of sheep fed diets containing silages of cactus pear combined with tropical forages. Forty sheep without defined breed, intact, with initial average weight of 22.65 ± 1.01 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 8 replications. The experimental diets consisted of cactus pear silage (CPS), cactus pear + buffel grass silage (CPBS), cactus pear + gliricidia silage (CPGS), cactus pear + pornunça silage (CPPS), and corn silage (CS). CPGS provided higher water intake via food, total water intake, metabolic water, and excretion via feces and urine (P < 0.05). Animals that received diets containing CS showed higher water intake via drinking fountain, less efficient feeding and rumination of dry matter, less efficient rumination of neutral detergent fiber, grams of dry matter per cud, grams of neutral detergent fiber per cud, and the shortest average time spent in chewing per cud (P < 0.05). CPGS, CPPS, and CS provided longer times for rumination and numbers of cuds per day (P < 0.05). CPS showed animals spending more time in idleness, lower quantity of cuds per minute, higher concentration of crystals in urine, with a higher frequency of ammonia-magnesium phosphate and calcium oxalate. Silages based on cactus pear are an alternative to the supply of water via food for sheep in semi-arid.

Black globe temperature from meteorological data and a bioclimatic analysis of the Brazilian Northeast for Saanen goats.

The black globe temperature (BGT) is not a common measurement for weather station networks, despite having great relevance to bioclimatic studies. The aim of this study was to propose equations for estimating the BGT, using meteorological data for different time scales and a bioclimatic evaluation of the Brazilian Northeast for breeding Saanen dairy goats. The data used in elaborating the equations were collected between 1 November 2014 and 31 October 2017. Data for BGT, incident global solar radiation (SR), air temperature (AT), relative humidity (RH) and wind speed were handled on a daytime, night-time, daily and monthly scale. One half of the database was used to adjust the equations and the other half in the evaluation. The bioclimatic diagnosis of the Brazilian Northeast was carried out based on mean monthly values of the black globe temperature and humidity index (BGHI) estimated for the four seasons of the year. For the daytime scale, an equation based on AT (BGT = 1.3897.AT-5.4421, r2 = 0.80) and a multiplicative model combining the effects of AT and SR (BGT = [1.3897.AT-5.4421] (0.0384.ln(SR)+0.7935], r2 = 0.91) were obtained. AT adjusted well for BGT on the night-time scale (BGT = 0.995.AT-0.6964, r2 = 0.99), daily scale (BGT = 1.1641.AT-1.5941, r2 = 0.97) and monthly scale (BGT = 1.1550.AT-1.3498, r2 = 0.98). The BGT can therefore be calculated from AT and/or SR for the daytime scale, and from AT only for the night-time, daily and monthly scales. In general, the west and centre-south of the state of Bahia offer the animals the most thermal comfort during each season of the year. In the state of Maranhão, heat stress occurs throughout the year, with the BGTI predominately in the range of 85-95. As such, strategies to combat heat stress should be encouraged to minimise the negative effects of climate on milk production in Saanen goats, and favour the milk-production chain in the northeast of Brazil.

Ingestive behavior and thermoregulation in sheep fed forage cactus silage undergoing intermittent water supply / Comportamento ingestivo e termorregulação em ovinos alimentados com silagem de palma forrageira submetidos a oferta intermitente de água

This study aimed to assess the effect of using forage cactus silage in the diet of sheep under intermittent water supply on its ingestive behavior and thermoregulation. We used in the experiment thirty-six intact male sheep of undefined genotype with an initial average weight of 19.8 ± 2.1 kg and age of approximately six months. The experimental design was a randomized block design in a 3 × 3 factorial scheme composed of three levels of forage cactus silage in the diet (0, 21, and 42%), three water supply periods (0, 24, and 48 hours), and four replications. For the ingestive behavior, observations were carried out every 5 minutes for 2 periods of 24 hours. Thermoregulatory responses were taken at 7:00 and 15:00 h on days other than those intended for ingestive behavior tests. Intermittent water supply did not affect any of the studied variables (P > 0.05). The use of forage cactus silage significantly influenced the ingestive behavior of animals (P < 0.05). Sheep fed forage cactus silage in the diet presented an average feeding efficiency of 255.77 g DM h−1 and an average rumination efficiency of 102.16 g DM h−1, while animals fed control diet showed values of 198.63 and 78.45 g DM h−1, respectively. Urinary frequency increased according to the levels of forage cactus silage in the diet, with 23.60 urination per day in animals fed diets with 42% of forage cactus silage and 10.83 urination per day in animals fed control diet. However, the search for water reduced, with averages of 2.73 and 0.54 per day for animals fed 0 and 42% forage cactus silage, respectively. The use of forage cactus silage also increased thermoregulatory responses of sheep, with an average respiratory rate of 103.35 mov. min−1 and heart rate of 140.08 mov. min−1 in the warmest period of the day (in the afternoon). Thus, sheep fed forage cactus silage increases its feeding and rumination efficiencies, decreases its search for water, and increases its thermoregulatory responses...(AU)

