Evaluation of diets based on Brachiaria grass with different levels of byproducts from the biodiesel industry using in vitro gas production degradability

This study was performed to evaluate the production of gas and volatile fatty acids in diets containing byproducts from the national biodiesel industry (castor bean, canola, forage turnip, and black sunflower) in four levels (0, 30, 50 and 70%), through the use of a semi-automated in vitro technique. The inoculum for in vitro incubation was obtained from three fistulated Holstein cows. This was a 4 x 4 factorial completely randomized experimental design consisting of four levels of four byproducts. The byproduct of forage turnip was the ingredient of greatest potential for producing acetate, propionate, and butyrate. The increased production of carbon dioxide and methane in relation to the degraded dry matter was obtained using the byproduct of canola (P<0.05). The byproduct of castor bean resulted in the lowest potential for producing acetate, propionate, and butyrate; and among the evaluated byproducts it can be considered the one with the least impact to the environment without damage to ruminal fermentation

In vitro degradation and gas production of brachiaria grass with levels of biodiesel byproducts

This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro degradability and gas production in diets containing byproducts from the national biodiesel industry (castor bean, canola, forage radish and black sunflower) replacing Brachiaria grass in four levels (0, 30, 50 and 70%). The inoculum for in vitro incubation was obtained from three fistulated Holstein cows. The experimental design was 4 x 4 factorial completely randomized experimental design consisting of four byproducts and four levels. All byproducts studied had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on in vitro digestibility. The castor bean byproducts promoted the lowest cumulative gas production at the end of 48 hours incubation. Regarding digestibility, the byproducts of canola and radish at 70% level did not affect the degradability of dry matter.

Performance of confined and grazing lambs fed diets with different mineral-concentrate supplements

For confined animals, performance is improved when their diet is supplemented with a mineral mixture and protein energy. This study evaluated the effect of dietary supplementation on feedlot sheep on native pasture. Two experiments were conducted in sequence, with the animals constrained in one and animals confined to pasture in the other. The experiments were conducted with 32 Santa Ines lambs, with average initial weights of 16.8 and 19.9 kg for the constrained and pasture studies, respectively. In both experiments, the animals were offered the following supplements: Supplement 1 = 200 g of the concentrate without mineral mixture; Supplement 2 = 200 g of the concentrate with mineral mixture + Mn + Zn; Supplement 3 = 300 g of the concentrate with mineral mixture + Mn+Zn; and Supplement 4: 300 g of the concentrate with mineral mixture + Zn without Mn. The intake of the mineral mixture resulted in a higher average intake of crude protein in feedlot lambs and neutral detergent fiber in pasture lambs than the other diets, regardless of the presence of manganese and thus provided more consistent weight gain among the animals. The mineral mixture supplementation increased the average daily intake of Zn and Mn. The animals on the diets containing 300 g day-1 supplementation with the concentrated mineral mixture also had more weight gain and better feed conversion than those on the other diets, most likely because of the greater responsiveness to supplementation in these animals.La suplementación con una mezcla de minerales y energía de proteína proporciona un mejor rendimiento en los animales confinados. El objetivo fue evaluar el efecto de estrategias suplementarias de corderos. Se realizaron dos experimentos en secuencia, utilizando 32 animales de Santa Inés, con un peso inicial promedio de 16.8 kg en estabulación y 19.9 kg régimen de pastoreo. En ambos experimentos se ofrecieron: Suplemento 1 = 200 g de concentrado sin mezcla mineral; Suplemento 2 = 200 g de concentrado + mezcla mineral + Mn + Zn; Suplemento 3 = 300 g de concentrado + mezcla mineral + Mn + Zn; Suplemento 4: 300 g de concentrado + mezcla mineral + Zn sin Mn. La mezcla de minerales tuvo una mayor ingesta media de proteína bruta en comparación con otras dietas, en la estabulación y fibra en pastoreo, independientemente de la presencia de manganeso, proporcionando de este modo la ganancia de peso más consistente entre los animales. La administración de suplementos de mezcla mineral aumentó la ingesta diaria de Zn y Mn. Los animales sometidos a dietas que contienen la suplementación con 300 g día-1 con la mezcla de mineral concentrado también tuvieron aumento de peso y mejor conversión del alimento que los de las otras dietas, muy probablemente, debido a la mayor capacidad de respuesta a la suplementación de estos animales