'Meta-analysis of dry matter intake and neutral detergent fiber intake of hair sheep raised in tropical areas'.

Inadequate estimates of fiber and dry matter intake of sheep raised in tropical conditions may explain part of the inefficiency of those production systems. Therefore, we aimed to estimate dry matter intake (DMI) and neutral detergent fiber intake (NDFI) of hair sheep raised under tropical conditions. A meta-analysis of 61 independent performance experiments, comprising a total of 413 experimental units (treatment means or animals), was performed. Trials were conducted in tropical conditions, using hair sheep in growing and finishing phases and endowed with the following information: neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in diet, initial and final body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), DMI and NDFI of treatment means (51 studies) or individual data (10 studies). Data on organic matter and NDF digestibilities were collected to estimate D-value (Dv) and B-value (Bv) (20 and 33 studies, respectively). The equations obtained were: [Formula: see text] DMI (g/kg BW) as a function of Dv (g/kg DM) revealed a quadratic relationship, whose point of maximum DMI (38.69 g/kg BW) was obtained at 634.1 g/kg DM Dv. On the other hand, DMI decreased linearly as Bv (g/kg DM) increased. In conclusion, equations to predict DMI from BW and ADG as well to predict NDFI from dietary NDF were fitted with great accuracy and are recommended for hair sheep raised in tropical regions. DMI values were, in general, greater than those reported by the NRC, AFRC and INRA systems, which may be a reflection of the sheep breeds used in this study. Using Dv and Bv concepts was satisfactory to describe an integrated mechanism between metabolic and bulking regulation of DMI in sheep.

Energy and protein requirements of non-descript breed hair lambs of different sex classes in the semiarid region of Brazil.

The aim of this study was to determine the energy and protein requirements of non-descript breed hair lambs (NDB) reared under Brazilian semiarid conditions. Sixty animals from three sex classes (20 intact males, 20 castrated males, and 20 females) with an average initial body weight of 18.1 ± 0.4 kg and an average age of 5 months were used. The nutritional requirements were estimated using the comparative slaughter. The animals in the final slaughter group were distributed in a completely randomized design with a 3 × 3 factorial scheme (three sex classes and three feeding levels: ad libitum feeding (positive energy balance), 70% feed restriction (maintenance level), and 80% feed restriction (negative energy balance)). The net energy requirement for maintenance (NEm) did not differ between sex classes (P > 0.05) and it was 68 kcal/kg of metabolic empty body weight (EBW(0.75))/day (P < 0.05). The coefficients for the nonlinear regression of retained energy (RE) on the empty body weight gain (EBWG) were not different among the different sex classes (P > 0.05). The net energy requirement for weight gain (NEg) was estimated by NEg (Mcal/day) = 0.29 × EBW(0.75) × EBWG(0.86) for all sex classes (P < 0.05). The net protein requirement for weight gain (NPg) was estimated by NPg (g/day) = 224.45 × EBWG - 0.025 × RE for all sex classes (P < 0.05). The NEg increased and the NPg decreased with the increase in body weight of NDB lambs.

Feed restriction followed by realimentation in prepubescent Zebu females.

In the present study, the effect of restricting the feed intake for 77 days and subsequent compensatory growth for 50 days of Sindi females were evaluated. Eighteen animals with an initial age of 21 months and a mean weight of 211.7 kg were placed into three groups according to the following alimentary regimens: feed ad libitum, feed restricted to 20 % dry matter, and feed restricted to 40 % dry matter. In the feed-restriction phase, the nutrient intake decreased (P<0.001) with an increase in the restriction level. As a consequence, the observed decrease in ingestion and serum concentrations of total protein, albumin and globulin, urea, glucose, calcium, and phosphorus were inversely proportional (P<0.001) to the restriction level. Significant differences in the nutrient intake and serum concentration were not observed in the realimentation phase (P<0.05). When animals in the control group reached the end of the feed-restriction phase, their weights (P<0.05) were similar to those in the 20 % restricted group, and both obtained a final weight that was greater than that of animals in the 40 % restricted group. In the feed-restriction phase, the control group had a similar mean daily weight gain (P>0.05) to animals in the 20 % restricted group and (P<0.05) 40 % restricted group. However, in the realimentation phase, the 40 % restricted group obtained greater weight gain rates (P<0.05), better food conversions, and partial compensatory gains. In particular, none of the restricted groups reached the final weight of the control group. In the feed-restriction phase, ingested nitrogen, nitrogen excreted in urine and feces, nitrogen balance and retained nitrogen decreased (P<0.05) with an increase in the restriction level. In the realimentation phase, none of the nitrogen balance variables were influenced by the restriction level (P<0.05). Females in the 40 % restricted group presented better food conversion rates and greater weight gains in the realimentation phase. Based on the animals' compensatory weight gain, a feed-restriction rate of 20 and 40 % can be adopted as a nutritional management practice for prepubescent Sindi females.