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da utilização de silagem de palma forrageira na dieta de ovinos submetidos a oferta intermitente de água sobre o comportamento ingestivo e a termorregulação de ovinos. Foram utilizados 36 ovinos machos não castrados sem padrão racial, com peso médio inicial de 19,8 + 2,1 kg e idade aproximada de seis meses, distribuídos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 3 x 3, composto por três proporções de silagem de palma na dieta (0; 21 e 42 %) e três períodos de oferta de água (0; 24 e 48 horas), com quatro repetições. Para o comportamento ingestivo foram realizadas observações a cada 5 minutos durante 2 períodos de 24 horas. As respostas termorregulatórias foram tomadas nos horários das 7 e 15 horas, em dias diferentes daqueles destinados ao comportamento. Observou-se que a oferta intermitente de água não afetou nenhuma das variáveis estudadas (P > 0,05). A utilização de silagem de palma influenciou significativamente o comportamento ingestivo dos animais (P < 0,05). Ovinos alimentados com silagem de palma forrageira na dieta apresentaram eficiência de alimentação média de 255,77 gMS h-1 e de ruminação de 102,16 gMS h-1, enquanto que aqueles que não recebiam esse alimento, apresentaram valores dessas variáveis de 198,63 e 78,45 gMS h-1, respectivamente. A frequência urinária dos animais se elevou conforme a proporção de silagem de palma na dieta, sendo observadas 23,60 micções dia-1 em animais que recebiam 42% e 10,83 micções dia-1 naqueles que não recebiam silagem de palma. A procura por água, entretanto, diminuiu. Foram observadas médias de 2,73 e 0,54 (nº dia-1) para animais alimentados com 0 e 42% de silagem de palma, respectivamente. A utilização da silagem de palma também elevou as respostas termorregulatórias dos ovinos. Ovinos alimentados com silagem de palma apresentaram média de frequência respiratória de 103,35 e cardíaca de 140,08 movimentos minuto-1 no período mais quente do dia (tarde)...(AU)

Ingestive behavior and thermoregulation in sheep fed forage cactus silage undergoing intermittent water supply / Comportamento ingestivo e termorregulação em ovinos alimentados com silagem de palma forrageira submetidos a oferta intermitente de água

This study aimed to assess the effect of using forage cactus silage in the diet of sheep under intermittent water supply on its ingestive behavior and thermoregulation. We used in the experiment thirty-six intact male sheep of undefined genotype with an initial average weight of 19.8 ± 2.1 kg and age of approximately six months. The experimental design was a randomized block design in a 3 × 3 factorial scheme composed of three levels of forage cactus silage in the diet (0, 21, and 42%), three water supply periods (0, 24, and 48 hours), and four replications. For the ingestive behavior, observations were carried out every 5 minutes for 2 periods of 24 hours. Thermoregulatory responses were taken at 7:00 and 15:00 h on days other than those intended for ingestive behavior tests. Intermittent water supply did not affect any of the studied variables (P > 0.05). The use of forage cactus silage significantly influenced the ingestive behavior of animals (P < 0.05). Sheep fed forage cactus silage in the diet presented an average feeding efficiency of 255.77 g DM h−1 and an average rumination efficiency of 102.16 g DM h−1, while animals fed control diet showed values of 198.63 and 78.45 g DM h−1, respectively. Urinary frequency increased according to the levels of forage cactus silage in the diet, with 23.60 urination per day in animals fed diets with 42% of forage cactus silage and 10.83 urination per day in animals fed control diet. However, the search for water reduced, with averages of 2.73 and 0.54 per day for animals fed 0 and 42% forage cactus silage, respectively. The use of forage cactus silage also increased thermoregulatory responses of sheep, with an average respiratory rate of 103.35 mov. min−1 and heart rate of 140.08 mov. min−1 in the warmest period of the day (in the afternoon). Thus, sheep fed forage cactus silage increases its feeding and rumination efficiencies, decreases its search for water, and increases its thermoregulatory responses...

