We aimed to evaluate the effects of different drying methods for banana residues on the energy metabolism and respirometry of growing lambs. Twenty Santa Inês x Dorper lambs were fed five experimental diets: Tifton 85 grass hay (Control), shade-dried banana leaf hay (LH Shade), shade-dried pseudostem banana hay (PH Shade), sun-dried banana leaf hay (LH Sun), and sun-dried banana pseudostem hay (PH Sun). Nutrient intake and digestibility were assessed in metabolic cages, whereas O consumption and CO, methane, and heat production were measured in a respirometry chamber with animals fed at maintenance and ad libitum levels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTwenty Santa Inês male sheep were used in a randomized block design to evaluate the effects of different levels of macauba cake (MC) on nutrient digestibility and the population of microorganism in the rumen. The animals were divided into four groups according to MC levels (0, 10, 20, and 30% of DM) and initial body weight ranging from 32.75 to 52.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlant species naturally selected by sheep grazing in the Cerrado region of Brazil were assessed in vitro for activity against Haemonchus contortus. One year of observations showed the plant families in the region exhibiting greatest richness to be Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, Malpighiaceae, Bignoniaceae, Myrtaceae, and Annonaceae. Nine species commonly selected by grazing sheep showed variation in the selectivity index with respect to the dry and rainy seasons.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe objective of this study was to evaluate the aerobic rumen mycobiota from three age groups of Nelore beef cattle reared extensively on lignified pasture. The experiment was randomized and sampled 50 steers, 50 cows, and 50 calves grazed on Brachiaria spp. pasture during the dry season.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFResistance to anthelminthics is common due to intensive and incorrect use. In searching for alternatives, extracts of banana plant were evaluated for egg hatching inhibition and fecal egg count reduction of sheep nematodes. Aqueous extracts of the leaf, pseudostem, and heart of the banana plant cv.
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