Efeito da inclusão de fontes lipídicas na dieta de cabras em lactação sobre os parâmetros sanguíneos / Effect of fat source inclusion in the diet of lactating goats

Conduziu-se o estudo do perfil metabólico, com o objetivo de avaliar o estado nutricional ou possíveis distúrbios metabólicos que podem comprometer a saúde e, consequentemente, o desempenho do rebanho. No presente trabalho foi avaliado o perfil metabólico de cabras em lactação, submetidas a dietas com diferentes fontes de lipídios. Foram utilizadas 16 cabras da raça Saanen com peso vivo médio de 35 Kg e produção média diária de 1,2 kg de leite, distribuídas em quadrado latino com três repetições. Os tratamentos experimentais consistiram nas seguintes dietas: sem suplementação lipidica (TC); semente de faveleira (SF); torta de faveleira (TF) e caroço de algodão (CA). O experimento foi desenvolvido em quatro períodos experimentais de 14 dias, sendo 10 dias de adaptação à dieta e quatro dias de coleta de dados. No último dia de cada período foram coletadas amostras de sangue. A inclusão de semente de oleaginosa na dieta de cabras em lactação diminuiu o consumo de matéria seca por unidade metabólica (CMSU) e consumo de proteína bruta por unidade metabólica (CPBU). Dentre os quatro tratamentos não se observou diferença significativa no que se refere à concentração sérica de uréia, creatinina, GGT (gama glutamiltransferase), cálcio, fósforo, magnésio e glicose. Os níveis séricos de albumina dos animais que receberam TF foram maiores (P<0,05) do que os animais do grupo controle. Este trabalho sugere que as fontes de oleaginosas podem ser utilizadas na suplementação lipídica de cabras Saanen em lactação, entretanto animais alimentados com TF apresentaram um perfil metabólico mais saudável em função da suplementação lipídica.

The study of the metabolic profile has as objective to evaluate the nutritional status or possible metabolic disturbances that can damage the health and consequently the herd performance. In this work, the metabolic profile of lactating goats was evaluated, submitted to diets with different fat sources. 12 Saanen goats with BW of 35 kg and daily milk production of 1,2 kg were used, distributed into a Latin square with three repetitions. The diet comprised, without fat supplementation, TC (control) and with fat supplementation: SF (favelone seed); TF (favelone cake) and CA (cotton seed).The experiment was developed in four experimental periods of 14 days, with 10 days of adaptation to diets and four days for samples collection. In the last day of each period were collected blood samples. The inclusion of oleaginous seed into the lactating goats' diet decreased the dry matter consumption for metabolic unit (CMU) and consumption of crude protein for metabolic unit (CPMU). No significant differences in serum urea, creatinine, GGT (gamma glutamyltransferase), calcium, phosphorus, magnesium or glucose values were noticed in any of the four treatments. The serum levels of albumin in the animals that received TF were higher (P<0.05) than the animals of the control group. This work suggests that the oleaginous sources can be used as fat supplementation of lactating Saanen goats; however, animals fed the TF showed a healthier metabolic profile due to the fat supplement.