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da utilização de silagem de palma forrageira na dieta de ovinos submetidos a oferta intermitente de água sobre o comportamento ingestivo e a termorregulação de ovinos. Foram utilizados 36 ovinos machos não castrados sem padrão racial, com peso médio inicial de 19,8 + 2,1 kg e idade aproximada de seis meses, distribuídos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 3 x 3, composto por três proporções de silagem de palma na dieta (0; 21 e 42 %) e três períodos de oferta de água (0; 24 e 48 horas), com quatro repetições. Para o comportamento ingestivo foram realizadas observações a cada 5 minutos durante 2 períodos de 24 horas. As respostas termorregulatórias foram tomadas nos horários das 7 e 15 horas, em dias diferentes daqueles destinados ao comportamento. Observou-se que a oferta intermitente de água não afetou nenhuma das variáveis estudadas (P > 0,05). A utilização de silagem de palma influenciou significativamente o comportamento ingestivo dos animais (P < 0,05). Ovinos alimentados com silagem de palma forrageira na dieta apresentaram eficiência de alimentação média de 255,77 gMS h-1 e de ruminação de 102,16 gMS h-1, enquanto que aqueles que não recebiam esse alimento, apresentaram valores dessas variáveis de 198,63 e 78,45 gMS h-1, respectivamente. A frequência urinária dos animais se elevou conforme a proporção de silagem de palma na dieta, sendo observadas 23,60 micções dia-1 em animais que recebiam 42% e 10,83 micções dia-1 naqueles que não recebiam silagem de palma. A procura por água, entretanto, diminuiu. Foram observadas médias de 2,73 e 0,54 (nº dia-1) para animais alimentados com 0 e 42% de silagem de palma, respectivamente. A utilização da silagem de palma também elevou as respostas termorregulatórias dos ovinos. Ovinos alimentados com silagem de palma apresentaram média de frequência respiratória de 103,35 e cardíaca de 140,08 movimentos minuto-1 no período mais quente do dia (tarde)...

Ingestive behavior of crossbred Santa Inês sheep fed water with different salinity levels / Comportamento ingestivo de ovinos mestiços da raça santa inês recebendo água com níveis de salinidade

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of four water salinity levels on the ingestive behavior of non-castrated crossbred Santa Inês sheep. Thirty-two non-castrated crossbred Santa Inês sheep in feedlot, at seven months of age and initial average weight of 21.76±1.25 kg, were used in the experiment. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four treatments and eight replicates. Four concentrations of salts in the water fed to the animals were evaluated: low (640 mg/l); medium (3,188 mg/l); high (5,740 mg/l) and very high (8,326 mg/l) levels of total dissolved solids (TDS). For the ingestive behaviors, the animals were observed every ten minutes, for 24 hours, to determine the time spent feeding, ruminating and idle. Also, cud chewing and the average number of defecations and urinations and the frequency of water ingestion were determined. The time spent feeding, ruminating and idle were not changed by the salinity levels in the water. Dry matter intake, neutral detergent fiber intake, total chewing time, total cud chews per day, number of daily meals, average duration of each meal and number of defecations per day did not change either. However, feeding and rumination efficiency in grams of DM/h, water intake and number of urinations were linearly affected, whereas the variables rumination efficiency in grams of NDF/h, grams of dry matter per cud, grams of neutral detergent fiber per cud, number of cuds, number of chews per cud and chewing time per cud presented quadratic effect. The different levels of total dissolved solids (640; 3,188; 5,740; and 8.326 mg/l) in the water fed to the sheep did not cause alterations in their ingestive behavior. In conclusion, water with up to 8,326 mg TDS/l can be an alternative strategic and seasonal method to water crossbred Santa Ines sheep.(AU)

