Influence of diets with silage from forage plants adapted to the semi-arid conditions on lamb quality and sensory attributes.

Quality and sensory attributes of meat from 32 mixed-breed Santa Inês lambs fed diets composed of four silages with old man saltbush (Atriplex nummularia Lind), buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris), Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium), and Pornunça (Manihot sp.) were evaluated. Meat from lambs fed diet containing old man saltbush silage (P<0.05) showed greater values for cooking loss. Of the sensory attributes evaluated in the Longissimus lumborum muscle of the lambs, color and juiciness did not differ (P>0.05). However, the silages led to differences (P<0.05) in aroma, tenderness, and flavor values. The meat from animals fed the pornunça and Gliricidia silages was tenderer. Flavor scores were higher in meat from lambs that consumed old man saltbush silage and lower in the meat from those fed buffelgrass silage. Diets formulated with buffelgrass silage for sheep reduce meat production. Based on the results for carcass weight and meat quality, old man saltbush and pornunça are better silages for finishing sheep.

Intake, digestibility, performance, and nitrogen metabolism of feedlot-finished young bulls () fed diets containing peanut cake.

This aim of this study was to evaluate the use of peanut cake as a dietary substitute for soybean meal and to determine the effects on intake, apparent digestibility, performance, and N metabolism in feedlot-finished young bulls. Thirty-two young Nellore bulls with an average initial BW of 390 ± 43.5 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design and individually housed in stalls. The young bulls were fed Tifton 85 hay and 4 concentrate mixes containing 0, 33, 66, or 100% peanut cake replacing soybean meal. The diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous, containing 150 g/kg CP, and isocaloric (65% TDN), to have a 40:60 forage:concentrate ratio, and were provided as a total mixed ration. The experiment lasted 90 d and data were collected every 28 d. Blood and urine samples were taken during the last 6 d. Intakes of DM ( = 0.005), OM ( = 0.006), CP ( = 0.002), NDF ( = 0.022), nonfiber carbohydrates ( = 0.002), and TDN ( = 0.018) linearly decreased as the dietary inclusion of peanut cake in the diet was increased. Conversely, intake and ether extract digestibility linearly increased ( < 0.035). The average daily weight gain decreased ( = 0.015) as the peanut cake levels were increased. Plasma urea N decreased (linearly; = 0.005). Peanut cake may not be used to replace soybean meal in the diet of young feedlot-finished Nellore bulls.

Carcass traits and meat quality of crossbred Boer goats fed peanut cake as a substitute for soybean meal.

This study aimed to determine the impact of replacing soybean meal with peanut cake in the diets of crossbred Boer goats as determined by carcass characteristics and quality and by the fatty acid profile of meat. Forty vaccinated and dewormed crossbred Boer goats were used. Goats had an average age of 5 mo and an average BW of 15.6 ± 2.7 kg. Goats were fed Tifton-85 hay and a concentrate consisting of corn bran, soybean meal, and mineral premix. Peanut cake was substituted for soybean meal at levels of 0.0, 33.33, 66.67, and 100%. Biometric and carcass morphometric measurements of crossbred Boer goats were not affected by replacing soybean meal with peanut cake in the diet. There was no influence of the replacement of soybean meal with peanut cake on weight at slaughter ( = 0.28), HCW ( = 0.26), cold carcass weight ( = 0.23), noncarcass components of weight ( = 0.71), or muscularity index values ( = 0.11). However, regression equations indicated that there would be a reduction of 18 and 11% for loin eye area and muscle:bone ratio, respectively, between the treatment without peanut cake and the treatment with total soybean meal replacement. The weights and yields of the commercial cuts were not affected ( > 0.05) by replacing soybean meal with peanut cake in the diet. Replacing soybean meal with peanut cake did not affect the pH ( = 0.79), color index ( > 0.05), and chemical composition ( > 0.05) of the meat (). However, a quadratic trend for the ash content was observed with peanut cake inclusion in the diet ( = 0.09). Peanut cake inclusion in the diet did not affect the concentrations of the sum of SFA ( = 0.29), the sum of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA; = 0.29), or the sum of PUFA ( = 0.97) or the SFA:UFA ratio ( = 0.23) in goat meat. However, there was a linear decrease ( = 0.01) in the sum of odd-chain fatty acids in the meat with increasing peanut cake in the diet. Soybean meal replacement with peanut cake did not affect the n-6:n-3 ratio ( = 0.13) or the medium-chain fatty acid ( = 0.76), long-chain fatty acid ( = 0.74), or atherogenicity index values ( = 0.60) in the meat. The sensory attributes of the longissimus lumborum did not differ with the inclusion of peanut cake in the diet as a replacement for soybean meal. These results suggest that based on carcass and meat characteristics, peanut cake can completely substitute soybean meal in the diet of crossbred Boer goats.

Intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance, performance, and carcass yield of lambs fed licuri cake.