Degradabilidade in situ do rolão e farelo de milho em caprinos e ovinos deslanados mantidos em sombra natural e artificial no semi-árido paraibano / Degradability in situ of ground cob corn and corn (maize) bran in goats and wooless sheep kept in natural and artificial shade in the semi-arid region of Paraíba

Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar a degradabilidade "in situ" do rolão de milho e do farelo de milho em caprinos e ovinos deslanados, mantidos em ambientes de sombra natural e artificial, no Semiárido paraibano. Foram utilizados quatro caprinos e quatro ovinos distribuídos em dois ambientes, um natural e outro artificial. Foram incubados sacos de náilon, contendo amostras do rolão e farelo de milho nos tempos de 6, 12, 24 e 48 e 72 horas para o alimento volumoso e 6, 12, 24, 48 horas para o concentrado. Os efeitos dos ambientes e das espécies na fração b e c da MS no rolão de milho foram independentes. No ambiente artificial, a média da degradabilidade da fração b (55,36 por cento) foi superior à média obtida no ambiente natural (50,97 por cento) e a fração c apresentou maior valor no ambiente natural (40,90 por cento) do que o artificial (36,51 por cento). Quanto à fração b e c da MS do farelo de milho, não houve interação entre espécies e ambientes, a degradabilidade da fração b da MS para a espécie caprina foi superior à ovina com 60,77 por cento e 56,47 por cento, respectivamente. Ocorrendo o inverso para a fração c, onde os ovinos apresentaram média superior aos caprinos (31,93 e 27,63 por cento). Houve efeito da ambiente para a DP da MS do rolão de milho, os valores da fração b no ambiente natural e artificial foram (50,97 e 55,36 por cento) respectivamente. A DP da MS do farelo de milho para a espécie caprina foi maior do que para a espécie ovina (72,37 e 68,07 por cento, respectivamente). A degradabilidade efetiva a 5 por cento da MS foi maior para caprinos (31,17 por cento) do que para ovinos (28,48 por cento). A DE da MS (calculada com taxa de passagem de 2 e 5 por cento/ h) do farelo de milho para a espécie caprina foi superior (60,34 e 49,18 por cento) a da ovina (56,88 e 46,51 por cento, respectivamente). Concluiu-se que tanto a espécie como o ambiente influenciam na degradabilidade dos alimentos. Os ovinos e caprinos ...

The objective of this study was to evaluate "in situ" degradability of ground cob corn and corn (maize) bran in goats and wooless sheep kept in natural and artificial shade environments in the semi-arid region of Paraíba. Four goats and four sheep were used, being distributed in two environments, one natural and the other artificial. Nylon sacks were incubated containing samples of ground cob corn and corn (maize) bran in intervals of 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours for the bulk food, and 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours for the concentrate. The effects of the environments and of the species in fractions b and c of dry matter in the cob corn were independent. In the artificial environment, the average of the degradability of fraction b (55,36 percent) was higher than the average obtained in the natural environment (50,97 percent); and fraction c presented a higher value in the natural environment (40,90 percent) than in the artificial (36,51). With respect to fractions b and c of the dry matter of the corn bran, there was no interaction between species and environments; and the degradability of fraction b of dry matter for the goats was higher than for the sheep, with 60,77 percent and 56,47 percent, respectively. With respect to fraction c, the inverse was verified. The sheep presented a higher average than the goats (31,93 and 27,63 percent). There was environmental effect for potential degradability of dry matter of the cob corn. The values of fraction b in the natural and artificial environments were 50,97 and 55,36 percent, respectively. The potential degradability of corn bran for the goats was higher than for the sheep (72,37 and 68,07 percent, respectively). The effective degradability to 5 percent of the dry matter was higher for the goats (31,17 percent) than for the sheep (28,48 percent). The effective degradability of the dry matter (calculated with passage rate of 2 and 5 percent/h) of the corn bran for the goats was superior (60,34 and ...

Características da carcaça de ovinos Santa Inês terminados em pastejo e submetidos a diferentes níveis de suplementação / Carcass characteristics of Santa Inês sheep finished in grazing and submitted to different levels of supplementation

Objetivou-se, com esse trabalho, avaliar as características da carcaça de cordeiros Santa Inês, mantidos em pastagem nativa e submetidos a diferentes níveis de suplementação na dieta (1,5 por cento, 1,0 por cento e 0,0 por cento do peso vivo). Foram utilizados 24 animais, machos castrados, com peso vivo (PV) médio inicial de 15 kg ± 1,44 e idade média de 150 dias. O concentrado foi constituído à base de milho moído, farelo de soja e sal mineral. O delineamento utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, com três tratamentos e oito repetições. A utilização da suplementação possibilitou a obtenção de cordeiros com características mais desejáveis da carcaça, como: melhor rendimento, maior área de olho de lombo, menor perda de peso no resfriamento e maior peso dos cortes comerciais. Em termos de análise econômica, pode-se concluir que, se o objetivo for obter carcaças mais leves com peso em torno de 7 kg e com nível mínimo de gordura não há necessidade de suplementação com concentrado, mas, se o objetivo for obter carcaças pesando de 10 a 12 kg e com melhor nível de acabamento recomenda-se suplementação com 1,0 a 1,5 por cento do peso vivo com concentrado.

