Can cactus (Opuntia stricta [Haw.] Haw) cladodes plus urea replace wheat bran in steers’ diet?

Objective The study aimed to evaluate the effect of replacing wheat bran for cactus cladodes plus urea (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) on the intake of nutrients, nitrogen balance, microbial protein synthesis, and rumen fermentation for steers. Methods Five crossbred steers (1/2 Holstein-Zebu), with rumen cannula and an average body weight of 180±5.3 kg, were assigned to a 5×5 Latin square design. Dietary treatments consisted of the replacement of the total of wheat bran in basal diet by cactus cladodes using the following proportions: 0% for basal diet, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% cactus cladodes replacing wheat bran. Urea was added to the diets to adjust the crude protein (CP) content to 130 g/kg dry matter. Results Maximum dry matter intake (5.73 kg/d) and maximum nitrogen balance (103 g/d) were estimated for 54.6% and 70.8% replacement levels of wheat bran. The maximum microbial protein production (44.6 g/d) was obtained at a replacement level of 49.7%, and a medium value (125 g CP mic/kg total digestible nutrients) of microbial protein efficiency was observed. The rumen pH increased linearly according to cactus cladodes inclusion, while the ammonia nitrogen medium value was 24.5 mg/dL. Conclusion The replacement of 55% wheat bran for cactus cladodes plus urea in the diet of crossbred steers is recommended

Growth and development of Serrana kids from Montesinho Natural Park (NE of Portugal)

This study was to evaluate meat potential of Serrana goats, raised under harsh conditions of the mountains of NE Portugal. Sixteen males of the local Serrana goat breed were taken from different herds in Montesinho Natural Park in NE Portugal. Allometric coefficients of different body tissues and carcass were calculated. Shoulder and leg were earlier developing than loin and breast. Muscle was isometric (b = 1.07; P 2 0.05) and bone was the most precocious tissue (b = 0.763; PI 0.01). Different fat deposits were later developing, with allometric coefficients (PI 0.01) higher than 1 .O, and the order of fat deposition was: subcutaneous fat, intermuscular fat, mesenteric fat, kidney knob and channel fat (KKCF - the perinephric and retroperitoneal fat) and omental fat. Subcutaneous and intermuscular fat deposits, which were later developing in relation to BW, were isometric in relation to total fat of carcass. All fat deposits in the different carcass joints (with the exception of fat deposits in leg and shoulder and the subcutaneous fat in loin and neck) had allometric coefficients (PsO.01) higher than 1.0. Sites of the later subcutaneous fat deposition were breast and chump, whereas later intermuscular fat depositions were in loin and breast. The results suggest that intermuscular fat is later developing than subcutaneous fat in relation to half carcass weight. The higher proportion of muscle and lower proportion of subcutaneous and intermuscular fat deposits indicate the potentialities of the Serrana breed as a source of lean meat, according to the consumption preferences of the Mediterranean area of the European Union.El principal objetivo del estudio ha sido evaluar la composición de las canales de cabritos de raza Serrana y determinar los coeficientes alométricos de los diferentes tejidos del cuerpo y de la canal. Para este trabajo se utilizaron 16 cabritos de la raza localmente designada como Serrana, elegidos de diferentes rebaños del Parque Natural de Montesinho ubicado en el NE de Portugal. La espalda y pierna tuvieron un desarrollo más precoz que el lomo y el costillar. El coeficiente alométrico del peso de la cabeza (b = 0,69; P ≤ 0,01) confirmó su precoz desarrollo respecto al peso vivo vacío. El muscúlo fué isométrico (b = 1,07, no significativamente diferente de 1,0, para P ≥ 0,05) y el hueso fué claramente el tejido más precoz respecto al peso vivo vacío ( b = 0,76; significativamente diferente de 1,0, para P ≤ 0,01). En lo que concierne a los diferentes depósitos adiposos tuvieron un desarrollo tardío, con coeficientes alométricos significativamente (P ≤ 0,01) mayores de 1,0 y el orden de deposición de grasa respecto al peso vivo vació fué: subcutánea, intermuscular, mesentérica, pélvico-renal y omental. Sin embargo los depósitos de grasa subcutánea e intermuscular, que tuvieron un desarrollo tardío respecto al peso vivo vacío, fueron isométricos respecto a la grasa total de la canal. Todos los depósitos de grasa de las diferentes piezas de la canal tuvieron coeficientes alométricos significativamente mayores de 1,0 (P ≤ 0,01). Las piezas donde la deposición de grasa subcutánea fué más tardia fueron el badal y la cadera, mientras que las deposiciones de grasa intermuscular más tardías tuvieron lugar en el lomo y pecho. Los resultados indicaron que la grasa intermuscular tuvo un desarrollo más tardio que la grasa subcutánea.Le principal objectif de cette étude était d'évaluer la composition des carcasses des chevreaux de race Serrana et de déterminer les coefficients d'allométrie au niveau des différents tissus du corps et de la carcasse. Pour réaliser ce travail, 16 chevreaux de race locale appelée Serrana on été utilisés, ayant été choisis parmi différents troupeaux du Parc Naturel de Montesinho, situé au NE du Portugal. L'épaule et le gigot ont eu un développement plus précoce que le dos et que le carré couvert. Le coefficient d'allométrie du poids de la tête (b = 0,69; P ≤ 0,01) a confirmé son développement précoce par rapport au poids vif vide. Le muscle a été isométrique (b = 1,07; significativement pas différent de 1,0, pour P ≤ 0,05) et l'os s'est avéré le tissu le plus précoce par rapport au poids vif vide (b = 0,76; significativement différent de 1,0, pour P ≤ 0,01). En ce qui concerne les différents dépôts de gras, il faut dire qu'ils ont eu un développement tardif, en ayant des coefficients allométriques significativement plus élevés que 1,0 (P ≤ 0,01), et l'ordre du dépôt de gras par rapport au poids vif vide a été le suivant: sous-cutane, intermusculaire, mésentérique, pelvico-rénal et omental. Néanmoins, les dépôts de gras sous-cutane et intermusculaire, qui avaient eu un développement tardif par rapport au poids vif vide, ont été isométriques par rapport au total du gras de la carcasse. Tous les dépôts de gras des différents pièces de la carcasse ont eu des coefficients allométriques significativement plus élévés que 1,0, (P ≤ 0,01). Les pièces où le dépôt du gras sous-cutane a été plus tardif ont été le carré découvert et la selle, tandis que les dépôts du gras intermusculaire plus tardif ont eu lieu au niveau du dos et de la poitrine. Les résultats ont indiqué que le gras intermusculaire a eu un développement plus tardif que le gras sous-cutané