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito dos níveis de salinidade da água de consumo sobre o comportamento ingestivo de ovinos inteiros mestiços da raça Santa Inês, criados no semiárido Nordestino Brasileiro. O experimento foi conduzido no setor de metabolismo animal, pertencente a Embrapa Semiárido, localizada em Petrolina/PE, situada na região Nordeste do país. Foram utilizados 32 ovinos inteiros mestiços da raça Santa Inês em confinamento, com idade de sete meses e peso corporal médio inicial de 21,76±1,25 Kg. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos e oito repetições. Foram avaliados quatro teores de sais na água de beber dos animais: 640 - baixo; 3.188 - médio; 5.740 - alto e 8.326mg/l - muito alto de sólidos dissolvidos totais (SDT). Para o comportamento ingestivo foram realizadas observações a cada dez minutos, durante 24 horas, para determinação do tempo despendido em alimentação, ruminação e ócio. Além da determinação da mastigação merícica e número médio de defecação, micção e frequência de ingestão de água. O tempo despendido com alimentação, ruminação e ócio não sofreram alteração com os níveis de salinidade na água, assim como o consumo de matéria seca, consumo de fibra em detergente neutro, tempo de mastigação total, número de mastigação merícica por dia, número de refeição diária, duração média de cada refeição e o número de vezes de defecação por dia. Contudo, as eficiências de alimentação e ruminação em gramas de MS/h, o consumo de água ofertado, número de vezes de micção e ingestão de água, tiveram efeitos lineares, enquanto as variáveis: eficiência de ruminação em gramas de FDN/h, gramas de matéria seca por bolo, gramas de fibra em detergente neutro por bolo, número de bolos ruminais, número de mastigação merícica por bolo e tempo de mastigação merícica por bolo apresentaram efeitos quadráticos.[...](AU)

Ingestive behavior of crossbred Santa Inês sheep fed water with different salinity levels / Comportamento ingestivo de ovinos mestiços da raça santa inês recebendo água com níveis de salinidade

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of four water salinity levels on the ingestive behavior of non-castrated crossbred Santa Inês sheep. Thirty-two non-castrated crossbred Santa Inês sheep in feedlot, at seven months of age and initial average weight of 21.76±1.25 kg, were used in the experiment. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four treatments and eight replicates. Four concentrations of salts in the water fed to the animals were evaluated: low (640 mg/l); medium (3,188 mg/l); high (5,740 mg/l) and very high (8,326 mg/l) levels of total dissolved solids (TDS). For the ingestive behaviors, the animals were observed every ten minutes, for 24 hours, to determine the time spent feeding, ruminating and idle. Also, cud chewing and the average number of defecations and urinations and the frequency of water ingestion were determined. The time spent feeding, ruminating and idle were not changed by the salinity levels in the water. Dry matter intake, neutral detergent fiber intake, total chewing time, total cud chews per day, number of daily meals, average duration of each meal and number of defecations per day did not change either. However, feeding and rumination efficiency in grams of DM/h, water intake and number of urinations were linearly affected, whereas the variables rumination efficiency in grams of NDF/h, grams of dry matter per cud, grams of neutral detergent fiber per cud, number of cuds, number of chews per cud and chewing time per cud presented quadratic effect. The different levels of total dissolved solids (640; 3,188; 5,740; and 8.326 mg/l) in the water fed to the sheep did not cause alterations in their ingestive behavior. In conclusion, water with up to 8,326 mg TDS/l can be an alternative strategic and seasonal method to water crossbred Santa Ines sheep.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito dos níveis de salinidade da água de consumo sobre o comportamento ingestivo de ovinos inteiros mestiços da raça Santa Inês, criados no semiárido Nordestino Brasileiro. O experimento foi conduzido no setor de metabolismo animal, pertencente a Embrapa Semiárido, localizada em Petrolina/PE, situada na região Nordeste do país. Foram utilizados 32 ovinos inteiros mestiços da raça Santa Inês em confinamento, com idade de sete meses e peso corporal médio inicial de 21,76±1,25 Kg. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos e oito repetições. Foram avaliados quatro teores de sais na água de beber dos animais: 640 - baixo; 3.188 - médio; 5.740 - alto e 8.326mg/l - muito alto de sólidos dissolvidos totais (SDT). Para o comportamento ingestivo foram realizadas observações a cada dez minutos, durante 24 horas, para determinação do tempo despendido em alimentação, ruminação e ócio. Além da determinação da mastigação merícica e número médio de defecação, micção e frequência de ingestão de água. O tempo despendido com alimentação, ruminação e ócio não sofreram alteração com os níveis de salinidade na água, assim como o consumo de matéria seca, consumo de fibra em detergente neutro, tempo de mastigação total, número de mastigação merícica por dia, número de refeição diária, duração média de cada refeição e o número de vezes de defecação por dia. Contudo, as eficiências de alimentação e ruminação em gramas de MS/h, o consumo de água ofertado, número de vezes de micção e ingestão de água, tiveram efeitos lineares, enquanto as variáveis: eficiência de ruminação em gramas de FDN/h, gramas de matéria seca por bolo, gramas de fibra em detergente neutro por bolo, número de bolos ruminais, número de mastigação merícica por bolo e tempo de mastigação merícica por bolo apresentaram efeitos quadráticos.[...]

