Effects of Substituting Soybean Meal for Sunflower Cake in the Diet on the Growth and Carcass Traits of Crossbred Boer Goat Kids

The present study was conducted to determine the best level of substitution of soybean meal by sunflower cake in diets for kids through the evaluation of quantitative carcass traits. Thirty-two Boer kids X 1/2 NDB (no defined breed), males, non-castrated, with 4 months of age and initial body weight of 15±3.2 kg, were randomly assigned to individual pens. The treatments contained four substitution levels of soybean meal by sunflower cake (0, 33, 66 and 100% DM). At the end of the experimental period, the animals were slaughtered. There was no influence of the treatments on any of the mean values of the evaluated measures (p>0.05): 21.78 kg (body weight at slaughter), 8.65 kg (hot carcass weight), 8.59 kg (cold carcass weight), 40.27% (hot carcass yield), 39.20% (cold carcass yield), 7.73 cm2(rib eye area), 46.74 cm (carcass outer length), 45.68 cm (carcass internal length), 36.92 cm (leg length), 26.04 cm (leg perimeter), 48.66 cm (hind perimeter), 58.62 cm (thoracic perimeter), 0.20 (carcass compactness index), 68.48% (total muscle of the leg), 2.79% (total leg fat), 55.19% (subcutaneous leg fat), 28.82% (total bone), 81.66 g (femur weight), 14.88 cm (femur length), 0.38 (leg muscularity index), 2.53 (muscle:bone ratio) and 33.42 (muscle:fat ratio). The substitution of soybean meal by sunflower cake may be recommended up to a level of 100% without alterations to quantitative carcass traits

Influence of age and sex on bone development and athletic career longevity of Thoroughbred racehorses in Brazil – preliminary study

The impact of high-speed exercise on the musculoskeletal system of young racehorses has been extensively discussed because of concerns regarding animal health and welfare. This study investigated the correlation between age, degree of ossification of the distal radial epiphysis, sex, and career longevity of Thoroughbred racehorses in Brazil from 2012 to 2015. We performed a retrospective evaluation of 286 dorsopalmar radiographs of the left radiocarpal region of young horses and their racing performance. Distal radial epiphyseal closure was classified into three degrees: A, B, or C. Performance data included the number of races raced, athletic career length, and the number of races per month. The variables were subjected to regression analysis. At the time of radiographic examination, male horses were significantly older than females, and horses with epiphyseal closure degrees differed with age. Age at first race was 33.08±3.81 months, the average of races raced was 18.32±15.14 races, athletic career duration was 20.37±13.82 months, and the number of races raced per month was 0.93±0.46 races. Age influenced (P>0.001) the distal radial epiphyseal closure on racehorses, but sex did not (P=0.218 for males and P=0.275 for females). An inverse association was observed between age at the first race, the number of races raced per month, and athletic career duration. The frequency of race and the age at the first race influenced athletic career duration. Keywords: Athletic performance; distal radial epiphyseal closure; radiograph

Efeitos de dietas com baixo e alto teor de proteína bruta suplementadas até o quarto aminoácido essencial para dois cruzamentos comerciais de leitões iniciantes

Este estudo foi composto por dois experimentos conduzidos para avaliar os efeitos de dietas com baixo e alto teor de proteína bruta suplementadas até o quarto aminoácido essencial e dois cruzamentos comerciais sobre o desempenho zootécnico, concentração de ureia plasmática (CUP), viabilidade econômica, digestibilidade aparente de nutrientes, e balanço de nitrogênio em leitões iniciantes. No Exp. I, um total de 128 leitões (14,02 ± 1,96 kg de peso corporal inicial e 48 dias de idade) foram distribuídos baseado no peso corporal inicial em um delineamento de blocos casualizados com arranjo fatorial 2 × 2. Foram avaliados dois cruzamentos comerciais (DB e PIC) e duas dietas de proteína bruta (baixa proteína bruta, BPB, e alta proteína bruta, APB). Foram utilizados quatro tratamentos, oito repetições e quatro leitões por unidade experimental. Exp. II foi conduzido utilizando 24 leitões machos inteiros (20,00 ± 1,41 kg de peso corporal inicial) alojados em gaiolas metabólicas por 12 dias e distribuídos no mesmo desenho experimental do Expt. I (seis repetições). Os resultados do Exp. I sugerem que os leitões alimentados com APB apresentaram melhor desempenho zootécnico. Foi observado um aumento de 25,2% na CUP em leitões alimentados com APB. Houve aumento de 18,2% no índice de eficiência econômica quando os leitões foram alimentados com APB, e também foi observada redução no custo por kg de ganho de peso corporal. No Exp. II, os leitões alimentados com APB apresentaram maiores coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes, proteína e energia digestíveis, consumo e absorção de N. Não houve efeito dos cruzamentos comerciais sobre as variáveis de desempenho e metabolismo. Conclui-se que as dietas APB, independente da genética, promoveram melhorias no desempenho e no índice de viabilidade econômica, mas aumentaram a CUP nos leitões. Além disso, as dietas APB influenciaram positivamente a digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes e a ingestão e absorção de N

Effect of corn grain substitution by millet grain (Pennisetum americanum) on diet of dairy lactation cows