This study aimed to determine the impact of the inclusion of licuri cake in the diets of crossbred Santa Inês lambs, based on intake, digestibility, N balance, urea N, and performance. We used 44 male lambs that were vaccinated and wormed, with an average age of 6 mo and an average BW of 21.2 kg ± 2.7 kg. The lambs were fed a mixture of Tifton-85 hay (40%) and a concentrated mixture (60%) composed of ground corn, soybean meal, and mineral premix. For the treatments, licuri cake was added at levels of 0, 8, 16, and 24% of DM, with the licuri cake replacing soybean meal and ground corn. We used 11 lambs per treatment in a randomized design. The lambs were confined for 70 d, and the digestibility trial occurred between Day 40 and Day 55. The increased level of licuri cake inclusion promoted a linear reduction in DM intake ( = 0.00) with a 39% reduction between treatments with the 0 and 24% cakes. On the other hand, ether extract () consumption showed an initial quadratic increase ( = 0.00). The total weight gain and ADG showed a linear decrease ( = 0.00) with the addition of licuri cake. The inclusion of licuri cake linearly enhanced ( = 0.02) the digestibility of CP and EE, whereas the digestibility of other nutrients in lambs remained unchanged ( > 0.05). The licuri cake increase led to a linear decrease ( < 0.05) in the N intake, fecal N, and retained N in lambs. Urinary N was not changed. The slaughter carcass weight, HCW, cold carcass weight, hot carcass yield, and cold carcass yield showed linear decreases ( < 0.05) with the addition of licuri cake. Carcass morphometric measurements were influenced by experimental diets, showing linear decreases ( < 0.05) with the addition of licuri cake to diets. The fat thickness, conformation, external length, internal length, leg length, rump width, and chest circumference showed linear decreases ( < 0.05) with the inclusion of licuri cake in diets. The inclusion of licuri cake decreased DMI and digestibility, reflecting the lower ADG. Although feed efficiency was not affected, the lambs weighed less at slaughter and the licuri cake had a negative impact on carcass yield. Therefore, the use of the studied levels of licuri cake in diets for finishing lambs cannot be recommended.

Production and quality of beef from young bulls fed diets supplemented with peanut cake.

Peanut cake is a biodiesel byproduct that has been tested as an alternative feed additive for use in cattle production. This study aimed to assess the importance of dietary peanut cake inclusion for young bull growth rate, beef production, and beef quality. In total, 32 Nellore young bulls individually housed in stalls with a mean initial body weight of 390±43.5kg were distributed in a completely randomized design for the experiment. The animals were fed Tifton 85 hay and one of four concentrate mixtures with 0, 33, 66 or 100% peanut cake instead of soybean meal. There was a linear reduction (P<0.05) in the slaughter weight and hot carcass weight and a quadratic effect (P<0.05) on the beef texture. No alterations occurred in the physicochemical characteristics of the longissimus thoracis; however, changes were observed (P<0.05) in the longissimus thoracis fatty acid profile. The replacement of soybean meal with peanut cake at levels up to 100% in the diet of feedlot-finished young bulls promotes a beneficial increase in the levels of PUFAs and the following nutraceutical compounds: conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and Ω3 and Ω6 fatty acids.

Comportamento ingestivo e respostas fisiológicas de cabritos alimentados com dietas contendo torta de girassol oriunda da produção de biodiesel / Ingestive behavior and physiological responses of goats fed with diets containing sunflower cake from biodiesel production

Avaliou-se o efeito de dieta com torta de girassol, oriunda da produção de biodiesel, sobre o comportamento ingestivo e a resposta fisiológica de 32 cabritos ½ sangue Boer, não castrados, com peso médio inicial de 15,3±3,2kg e idade média de 135 dias. Utilizou-se delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos 0; 8; 16 e 24% de inclusão da torta de girassol e oito repetições. O tempo despendido com ruminação, ócio e mastigação total não foi influenciado pela dieta, e observou-se efeito linear crescente sobre o tempo de ingestão em min/período e em min/dia. A eficiência de ingestão e ruminação da matéria seca e da fibra em detergente neutro também não diferiu entre dietas. Quanto às respostas fisiológicas, as frequências respiratória e cardíaca e as temperaturas retal e superficial não sofreram influência da dieta. Concluiu-se que a torta de girassol pode ser incluída até 24% da matéria seca em dietas de cabritos ½ sangue Boer sem comprometer o comportamento ingestivo e os parâmetros fisiológicos desses animais. O fornecimento de dietas com até 24% de matéria seca de torta de girassol não interfere no estresse calórico de cabritos.