Aspectos clínicos, parasitológicos e produtivos de ovinos mantidos em pastagem de capim-aruana irrigado e adubado com diferentes doses de nitrogênio / Clinical, parasitological and productive evaluation of lambs under pasture of Aruana grass irrigated and fertilized with different doses of nitrogen

Esse trabalho objetivou avaliar os aspectos clínicos, parasitológicos e produtivos de cordeiros mestiços mantidos em pastejo rotativo de Panicum maximum cv. Aruana adubado com quatro doses de nitrogênio (75, 275, 475 e 675 kg ha-1 ano-1). Foram utilizados 18 cordeiros por tratamento, perfazendo um total de 72 animais. Foram avaliados os seguintes parâmetros: ganho médio diário (GMD), ganho de peso total (GPT), taxa de lotação (TxL), produção total de carne, contagem do número de ovos por grama de fezes (OPG) e coprocultura. A vermifugação dos animais foi realizada de acordo com a coloração da mucosa ocular comparada por meio do cartão Famacha©. Foi verificado que tanto o GMD quanto o GPT foram maiores (p < 0,05) nos animais mantidos na pastagem com adubação nitrogenada 75 kg ha-1 ano-1. Todavia, a TxL e o OPG foram maior (p < 0,05) nos animais mantidos na pastagem adubada com 675 kg ha-1 ano-1. Não houve diferença significativa entre as doses de adubação para os diferentes tons de coloração da mucosa ocular nem para o número de animais vermifugados. Observou-se uma prevalência de 80,0 a 93,0% de larvas de Trichostrongylus sp. A vermifugação baseada na avaliação da mucosa ocular não permitiu a redução do OPG para nenhuma das doses de adubação adotadas. A dose de nitrogênio de 475 kg ha-1 ano-1 promoveu melhor desempenho produtivo por hectare.

This work aimed to evaluate clinical, parasitological and productive parameters of crossbred lambs under a rotational grazing system of Panicum maximum cv. Aruana grass fertilized with four doses of nitrogen (75, 275, 475 and 675 kg ha-1 year-1). Eighteen lambs were used per treatment, totaling 72 animals. The following parameters were evaluated: daily weight gain (DWG), total weight gain (TWG), stocking rate (SR), meat production, number of fecal eggs per gram (EPG) and coproculture. Deworming was accomplished according to conjunctiva color compared using the Famacha© card. DWG and TWG were greater (p < 0.05) in the animals under pasture fertilized with 75 kg ha-1 year-1. However, SR and EPG were greater (p < 0.05) in the animals kept in pastures with 675 kg ha-1 year-1. There were no significant differences among nitrogen levels for the different colors of ocular mucosa or the number of animals dewormed. A prevalence of 80.0 to 93.0% of Trichostrongylus sp. was found. The deworming based on the evaluation of conjunctiva color did not reduce EPG into desirable levels for any of fertilized doses of nitrogen. The nitrogen dose of 475 kg ha-1 year-1 in Aruana grass allowed greater productive performance per hectare.