Avaliou-se o efeito da substituição do grão de milho pelo grão de milheto, com base no teor de amido dos mesmos, sobre o desempenho, digestibilidade de nutrientes, parâmetros ruminais e sanguíneos. Quatro vacas Holandesas, com média de 90 dias em lactação, foram utilizadas em um experimento com o delineamento em Quadrado Latino 5x4. Os animais foram alimentados com dietas contendo 50% de concentrado e 50% de volumoso (silagem de milho) na matéria seca. Os tratamentos tiveram as seguintes proporções de amido de milho e amido de milheto: 1) 100:0; 2) 75:25; 3) 50:50; 4) 25:75; 5) 0:100, respectivamente. Não foi encontrada diferença (P>0,05) no consumo de matéria seca e nutriente entre os tratamentos. A produção de leite e de leite corrigido para 3,5% de gordura, o teor e quantidade de gordura e a quantidade de proteína do leite também não foram diferentes (P>0,05) entre os tratamentos, porém houve diferença (P0,05) nos parâmetros ruminais (pH, N-NH3, AGV, acético, propiônico, butírico e relação acético/propiônico) entre os tratamentos. Também não foi encontrada diferença (P>0,05) nas concentrações de glicose e N-Ureico no plasma dos animais.This study conducted to evaluate corn substitution by pearl, based on starch content, on cow performance, nutrient digestibilities, and ruminal and blood parameters. Four lactating cannulated Holstein cows were used in a 5X4 Latin Square Design. The cows were fed a 50% corn silage diet on a dry matter basis. Treatments were substitution of corn starch by pearl millet starch: 1) 100:0; 2) 75:25; 3) 50:50; 4) 25:75; 5) 0:100, respectively. All grain substitutions were on a starch content basis. There was no effect (P>0.05) of grain source on dry matter intake, milk yield and milk fat content. The milk protein content was decreased by pearl millet grain. There was no treatment effect (P>0.05) on ruminal pH and concentration of acetate, propionate, butyrate and VFAs. The ruminal N-NH3 concentration tended to be higher for the corn grain based diets. Plasma glucose and N-Urea concentration were not affected by pearl millet content

Composition and fatty acid profile of milk from cows on pasture subjected to licuri oil supplement

The objective of this study was to determine the best level of oil licuri concentrate on dairy cows. The best level was determined through an analysis of the milk's chemical composition and fatty acid profile. Sixteen lactating cows from the Holstein × Zebu cross breed kept on Tanzania grass pastures were divided into four 4 × 4 Latin squares, which were formed by four experimental periods of 21 days. The 21-day experimental periods were divided into 17 days for adaptation and four days for collection. Cows received three kg of concentrate per day, at the time of milking. Treatments consisted of four types of feed containing the following levels: 0, 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5% inclusion of dry matter (DM) licuri oil concentrate. The licuri oil levels changed the fatty acids' profile with a linear increase in the short-chain fatty acid and medium and linearly reduced the concentration of LCFA. The highest level of licuri oil was 4.5% of DM concentrate, which changed the composition of milk through an increase in the percentage of fat and total solids. This result is of prominent notice to the dairy industry

Correction: Fatty acid profile, physicochemical composition and sensorial attributes of salted and sun-dried meat from young Nellore bulls supplemented with condensed tannins.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216047.]

Microbial protein and blood parameters of goats fed with licury cake

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a síntese de proteína microbiana, ureia e glicose sanguíneas, em caprinos Boer alimentados com níveis de torta de licuri nas dietas. Utilizaram-se 20 caprinos machos não castrados ¾ Boer com peso vivo médio 18 kg distribuídos nos quatro tratamentos. Os animais foram mantidos em baias suspensas com um m2 e água a vontade. As dietas foram formuladas conforme o NRC (2007) e os ingredientes utilizados foram: 50% feno de Tifton-85 (Cynodon sp), milho moído, farelo de soja, suplemento vitamínico-mineral e torta de licuri. Os tratamentos foram: 1) 0% de adição (MS%) de torta de licuri na dieta, 2) 15% de adição de torta de licuri, 3) 30% de adição de torta de licuri e 4) 45% de adição de torta de licuri. O experimento teve a duração de 17 dias, sendo 10 dias de adaptação dos animais as dietas. A inclusão da torta de licuri na dieta de caprinos promoveu redução nos níveis de ureia e glicose nos caprinos. O volume urinário dos caprinos reduziu de forma linear com a inclusão de torta de licuri na dieta. A inclusão de torta de licuri nas dietas de caprinos promoveu redução linear na excreção de alantoína xantina e hipoxantina e derivados de purinas totais (PD) nas amostras das coletas totais de urina em resposta a inclusão da torta de licuri na dieta. Com base na produção de proteína microbiana e os parâmetros sanguíneos dos caprinos alimentados com torta de licuri, pode-se utilizar até 15% de inclusão na dieta.The objective of this study was to determine the ideal level of licury cake in the diet of Boer goats through microbial synthesis estimated based on the presence of purine derivatives in the urine and on blood urea and glucose parameters. Twenty uncastrated one-year-old ¾ Boer goats with an average body weight of 18 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design. Each animal was confined to a one m2 suspended stall with access to water ad libitum. The diets were formulated in accordance with the NRC (2007), and the ingredients were: 50% Tifton-85 (Cynodon sp) hay, corn meal, soybean meal, premixed vitamin and mineral supplement, and licury cake. The treatments were: 1) 0% of the goat’s total diet composed of licury cake (DM basis), 2) 15% of the total diet composed of licury cake, 3) 30% of the diet composed of licury cake, and 4) 45% of the diet composed of licury cake. The experiment lasted for 17 days. The first 10 days were used to adapt the animals to the diets and facilities. The inclusion of the licury cake in the goat’s diets reduced the levels of blood nitrogen and glucose. Urinary excretion decreased linearly with the inclusion of licury cake in the diet. The inclusion of licury cake in the goat’s diets also caused a linear reduction in the excretion of allantoin, xanthine and hypoxanthine and total purine derivative (PD) in urine samples. Based on the microbial protein production and blood parameters of goats fed with licury cake, up to 15% of the goat diet may be composed of licury cake