Feedlot performance, rumen and cecum morphometrics of Nellore cattle fed increasing levels of diet starch containing a blend of essential oils and amylase or monensin.

Feed additives used in finishing diets improve energy efficiency in ruminal fermentation, resulting in increased animal performance. However, there is no report evaluating the effect of BEO associated with exogenous α-amylase in response to increased starch content in feedlot diets. Our objective was to evaluate increasing levels of starch in the diet associated with a blend of essential oils plus amylase or sodium Monensin on performance, carcass characteristics, and ruminal and cecal morphometry of feedlot cattle. 210 Nellore bulls were used (initial body weight of 375 ± 13.25), where they were blocked and randomly allocated in 30 pens. The experiment was designed in completely randomized blocks in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement: three starch levels (25, 35, and 45%), and two additives: a blend of essential oils plus α-amylase (BEO, 90 and 560 mg/kg of DM, respectively) or sodium Monensin (MON, 26 mg/kg DM). The animals were fed once a day at 08:00 ad libitum and underwent an adaptation period of 14 days. The diets consisted of sugarcane bagasse, ground corn, soybean hulls, cottonseed, soybean meal, mineral-vitamin core, and additives. The animals fed BEO35 had higher dry matter intake (P = 0.02) and daily weight gain (P = 0.02). The MON treatment improved feed efficiency (P = 0.02). The treatments BEO35 and BEO45 increased hot carcass weight (P < 0.01). Animals fed BEO presented greater carcass yield (P = 0.01), carcass gain (P < 0.01), rib eye area gain (P = 0.01), and final rib eye area (P = 0.02) when compared to MON. The MON25 treatment improved carcass gain efficiency (P = 0.01), final marbling (P = 0.04), and final subcutaneous fat thickness (P < 0.01). The use of MON reduced the fecal starch% (P < 0.01). Cattle-fed BEO increased rumen absorptive surface area (P = 0.05) and % ASA papilla area (P < 0.01). The MON treatment reduced the cecum lesions score (P = 0.02). Therefore, the use of BEO with 35 and 45% starch increases carcass production with similar biological efficiency as MON; and animals consuming MON25 improve feed efficiency and reduce lesions in the rumen and cecum.

Microbiological Composition of Diets of Cactus Pear-Based with Increasing Levels of Buffel Grass Hay and Relationship to Nutritional Disorders in Sheep.

This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological composition of cactus pear-based diets with increasing levels of buffel grass hay, and its effect on the blood and physiological parameters and occurrence of diarrhea in feedlot sheep. Four diets containing different percentages of buffel grass hay were tested. Diets were composed of forage cactus, buffel grass hay and concentrate, and the treatments were represented by different levels of hay in the dry matter of the feed: 7.5% buffel grass hay; 15% buffel grass hay; 30% buffel grass hay; and 45% buffel grass hay on a dry matter basis. There was a significant effect (p = 0.0034) of inclusion levels of buffel grass hay on fecal score. Only at the 45% inclusion level diarrhea was not observed, showing that the level of buffel grass affected more the animals than the collection period, although the collection period has affected the microbial counts. Probably there was a physiological adaptation of animals over time. There were significant changes (p < 0.0001) in the blood parameters of sheep. The reduction of the proportion of cactus and the inclusion of greater than 15% buffel grass hay, on a dry matter basis, provides less contamination of the diet and animal feces by enterobacteria, such as E. coli.

