Carcass characteristics and meat quality of lambs fed high levels of spineless cactus in the diet

The objective was to evaluate the effect of increasing the dietary inclusion of spineless cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck) on the carcass characteristics and meat quality of confined lambs. Thirty-two male Santa Inês lambs with an average age of 140 days and an initial body weight of 20.4 ± 2.60 kg were used in this study. The lambs were housed in individual stalls for 70 days and individually fed a ration with spineless cactus included at 0, 241, 519, or 753 g/kg of dry matter (DM). The lambs were slaughtered, and characteristics of the carcass and meat were recorded and analysed. Inclusion of spineless cactus had a quadratic effect on the bodyweight at slaughter and on the empty bodyweight of the lambs. The inclusion of 500 g/kg of spineless cactus provided the highest predicted cold carcass weight (16.03 kg). There was a quadratic effect of the inclusion of spineless cactus on the weight of meat cuts and leg composition of lambs. The inclusion of spineless cactus did not influence pH, tenderness, and water-retention capacity of the meat. However, the intramuscular fat content increased 1 mg for every 10 g/kg inclusion of spineless cactus in the diet. Quadratic effects were observed of the inclusion of spineless cactus on the weights of the liver, heart, rumen, blood, skin and internal fat of the lambs. Up to 500 g/kg of spineless cactus could be included in the diet of confined lambs

Potential alternative feed sources for ruminant feeding from the biodiesel production chain by-products

This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, fractionation of nitrogen compounds and carbohydrates, digestibility parameters, gas production kinetics and ruminal fermentation of fruit seed cakes. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three fruit seed cakes (treatments) and four replications. The cakes were made of seeds of custard apple (Annona squamosa), soursop (Annona muricata) and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), which were collected in a biodiesel plant. The passion fruit seed cake presented the highest content of dry matter, neutral detergent fibre crude protein (NDFcp), acid detergent fibre (ADF), lignin and total carbohydrates (P<0.05). The custard apple seed cake presented high proportions of crude protein, condensed tannins and digestible energy (P<0.05). The soursop seed cake presented higher values for ether extract and total digestible nutrients (P<0.05). For potential degradability, the authors detected a difference between the custard apple, soursop and passion fruit seed cakes. The total volume of gases was higher for custard apple and soursop seed cakes. Custard apple seed cake presented higher proportions of in vitro degradation parameters (P<0.05). Thus this cake could provide greater nutrient levels when supplied in ruminant diets, followed by soursop seed cake and passion fruit seed cake. Keywords: alternative food, by-products, ruminant feeding, seed cake, semi-ari

Níveis de ureia em dietas contendo co-produto de vitivinícolas e palma forrageira para ovinos Santa Inês Urea levels in diets containing dried grape byproduct and forage cactus for Santa Inês sheep

Avaliou-se o efeito da inclusão de níveis crescentes de ureia sobre o consumo e a digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes de dietas contendo coproduto de vitivinícolas desidratado (CVD) e palma forrageira in natura. Foram utilizados 16 ovinos da raça Santa Inês machos, não castrados, com peso médio de 37kg e média de idade de 11 meses. As dietas continham 60% de CVD e 40% de palma forrageira, e níveis crescentes de ureia, 0, 1, 2 e 3%, na matéria seca (MS). O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente ao acaso, e o experimento foi desenvolvido em dois períodos, com 15 dias de adaptação e cinco dias de coleta cada. Os consumos da MS, fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), carboidratos não fibrosos (CNF) e nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) apresentaram comportamento quadrático com valores máximos de 2,04; 0,66; 0,74; 1,50kg/dia, respectivamente. No consumo de proteína bruta (PB), a cada acréscimo de uma unidade percentual de ureia ocorreu aumento de 20 gramas no consumo de PB. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade da MS, PB, FDN e CNF apresentaram comportamento quadrático com valores máximos de 62,5; 85,0; 81,0; e 97,8%, respectivamente. A inclusão de ureia até 2% nas dietas contendo coproduto de vitivinícolas desidratado e palma forrageira in natura possibilitou incrementos no consumo e no coeficiente de digestibilidade dos nutrientes.<br>The effect of urea levels on intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients in diets containing dried wine grape byproduct and fresh forage cactus was evaluated. Sixteen male, non-castrated, Santa Inês sheep, averaging 37kg and 11-month-old were used. The diets had 60% of dried grape byproduct (DGB) and 40% of forage cactus, and increasing levels of urea - 0, 1, 2, and 3% in dry matter. Completely randomized designs with two periods with 15 adjust days and five days for samples collection was carried out. Dry matter (DM), neuter detergent fiber (NDF), non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC), and total digestive nutrients (TDN) intakes presented quadratic behavior with maximum values of 2.04; 0.66; 0.74; and 1.50kg/day, respectively. For each increase of an unit percentage of urea an increase of 20 grams in the CP intake occurred. The digestibility coefficients of DM, CP, NDF, and NFC presented quadratic behavior with maximum values of 62.5, 85.0, 81.0, and 97.8%, respectively. The inclusion of urea up to 2% in the diets containing dried grape byproduct and fresh forage cactus made possible increases in nutrient intake and coefficient of digestibility of nutrients

Substituição do milho por farelo de palma forrageira em dietas para ovinos em crescimento: consumo e digestibilidade Replacement of corn by forage cactus meal in growing lambs diets: intake and digestibility

A digestibilidade aparente e os consumos de matéria seca (MS), de matéria orgânica (MO), de proteína bruta (PB), de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e de nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) foram avaliados para se determinar o efeito da substituição do milho por farelo de palma forrageira (0, 33, 66 e 100%), em dietas de ovinos em crescimento. Objetivou-se, também, a comparação da estimativa de digestibilidade aparente por intermédio dos métodos de coleta total de fezes e de indicadores internos (fibra em detergente ácido [FDAi] e fibra em detergente neutro [FDNi] indigestíveis). Foi empregado delineamento experimental em quadrado latino, constituído de quatro animais, quatro períodos e quatro níveis de substituição do milho por farelo de palma forrageira. Não houve efeito da substituição sobre os consumos de MS, MO, PB e FDN. O consumo de NDT diminuiu linearmente com a inclusão de farelo de palma nas dietas. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente da MS e MO diminuíram linearmente, enquanto os de PB e FDN não foram influenciados pela substituição. Não houve diferença entre a coleta total de fezes e o indicador interno FDNi na estimativa da digestibilidade dos nutrientes.<br>The apparent digestibility and the intakes of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were estimated to evaluate the effects of replacement by corn by forage cactus meal (0, 33, 66 and 100%) in growing lambs diets. It was also aimed to compare the internal markers, indigestible neutral detergent (NFDi) and acid detergent fiber (ADFi) with total feces collection to estimate the apparent digestibility of nutrients. A 4 x 4 latin square experimental design with four lambs, four periods and four levels of replacement of corn by forage cactus meal, was used. The replacement of corn by forage cactus meal did not affect the intakes of DM, OM, CP and NDF. TDN intake decreased linearly. The apparent digestibility of DM and OM decreased linearly, but no effect was observed for CP and NDF digestibilities. There was no difference between NDFi and total feces collection in the estimate of nutrients digestibility