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This study aimed to assess the effects of diets containing spineless cactus genotypes resistant to carmine cochineal insect (Dactylopius opuntiae) on the liver condition of sheep. Thirty-six non-castrated Santa Inês male sheep (six months of age and average initial body weight of 22.0 ± 2.9 kg) were assigned to a completely randomized design, with three treatments and 12 replicates. The animals were fed a diet with Tifton hay as exclusive roughage (control) and two more diets in which the hay was partially replaced by ‘Miúda’ or ‘Orelha de Elefante Mexicana’ (OEM.) spineless cactus. The animals were randomly slaughtered at 86 days after 16-h solid fast. The use of spineless cactus, regardless of genotype, increased the liver weight and caused inflammatory processes and necrosis on the liver parenchyma. Spineless cactus in diets for sheep confined for 86 days, despite causing liver tissue damage, such as inflammation and death process of hepatocytes, does not compromise weight gain.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC):neutral detergent fiber (NDF) ratios (0.70:1, 0.90:1, 1.14:1, 1.42:1, and 1.85:1) in diets containing cactus cladodes on intake, digestibility, ruminal parameters, ingestive behavior, and microbial protein of growing heifers. Five rumen-cannulated heifers (194 ± 70 kg of body weight) were distributed in a Latin square design (5 x 5). There was a quadratic effect on the intake of dry matter (DM) (Kg day-1 and %BW) and crude protein (CP) with the increase in non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC): neutral detergent fiber (NDF) ratio, with maximum values of 7.07 kg day-1, 2.86%, and 0.949 kg day-1, estimated for 1.37:1, 1.39:1, and 1.27:1 ratios. When the intake of NDF decreased, in turn, the intakes of NFC and TDN increased. The NDF digestibility decreased with increasing NFC levels in diets. The other nutrients were not influenced. The ruminal pH showed the lowest values at 4 hours after feeding, mainly for animals fed the 1.85:1 ratio. There was a quadratic effect for rumination time with maximum values estimated for an NFC:NDF ratio of 0.88:1. The time spent idle increased linearly, while total chewing time and feeding efficiency of NDF decreased. The urinary volume increased linearly. However, microbial protein synthesis and the efficiency of the synthesis were not influenced. The number of protozoa increased by 64.5% with the elevation of the NFC:NDF ratio. We recommend a NFC:NDF ratio of 1.37:1 in diets containing cactus cladodes, to improve the use of nutrients, without negatively affecting ruminal parameters.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the qualitative parameters and nutritional potential of silage of arboreal cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) shoots. The experiment was carried out in a 4×2 factorial arrangement, for two silage forms (in natura or pre-dried), with four treatments, as follows: without additives (WA); with inoculant (WI); with 2% ground corn (GC); and with 2% ground corn with inoculant (GC+I). The fermentative quality and nutritional parameters of the silages were evaluated. Fermentative quality was better in the WI and GC+I silages. The dry matter content was higher in the pre-dried silage, while the crude protein contents of in natura silage were higher in the WA and WI treatments. The lowest values of neutral detergent fiber and acid-digested lignin were observed in the WI treatment, for pre-dried silage. Total digestible nutrients and total volume of gas were higher in the pre-dried silage, in the WI and GC treatments, respectively. In vitro dry matter digestibility was lower in WA silage, in both forms. Silage of arboreal cotton associated with inoculant or with inoculant with ground corn shows a better fermentation profile and improves the energy and nutritional values, both in natura and pre-dried forms; however, in natura silage is less laborious for rural producers.

Objetivou-se determinar os efeitos da substituição do feno de Tifton (Cynodon spp.) por feno de alfafa (Medicago Sativa) em dietas à base de palma forrageira (Nopalea cochenillifera) sobre o balanço hídrico, funções renais e excreção mineral de cabras leiteiras. Utilizou-se 12 cabras da raça Saanen, com peso vivo de 46,23±7,5kg, produção de 3,0 kg leite/dia. O delineamento experimental foi quadrado latino (4x4), com quatro tratamentos (0%; 33,3%; 66,7% e 100% de substituição) e quatro períodos para coleta de dados e amostras. O consumo de matéria seca (CMS), expresso em kg/dia e consumo de água total apresentaram aumento linear (p0,05) pelas dietas. A substituição do feno de Tifton por feno de alfafa em até 300 g/kg de matéria seca, em dietas à base de palma forrageira para cabras em lactação, influencia no consumo de água, sem alterar os índices de excreção urinária.

Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar o consumo, desempenho, características de carcaça e a qualidade da carne de caprinos criados em pastejo na Caatinga e suplementados com dois tipos de fenos: jitirana (Merremia aegyptia) ou mororó (Bauhinia cheilanta), com ou sem a associação a palma forrageira (Nopalea cochelinifera Salm Dick), e um tratamento sem suplementação (controle). Foram utilizados 30 caprinos machos castrados, sem padrão racial definido, com peso corporal inicial de 19 ± 0,35 kg e aproximadamente 90 dias de idade. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, usando o peso corporal inicial como covariável, em arranjo fatorial (2x2) + 1, com cinco tratamentos e seis repetições. Os maiores consumos de suplemento, consumo total de matéria seca (MS), carboidratos não fibrosos (CNF) e dos nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) ocorreram para os animais alimentados com feno de jitirana ou mororó associados à palma forrageira, e maior consumo de proteína bruta (PB) ocorreu pelos caprinos suplementados com o feno de mororó com palma forrageira. Maiores consumos de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) foram observados nos animais suplementados com feno de jitirana. Não houve influência das dietas sobre o consumo de MS do pasto, desempenho, pesos dos corte e as características de carcaça. Quanto a qualidade da carne, houve influencia dos tratamentos apenas sobre o parâmetro b* (Intensidade de amarelo). A suplementação alimentar com os fenos de jitirana e mororó, e palma forrageira não proporcionou melhorias no desempenho e nas características de carcaça, bem como não influenciou negativamente a qualidade da carne de caprinos criados em pastejo em região de Caatinga.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of the substitution (0, 33, 66 and 100%) of corn by cassava wastewater dregs on carcass characteristics and non-carcass components of crossbred Santa Inês lambs. Forty male sheep, uncastrated with an average initial body weight of 20 ± 1.87 kg and five months of age, were used. These were housed in individual pens in a randomized block design with four treatments and ten repetitions and slaughtered after 70 days of confinement. Quadratic effect (P < 0.05) was observed for the empty body weight (EBW), hot carcass weight (HCW) and cold carcass weight (CCW) and carcass compactness index (CCI), with maximum points of 36.14, 19.45, 20.20 and 0.31 kg cm-1 for the replacement level of corn for cassava wastewater dregs, 50.0, 53.84, 54.04 and 45.45% respectively. There was also an effect (P < 0.05) on the weights of the rumen and “Buchada”, with maximum points of 0.909 and 6.25 kg per replacement level, 49.11 and 51.29% respectively. As for retail cuts, only the efficiency of the leg was altered (P < 0.05), having a linear increase while the other variables were not affected. Cassava wastewater dregs can be used in full as an alternative food in the diet of feedlot lambs without harming the main carcass characteristics and non-carcass components.