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Simple Summary: This research focused on the potential use of coffee pulp, a byproduct of agriculture, in the diet of Pelibuey lambs. Although caffeine and tannin content limit its use in animal feeding, the study evaluated the inclusion of ensiled coffee pulp in the lambs' diet. The research examined antioxidant compounds, caffeine, and tannin content in the lambs' diets; their productivity, ruminal fermentation variables, in vivo digestibility, antioxidant capacity in blood serum; and carcass and meat characteristics. The study found that adding the ensiled coffee pulp to the diet did not affect caffeine and tannin concentration. However, it did improve antioxidant capacity in the blood serum, crude protein digestibility, and a slight increase in the redness (a*) of the meat. The research suggests that using up to 20% of ensiled coffee pulp in Pelibuey lambs' diets is feasible without affecting their productivity, ruminal fermentation variables, nutrient digestibility, or carcass and meat characteristics. Coffee pulp has been included in ruminant diets; but until now, little has been known about how the addition of ensiled coffee pulp (ECP) affects the growth performance of lambs. This study explores the diet's antioxidant capacity, tannins, and caffeine concentration and its effect on water intake, growth performance, rumen variables, in vivo digestibility, nitrogen balance, and carcass and meat characteristics of lambs fed ECP. Thirty-six male Pelibuey lambs were distributed randomly to one of three treatments (n = 12): without ECP0; diet with 10% ECP10, and diet with 20% ECP20. The diets' antioxidant capacity, tannins, and caffeine concentration were similar (p > 0.05) for all treatments. The diets' antioxidant compounds and the blood serum's antioxidant capacity were affected (p < 0.05). Dry matter and water intake, body-weight gain, and feed conversion were not significant (p > 0.05). No differences (p > 0.05) were found in the rumen variables or the nitrogen balance. However, the in vivo digestibility of crude protein was affected (p < 0.05). Carcass and meat quality were not affected (p > 0.05) by the inclusion of ECP, except temperature and redness (a*) at seven days of storage, respectively. Including up to 20% of ECP in the diet of lambs did not affect the growth performance, rumen variables, or nitrogen balance; however, the antioxidant compounds of the diets, the antioxidant capacity in blood serum, and the in vivo digestibility of crude protein were different. There was an increase in the redness (a*) and lower temperature in the Longissimus dorsi muscle, keeping lightness (L*), yellowness (b*), water-holding capacity, and texture at seven storage days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop three models to estimate the defecation rate of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) according to the season of the year, content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in their feces. Design/methodology/approach: Nine captive adult deer were assigned to three levels of dietary fiber. Fecal groups (defecation rate) were counted, forage consumption estimated, and feces were analyzed for their NDF and ADF content. A randomized block design was used, where the effect of the treatments was blocked by season, and a multiple regression analysis was used to define prediction models of the defecation rates. Results: The defecation rates were different for dietary fiber levels (P<0.0001), and for the year season (P=0.0007). For spring, the defecation rate model (DR) was DR=-4.84696-[0.02159 (NDF)]+[0.58397 (ADF)]; for summer DR=-51.0272+[0.26868 (NDF)]+[1.61121 (ADF)]; and for winter DR=7.82939-[0.02667 (NDF)]+[0.17309 (ADF)]. Limitations/implications: Defecation rate or fecal group counting is a useful tool to estimate deer populations. Nevertheless, the definition of an adequate defecation rate represents a hard task, since it depends on multiple factors such as environmental conditions and the components of the deer's diet. Findings/Conclusions: The defecation rate varies depending on the year season and the fiber content in the diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at evaluating the effects of ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of wool and hair lambs. For this purpose, 48 lambs averaging 31.3 kg body weight, of which twenty were wool (Ramboullet x Suffolk) and twenty eight were hair (Tabasco) lambs, and four levels of RAC (0, 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg diet, dry matter basis) were used. Wool lambs fed 20 and 30 mg RAC had higher (P<0.05) total gain weight and lower feed conversion than 0 and 10 mg RAC. Wool lambs fed 20 mg RAC had the highest carcass weight, dressing, legs weight and longissimus area as compared to 0, 10 and 30 mg RAC. In hair lambs there were not effect of RAC on growth performance and carcass characteristics. It was concluded that addition of RAC to finishing diets offered the best growth performance and carcass traits in wool lambs as compared to hair lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and its derivatives, ranks fourth in cereal production worldwide, and the Pleurotus species are among the most efficient types of lignocellulolytic white-rot fungi. The objective of this research study was to evaluate the degradation of barley straw and barley rootless with an inoculum of Pleurotus to improve their nutritional availability as a food source for ruminants. Two experiments were conducted; the first was to determine the effects of inoculation of Pleurotus sapidus (Schulzer) Sacc. (PS) in barley straw (BS), barley rootless (BR), and a 75% BS and 25% BR mixture (M). The second experiment was to evaluate the same substrates in vitro ruminal fermentation. Barley rootless had better organic matter (OM) degradability than BS after 24 h incubation with PS. The protein content in BR was higher than in BS (P < 0.01). Enzyme activities had the highest concentration from the start of fermentation, and in vitro dry matter (DM) degradability in BS and BR increased after 8 and 24 d fermentation, respectively (P < 0.05). Propionic acid concentration was enhanced after 16 d fermentation in BR (P < 0.5). The use of BS combined with BR exhibited better fermentation; this result provides relevant information for integrating BR with other substrates and improving the use of straw, which can be more nutritionally available for feeding ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coffee pulp has been included in ruminant diets; but until now, little has been known about how the addition of ensiled coffee pulp (ECP) affects the growth performance of lambs. This study explores the diet's antioxidant capacity, tannins, and caffeine concentration and its effect on water intake, growth performance, rumen variables, in vivo digestibility, nitrogen balance, and carcass and meat characteristics of lambs fed ECP. Thirty-six male Pelibuey lambs were distributed randomly to one of three treatments ( n = 12): without ECP 0 ; diet with 10% ECP 10 , and diet with 20% ECP 20 . The diets' antioxidant capacity, tannins, and caffeine concentration were similar ( p > 0.05) for all treatments. The diets' antioxidant compounds and the blood serum's antioxidant capacity were affected ( p < 0.05). Dry matter and water intake, body-weight gain, and feed conversion were not significant ( p > 0.05). No differences ( p > 0.05) were found in the rumen variables or the nitrogen balance. However, the in vivo digestibility of crude protein was affected ( p < 0.05). Carcass and meat quality were not affected ( p > 0.05) by the inclusion of ECP, except temperature and rednes s ( a* ) at seven days of storage, respectively. Including up to 20% of ECP in the diet of lambs did not affect the growth performance, rumen variables, or nitrogen balance; however, the antioxidant compounds of the diets, the antioxidant capacity in blood serum, and the in vivo digestibility of crude protein were different. There was an increase in the redness ( a *) and lower temperature in the Longissimus dorsi muscle, keeping lightness ( L* ), yellowness ( b *), water-holding capacity, and texture at seven storage days.