Chemical parameters and ruminal disappearance of Secale cereale rye forage in different harvest systems with or without fungicide / Parâmetros bromatológicos e desaparecimento ruminal da forragem do centeio Secale cereale em diferentes sistemas de corte com ou sem fungicida

The objective of the study was to evaluate the chemical parameters and the ruminal disappearance of dry matter of forage from the rye Secale cereale, cv. Temprano managed in different harvest regimes at the vegetative stage, with or without application of a fungicide based on Fluxapyroxade + Piraclostrobin at the pre-flowering stage. This was a randomized block experimental design and the treatments consisted of evaluating the forage harvested at floury grain stage, as follow, SCSF: no cut at the vegetative stage, no application of fungicide; SCCF: no cut at the vegetative stage with fungicide application; UCSF: one cut at the vegetative stage, no application of fungicide; UCCF: one cut with fungicide application; DCSF: two cuts at the vegetative stage, no fungicide application; DCCF: two cuts with fungicide application. In general, one cut at the vegetative stage and a subsequent cut for ensiling at floury grain stage was the best system used in cv. Temprano, based on the chemical parameters and ruminal disappearance. This system provided a better composition of fiber carbohydrates with lower contents of Acid Detergent Fiber (41.55%) and Lignin (10.79%) after cutting and resulted in a better disappearance rate of dry matter at the rumen level (0.46 %) per hour of exposure, highlighting the cut at the vegetative stage that produced a material with 20.76% Crude Protein and 52.69% Neutral Detergent showing its nutritional quality for use in grazing land or as haylage. The application of fungicide provided significant improvements in the contents of crude protein (8.24% vs 7.23%) and mineral matter (3.02% vs 2.82%) of the plant at the time of ensiling, which generated better dry matter disappearance rates in the rumen.(AU)

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar os parâmetros bromatológicos e o desaparecimento ruminal da matéria seca da foragem de centeio Secale cereale, cv. Temprano manejado em diferentes regimes de cortes no estádio vegetativo, com ou sem aplicação de fungicida a base de Fluxapiroxade + Piraclostrobina no estádio de pré-florescimento. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso e os tratamentos constaram da avaliação das forragens colhidas no estádio de grão farináceo, sendo SCSF: sem corte no vegetativo e sem aplicação de fungicida; SCCF: sem corte no vegetativo com aplicação de fungicida; UCSF: um corte no vegetativo sem aplicação de fungicida; UCCF: um corte com aplicação de fungicida; DCSF: dois cortes no vegetativo sem aplicação de fungicida; DCCF: dois cortes com aplicação de fungicida. De maneira geral, a realização de um corte no estádio vegetativo e posterior corte para ensilagem no estádio de grão farináceo foi o melhor sistema empregado no centeio cv. Temprano com base nos parâmetros de bromatologia e desaparecimento ruminal. Esse sistema proporcionou melhor composição dos carboidratos fibrosos com menores teores de Fibra em Detergente Ácido (41,55%) e Lignina (10,79%) após o corte e gerou melhor taxa de desaparecimento ruminal da matéria seca a nível ruminal (0,46%) por hora de exposição, ressaltando ainda o corte do vegetativo que produziu um material com 20,76% de Proteína Bruta, Fibra em detergente neutro de 52,69% evidenciando a sua qualidade nutricional para uso em pastejo ou como silagem pré-secada. O uso do fungicida proporcionou melhoras significativas nos teores de proteína bruta (8,24% vs 7,23%) e matéria mineral (3,02% vs 2,82%) da planta no momento da ensilagem, o que gerou melhores índices de desaparecimento da matéria seca no rúmen.(AU)

Behavior of sheep fed different sequences of ingredients in a spineless cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm-Dyck) based-diet