The effect of diets with sunflower cake originated from biodiesel production on the ingestive behavior and physiological responses of 32 crossbred Boer goats, noncastrated, with initial weight of 15.3±3.2 kg and mean age of 135 days was evaluated. A completely randomized design with four treatments (0, 8, 16 and 24% of sunflower cake inclusion) and eight replicates was used. The rumination and idling times and the total chewing time were not affected by diets, but the ingestion time (min/period and min/day) had an increasing linear effect. The rumination and ingestion efficiencies of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber also did not differ among diets. Regarding the physiological responses of animals, the heart and respiratory frequencies and the surface and rectal temperatures were not influenced by diets. Sunflower cake can be included up to 24% DM in diets of crossbred Boer goats without compromising the ingestive behavior and physiological parameter of these animals. Under the climatic conditions evaluated the supply of diets with up to 24% DM of sunflower cake does not mitigate or enhance the heat stress in kids.

Distribution and factors associated with Fasciola hepatica infection in cattle in the south of Espírito Santo State, Brazil

Fasciolosis is a disease that affects the liver parenchyma and bile ducts of numerous animals, including humans, which causes economic losses and threatens public health. The present work aimed at reporting the distribution and factors connected with Fasciola hepatica infection in cattle in ten municipalities in southern Espírito Santo, Brazil, between 2008 and 2009. During this period, 50 rural properties in ten cities were analyzed and fecal samples from 10 percent of the cattle on each farm were collected. Of the 717 samples analyzed, 154 (21.33 percent) presented Fasciola hepatica eggs. As for the 50 rural properties studied, 32 (64 percent) had animals positive for fasciolosis. Throughout the evaluation, it was observed that 42 (84 percent) rural properties had flooded areas, 33 (66 percent) were located at altitudes less than 226 meters, in 36 (72 percent) mollusks were found, 47 (94 percent) had other definitive hosts (horses, sheep, goats) and 25 (50 percent) had previous cases of bovine fasciolosis. The present results showed a high rate of bovine fasciolosis in the analyzed region whereas infected animals are present in all the municipalities. Based on statistical analysis, it was concluded that there was an association between the presence of flooded areas and other definitive hosts in rural properties where bovine fasciolosis was detected.

Rendimentos de carcaça, composição tecidual e musculosidade da perna de cordeiros alimentados com silagem de milho ou cana-de-açúcar em dois níveis de concentrado / Carcass yield, tissue composition, and leg muscularity of lambs fed corn silage or sugar cane in two levels of concentrate

Avaliou-se o efeito da relação volumoso:concentrado e do tipo de volumoso nos rendimentos de carcaça e dos cortes comerciais, e sobre a composição dos tecidos e musculosidade da perna de 32 cordeiros Ile de France, terminados em confinamento, alimentados com silagem de milho ou cana-de-açúcar, em duas relações volumoso:concentrado: de 60:40 ou 40:60. Os cordeiros foram abatidos aos 32kg de peso corporal; calcularam-se o peso e o rendimento da carcaça quente (PCQ e RCQ). Após 24 horas de refrigeração, obtiveram-se o peso e o rendimento da carcaça fria (PCF e RCF), o rendimento verdadeiro e as perdas por resfriamento. As carcaças foram divididas em cinco cortes comerciais, paleta, lombo, perna, costelas e pescoço, e a perna foi dissecada em músculo, osso e gordura, calculando-se as relações músculo:osso e músculo:gordura, além do índice de musculosidade da perna. Os cordeiros alimentados com silagem de milho apresentaram maiores PCQ (16,05kg), PCF (15,61kg), RCQ (50,4 por cento) e RCF (49,0 por cento). O rendimento de lombo foi menor nos cordeiros alimentados com cana-de-açúcar (9,1 por cento). A cana-de-açúcar e a silagem de milho nas duas relações volumoso:concentrado estudadas não afetaram as proporções de osso, músculo e gordura e musculosidade da perna, e podem constituir a dieta desses animais sem diminuir as proporções desses tecidos, responsáveis pela qualidade da carne.

The effects of roughage:concentrate ratio and type of roughage were evaluated on the carcass yield and commercial cuts, and tissue composition and leg muscularity of 32 Ile de France lambs finished in feedlot and fed corn silage or sugar cane in two roughage:concentrate ratios: 60:40 or 40:60. The lambs were slaughtered with 32kg of body weight and the weight and yield of hot carcass (WHC and YHC) were determined. After refrigerated for 24h in cold camera, the weight and yield of cold carcass (WCC and YCC), real yield, and weight loss for cooling were obtained. The carcass was divided in five commercial cuts (shoulder, loin, leg, ribs, and neck), and the leg was dissected on muscle, bone, and fat, and the relations muscle:bone and muscle:fat and also the leg muscularity index were calculated. The lambs fed corn silage showed higher WHC (16.05kg), WCC (15.61kg), YHC (50.42 percent), and YCC (49.03 percent). The loin yield was lower in lambs fed sugar cane (9.11 percent). The sugar cane and corn silage in this two roughage:concentrate ratios did not affect the proportions of muscle, bone, and fat, and leg muscularity. Therefore, they can be used in diets for animals without reducing the proportions of these tissues, that are related to meat quality.