Impact of supplementation with different protein sources on the parasitological profile of ovine matrices and development of lambs

The aim was to evaluate the impact of supplementation with different protein sources from agro-industrial production on the parasitological profile of ovine matrices and the development of their offspring. The protein sources used were: soybean bran, cotton pie, babassu pie, and coconut pie. A total of 60 ovine matrices were used, with confirmed pregnancy and supplemented in the final third of gestation at 0.5% of live weight in pastures of deferred Marandu grass. The evaluations occurred from the final third of gestation and in the lactation phase until weaning. The data collected in the matrices were: counting of eggs per gram of feces (EPG) and identification of infective larvae (Faecal test), evaluation of the degree of anemia by the FAMACHA©  method, body weight (kg), and body condition score (BCS). In the lambs, the biometric measurements were taken from the 30 days of life until weaning. In Faecal test, the prevalence was 98% of Haemonchus spp. There was no effect of the protein sources for EPG (3476.0) and FAMACHA©. However, in the mats supplemented with coconut pie were observed the lowest body weights (36.9 kg) and lower BCS (2.7). Babassu, coconut and cotton cakes, and soybean meal used as a protein source in the supplementation of ovine matrices kept in deferred pastures of Marandu grass at the 0.5% level of live weight maintain the production indexes consistent with the physiology stage of the matrices even with a high endo-parasitic load

Aspects related to the importance of using predictive models in sheep production. Review

Los sistemas de producción ovina se enfrentan a numerosos desafíos, que hacen de la toma de decisiones un proceso lleno de riesgos e incertidumbres. En este sentido, la modelación es una herramienta útil, ya que permite a los tomadores de decisiones evaluar el comportamiento de las variables y sus interrelaciones, además de utilizar información previa o relacionada para predecir resultados y simular diferentes escenarios. El advenimiento de los modelos de predicción ha permitido monitorear el peso de un animal y determinar el mejor momento para su venta. Además, permite a los productores estimar los pesos de la canal y los principales cortes comercializables antes del sacrificio. Toda esta información está directamente asociada a la rentabilidad y el éxito de la actividad productiva. Por lo tanto, en vista de las diferentes aplicaciones de los modelos matemáticos en los sistemas de producción, esta revisión de la literatura examina los conceptos en los estudios de modelación y la importancia de utilizar modelos de predicción en la producción de ovinos de carne. Además, aborda la aplicación práctica de los estudios de modelación en la predicción de la ingesta de materia seca y los rasgos de la canal de ovinos de carne a través de variables correlacionadas.Sheep production systems face numerous challenges, which make decision-making a process fraught with risks and uncertainties. Modelling is a helpful tool in this respect, as it allows decision-makers to evaluate the behaviour of variables and their interrelationships, in addition to using previous or related information to predict results and simulate different scenarios. The advent of prediction models has made it possible to monitor the weight of an animal and determine the best time for its sale. Additionally, it allows producers to estimate the weights of the carcass and major marketable cuts before slaughter. All this information is directly associated with the profitability and success of the production activity. Therefore, in view of the different applications of mathematical models in production systems, this literature review examines concepts in modelling studies and the importance of using prediction models in meat sheep production. Furthermore, it addresses the practical application of modelling studies in predicting dry matter intake and carcass traits of meat sheep through correlated variables

Brachiaria grasses in vitro digestibility with bovine and ovine ruminal liquid as inoculum