The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the ingestive behavior of sheep fed diets containing different sequences of ingredients of a spineless cactus based diet because of the paucity of available information regarding the best method of feeding, especially in relation to the use of spineless cactus. The observed variables were daily time of eating, ruminating and idling. Five sheep were distributed into a 5 × 5 Latin Square with five treatments, five animals and five periods, the treatments 1 - (TMR, total mixed ration) at 7:00 and 15:00h; 2 - (C, concentrate) at 7:00h, (SC, spineless cactus) at 8:00 h, (C) at 15:00h and (TGH, tifton grass hay) at 16:00h; 3 - (C) at 7:00h, (TGH) at 8:00h, (C) at 15:00h and (SC) at 16:00h; 4 - (SC) at 7:00h, (C) at 8:00h, (TGH) at 15:00 and (C) at 16:00h and 5 - (TGH) at 7:00h, (C) at 8:00h, (SC) at 15:00h and (C) at 16:00h. No treatment effect on feeding activities (hour/day) in time total daily, but when activities were divided into periods, the sheep in sequence 3: concentrate/ hay/ concentrate/spineless cactus spent a longer time eating within the period from 7:00 to 11:00h than the sheep in sequences 1: total mixed ration (TMR) and 2: concentrate/ spineless cactus/ concentrate /hay. The digestibility of dry matter and matter organic was greater for concentrate/ spineless cactus/ concentrate/ hay and spineless cactus/ concentrate/ hay/ concentrate being recommended the use of the same as feeding strategy.

Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar o comportamento ingestivo de ovinos alimentados com dietas contendo diferentes sequências de ingredientes a base de palma forrageira, devido à escassez de informações disponíveis sobre o melhor método de alimentação, especialmente ao uso da palma forrageira. As variáveis observadas foram tempo diário de ingestão, ruminação e ócio. Cinco ovinos foram distribuídos em um quadrado latino 5 × 5, com cinco tratamentos, cinco animais e cinco períodos, sendo os tratamentos: 1 - (ração totalmente misturada- TMR) às 7:00 e às 15:00h; 2 - (concentrado- C) às 7:00h, (palma forrageira- PF) às 8:00h, (C) às 15:00h e (feno de capim tifton- FCT) às 16:00h; 3 - (C) às 7:00h, (FCT) às 8:00h, (C) às 15:00h e (PF) às 16:00h; 4 - (PF) às 7:00h, (C) às 8:00h, (FCT) às 15:00 e (C) às 16:00h e 5 - (FCT) às 7:00h, (C) às 8:00h, (PF) às 15:00h e (C) às 16:00h. Não houve efeito de tratamento sobre as atividades de alimentação (horas/dia) no total de tempo diário. Porém quando as atividades foram divididas em períodos, os ovinos na sequência 3: concentrado/ feno/ concentrado/ palma passaram um tempo de ingestão maior no período de 7:00-11:00 h comparados aos da sequência 1: ração total misturada e 2: concentrado/ palma/ concentrado/ feno. A digestibilidade da matéria seca e da matéria orgânica foi maior para concentrado/ palma/ concentrado/ feno e palma/concentrado/feno/concentrado sendo recomendado o uso dos mesmos como estratégia alimentar.

In vitro rumen fermentation kinetics, chemical and fatty acids composition of orange peel silage with corn meal / Cinética de fermentação ruminal in vitro, composição química e perfil de ácidos graxos da silagem de bagaço de laranja com fubá de milho

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of corn meal in silage orange peel in natura. The experiment has adopted a completely randomized, with four treatments (corn meal levels) and four replications. There were used experimental silos made of bucket of 12 L. Silos were opened at 90 days after ensiling, and evaluated the gases and effluent losses, pH, chemical composition, volatile fatty acids (acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric, isovaleric), and in vitro gas production. The dry matter (DM), ether extract (EE), non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC), and organic matter showed a linear increase with the inclusion of corn meal. The contents of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and crude protein (CP) decreased with increasing proportion of corn meal. Regarding the rumen fermentation kinetics there was a quadratic effect of increasing inclusion of corn meal in the final volume of gas from the non-fiber carbohydrates (VfCNF) and quadratic effect in decreasing total gas production of the fiber (VfCF). The orange peel can be conserved as silage with the inclusion of corn meal, allowing satisfactory pH levels and minimize effluent losses, ensuring good preservation of the silage. The levels of 8 and 12% were the most efficient, ensuring higher levels of DM, lower levels of NDF and ADF, higher levels of NFC, higher production volume of gas, which can be c