The aim of this study was to evaluate carcass characteristics of Santa Inês lambs, maintained in native pasture and submitted to different supplementation levels in the diet (1,5 percent, 1,0 percent e 0,0 percent do LW). Twenty-four castrated sheep with 15 ±1,44 kg of mean live weight (LW) were used and average age of 150 days. The concentrate was constituted of cracked corn, soybean meal and mineral salt. A completely randomized design with three treatment and eight replicates was used. The use of the supplementation makes possible to get lambs with desirable characteristics of the carcass, such as: better yield, increase rib eye area, less lose of weight in the cooling, and greater weight of retail cuts. According to the economical analysis it may be concluded that, if the aim is to get lighter carcasses with weight around 7 kg and with minimum level of fat there is not any necessity of supplementation with concentrate, but, if the aim is to get the carcasses weighing from 10 to 12 kg and with better level of finishing, it is recommended supplementation with 1,0 to 1,5 percent of the live weight with concentrate.

Parâmetros fisiológicos e desempenho de ovinos Santa Inês submetidos a diferentes tipos de sombreamento e a suplementação em pastejo / Physiologic behavior and performance of lambs Santa Inês breed submitted to different types of environmental and supplementation in grazing

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o efeito da disponibilidade de sombra e da suplementação com concentrado sobre o comportamento fisiológico e o desempenho de cordeiros Santa Inês em pastejo no semi-árido paraibano. Foram utilizados 27 ovinos machos da raça Santa Inês, com peso vivo médio de 21,5 kg e 120 dias idade. Os animais foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em três ambientes [sem sombra (SS), sombra natural (SN) e sombra artificial (SA)] e alimentados com três níveis de suplementação concentrada (0, 1,0 e 1,5 por centoPV). A análise de variância revelou efeito significativo do turno da tarde em relação ao da manhã sobre a temperatura retal (TR). Contudo, não se verificou efeito significativo dos fatores ambiente e dieta sobre a TR. A freqüência respiratória foi maior no turno tarde do que no da manhã nos ambientes de SS (35,28 e 61,64 mov/mim) e SA (30,28 e 51,76 mov/mim). A dieta influenciou a ingestão de matéria seca (IMS) no ambiente SS. A temperatura superficial foi mais elevada no turno da tarde do que pela manhã, independente dos fatores estudados. Os animais que receberam suplementação apresentaram um melhor desempenho em relação aos não suplementados. Concluiu-se com esta pesquisa que o uso de sombreamento nas pastagens melhora os índices de conforto térmico do ambiente, e que o desempenho de cordeiros da raça Santa Inês, em pastagem nativa enriquecida com capim buffel pode ser melhorado com a utilização de concentrado.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the shadow and food supplementation on the physiologic behavior and performance of Santa Inês lambs under rangeland conditions in the semi-arid region of Paraíba. Twenty-seven male lambs were used, with an average body weight of 21.5 kg and 120 days of age. They were randomly distributed in three environments [without shade (WS), natural shade (NS) and artificial shade (AS)] and fed growing three levels of concentrate supplement (0, 1.0 and 1.5 percent of live body weight). The analysis of variance revealed significant effect of period (morning x afternoon) on rectal temperature. However, no significant effect was observed for the environment and diet factors. Breathing frequency was higher in the afternoon than in the morning in the WS (35.28 and 61.64 mov/minute) and AS (30.28 and 51.76 mov/minute) environments. The diet influenced DM ingestion in SS environment. Skin temperature was higher in afternoon than in the morning, independent of the studied factors. The animals supplemented with concentrate mixtures had a performance better than the control ones. It was concluded that shading improved the indexes of thermal comfort and animal physiology and production parameters. Santa Inês breed showed high adaptability to the adverse conditions of the semi- arid region of Paraíba. The performance of Santa Inês lambs under a buffel enriched native rangeland, can be improved by supplementation with concentrate.