Se planteó la hipótesis de que es posible que el inóculo de diferentes especies de rumiantes con capacidades digestivas diferentes que se alimentan de un determinado forraje puede mostrar diferentes utilizaciones de alimento en comparación con otras especies de rumiantes. Se evaluaron cinco gramíneas Brachiaria: B. decumbens cv. Basilisk, B. decumbens acceso D70, B. humidicola cv. Tupi, B. humidicola cv. Común, y B. ruziziensis acceso R124, en dos edades de rebrote (21 y 42 d). Se analizó la producción, el contenido bromatológico, la digestibilidad de materia seca in vitro (DMSiv) y la digestibilidad de la fibra detergente neutro in vitro (DFDNiv) utilizando inóculos bovinos u ovinos. El experimento utilizó un diseño factorial de 5 × 2 × 2 y encontró efectos significativos para la variedad de gramínea y la edad de rebrote. Además, se encontraron interacciones significativas de gramínea × edad en la materia seca, la proteína cruda, la fibra detergente neutro y la fibra detergente ácido de la muestra total y lamina de la hoja. Hubo un efecto significativo de la variedad de gramínea y la edad de la gramínea en la masa del forraje, la relación lámina de la hoja/tallo, lámina de la hoja, tallo, material senescente y crecimiento. En los ensayos de la digestibilidad in vitro, el origen del inóculo mostró un efecto significativo en algunas variedades. Debido a las diferencias en los ensayos in vitro, se recomendó el uso de inóculos específicos de las especies para las evaluaciones de alimentos según el animal al que se destina. Asimismo, B. decumbens cv. Basilisk presentó la mejor digestibilidad in vitro (DMSiv y DFDNiv) en inóculo bovino, mientras que B. humidicola cv. Tupi tuvo mejor digestibilidad in vitro (DMSiv y DFDNiv) en inóculo ovino.It was hypothesized that it is possible that inoculum from different ruminant species with different digestive abilities feeding from a certain forage may show different feed utilizations comparing to other ruminant species. Five Brachiaria grasses were evaluated: B. decumbens cv. Basilisk, B. decumbens access D70, B. humidicola cv. Tupi, B. humidicola cv. Common, and B. ruziziensis access R124, at two regrowth ages (21 and 42 d). Production, bromatological content, in vitro dry matter digestibility (ivDMD) and in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility (ivNDFD) were analyzed using bovine or ovine inoculums. The experiment used a 5 × 2 × 2 factorial design and found significant effects for grass variety and regrowth age. In addition, significant interactions from grass × age on dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber of total sample and leaf blade were found. There were significant effect of grass variety and grass age on forage mass, leaf blade/stem ratio, leaf blade, stem, senescent material and growth. In vitro digestibility assays of inoculum source showed significant effect in some varieties. Due to differences in in vitro assays, it was recommended the use of species-specific inoculums for feed evaluations according to the animal it is intended for. Also, B. decumbens cv. Basilisk presented the best in vitro digestibility (ivDMD and ivNDFD) in bovine inoculum, whereas B. humidicola cv. Tupi had better in vitro digestibility (ivDMD and ivNDFD) in ovine inoculum

Productive and economic performance of feedlot young Nellore bulls fed whole oilseeds

ABSTRACT The effects of diets containing oilseeds were measured to evaluate the productive and economic parameters in the finishing of young, feedlot Nellore bulls. Twenty-four young Nellore bulls were used, with an initial body weight (BW) of 311.46±0.37 kg and 24 months of age, distributed into individual stalls ( 4 × 20 m) in a completely randomized design, totaling four treatments with six repetitions per treatment. Four diets (control, based on corn and soybean meal, and three diets containing cottonseed, soybean, and sunflower) were evaluated. Feed and orts were measured daily to calculate intake and costs. The dry matter intake of the control group was higher than soybean (10.64 kg/day), cotton (9.88 kg/day), and sunflower (9.30 kg/day) treatments, respectively. The cottonseed treatment showed the highest average neutral detergent fiber intake. There was a dietary effect of diets on average daily gain, total weight gain, and final weight. The soybean treatment showed the highest performance, total gain (232.55 kg), and final weight (544.38 kg). Oilseed intake can modify the fatty acids profile in the meat, decreasing its saturated fatty acid content. Whole soybean seed favors performance, improves feed efficiency, fatty acid profile, and fat distribution in the carcass, and can reduce production costs