Objetivou-se com este trabalho, avaliar os efeitos do fubá de milho na silagem de bagaço de laranja in natura. Utilizou-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos (níveis de fubá de milho) e quatro repetições. Foram utilizados silos experimentais constituídos de baldes plásticos de 12 L com tampa. Os silos foram abertos aos 90 dias após a ensilagem, sendo avaliadas as perdas por gases e efluentes, pH, composição química, ácidos graxos voláteis e produção de gás in vitro. Os teores de matéria seca (MS), extrato etéreo (EE), carboidratos não fibrosos (CNF) e matéria orgânica apresentaram comportamento linear crescente com a inclusão do fubá de milho. Os teores de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ácido (FDA) e proteína bruta (PB) reduziram com o aumento da proporção de fubá de milho. Com relação a cinética de fermentação ruminal verificouse efeito quadrático crescente da inclusão do fubá de milho no volume final de gás proveniente dos carboidratos não fibrosos (VfCNF) e efeito quadrático decrescente no volume final de gás dos carboidratos fibrosos (VfCF). O bagaço de laranja pode ser conservado na forma de silagem com a inclusão de fubá de milho, permitindo níveis de pH satisfatórios e minimizando as perdas por efluentes, garantindo boa preservação da silagem. Os teores de 8 e 12% foram os mais eficientes, garantindo maiores teores de M

In vitro rumen fermentation kinetics, chemical and fatty acids composition of orange peel silage with corn meal / Cinética de fermentação ruminal in vitro, composição química e perfil de ácidos graxos da silagem de bagaço de laranja com fubá de milho

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of corn meal in silage orange peel in natura. The experiment has adopted a completely randomized, with four treatments (corn meal levels) and four replications. There were used experimental silos made of bucket of 12 L. Silos were opened at 90 days after ensiling, and evaluated the gases and effluent losses, pH, chemical composition, volatile fatty acids (acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric, isovaleric), and in vitro gas production. The dry matter (DM), ether extract (EE), non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC), and organic matter showed a linear increase with the inclusion of corn meal. The contents of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and crude protein (CP) decreased with increasing proportion of corn meal. Regarding the rumen fermentation kinetics there was a quadratic effect of increasing inclusion of corn meal in the final volume of gas from the non-fiber carbohydrates (VfCNF) and quadratic effect in decreasing total gas production of the fiber (VfCF). The orange peel can be conserved as silage with the inclusion of corn meal, allowing satisfactory pH levels and minimize effluent losses, ensuring good preservation of the silage. The levels of 8 and 12% were the most efficient, ensuring higher levels of DM, lower levels of NDF and ADF, higher levels of NFC, higher production volume of gas, which can be c

Objetivou-se com este trabalho, avaliar os efeitos do fubá de milho na silagem de bagaço de laranja in natura. Utilizou-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos (níveis de fubá de milho) e quatro repetições. Foram utilizados silos experimentais constituídos de baldes plásticos de 12 L com tampa. Os silos foram abertos aos 90 dias após a ensilagem, sendo avaliadas as perdas por gases e efluentes, pH, composição química, ácidos graxos voláteis e produção de gás in vitro. Os teores de matéria seca (MS), extrato etéreo (EE), carboidratos não fibrosos (CNF) e matéria orgânica apresentaram comportamento linear crescente com a inclusão do fubá de milho. Os teores de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ácido (FDA) e proteína bruta (PB) reduziram com o aumento da proporção de fubá de milho. Com relação a cinética de fermentação ruminal verificouse efeito quadrático crescente da inclusão do fubá de milho no volume final de gás proveniente dos carboidratos não fibrosos (VfCNF) e efeito quadrático decrescente no volume final de gás dos carboidratos fibrosos (VfCF). O bagaço de laranja pode ser conservado na forma de silagem com a inclusão de fubá de milho, permitindo níveis de pH satisfatórios e minimizando as perdas por efluentes, garantindo boa preservação da silagem. Os teores de 8 e 12% foram os mais eficientes, garantindo maiores teores de M