Intake, total and partial digestibility of nutrients, and ruminal kinetics in crossbreed steers fed with multiple supplements containing spineless cactus enriched with urea

Multiple supplements are used in pasture-based systems to manage deficits in the forage, and they can be composed of a controller mixture (e.g. urea+mineral mixture) to regulate the intake of the animals. The effect of using spineless cactus enriched with urea in place of traditional multiple supplements was evaluated for nutrient intake, partial and total digestibility, and ruminal kinetics in crossbred steers. Five steers, 1/2 Holstein x Zebu, with permanent cannulas in the rumen and with an average initial body weight of 240±22.1 kg, were used in a 5×5 Latin square. The treatments consisted of four levels of inclusion of urea (0%, 1%, 2%, and 3%) in dry matter (DM) and a control treatment with a traditional multiple supplement. The Tifton-85 hay, used as forage, had high neutral detergent fiber (659 g NDF kg−1 of DM) and low crude protein (62 g CP kg−1 of DM) content. There was a linear increase in the intake of CP and a quadratic effect in intake of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC), NDF, and digestible OM according to the urea inclusion level. The maximum point for total OM digestibility (645 g kg−1) was with the inclusion of 2% urea. There was an improvement in ruminal digestibility of DM, NDF, and CP when spineless cactus was enriched with urea. The ruminal pool of DM, NDF, and iNDF did not change with the inclusion of urea in the diets. Increased intake rate (ki) was observed when spineless cactus was enriched with urea. The passage rate (kp) of spineless cactus enriched with 3% urea was similar to the control diet. The rate of NDF degradation increased in the diets enriched with spineless cactus. It is suggested that spineless cactus enriched with up to 2% urea efficiently replaces traditional multiple supplements