Weight Development and Growth Curves of Grazing Santa Inês Sheep Supplemented with Concentrate in the Pre-Weaning Phase.

Monitoring weight development is essential for decision-making and assessing the effectiveness of management strategies. However, this practice is often hindered by the lack of scales on farms. This study aimed to characterize the weight development and growth curves of male and female Santa Inês lambs from birth to weaning, managed on pasture with creep-fed concentrate supplementation.

Full-fat corn germ in diets for dairy cows as an alternative to ground corn.

The experiments reported in this research paper address the effects of replacing ground corn (GC) with full-fat corn germ (FFCG) on nutrient intake and digestibility, nitrogen utilization efficiency, performance, and predicted methane production in dairy cows fed cactus cladodes and sugarcane. We hypothesized that the inclusion of FFCG in the diet would not alter the performance of lactating cows but would reduce the predicted methane production in vivo. Ten multiparous Holstein cows at 90 ± 10 d of lactation and yielding 24.

Nutritional Quality of Milk Fat from Cows Fed Full-Fat Corn Germ in Diets Containing Cactus Opuntia and Sugarcane Bagasse as Forage Sources.

We evaluated the performance, milk composition, and milk fatty acid profile of cows fed diets composed of cactus cladodes ( [Haw.] Haw), sugarcane bagasse and increasing levels of full-fat corn germ (FFCG). We hypothesized that ground corn can be effectively replaced by FFCG when cactus cladodes and sugarcane bagasse are used as forage sources.

Prediction of carcass composition through measurements in vivo and measurements of the carcass of growing Santa Inês sheep.

In vivo and carcass measurements were evaluated to predict carcass physical and chemical composition and to list the measurements that best fit the prediction of the composition of growing Santa Inês sheep carcasses. Thirty-three animals were used to measure the loin eye area by ultrasound in vivo (LEAu) and in the carcass. We used 39 animals for biometric measurement in vivo and 42 sheep for morphometric measurement in the carcass.

Effects of additives in wet brewery residue silage on lamb carcass traits and meat quality.

The objective was to evaluate the use of wet brewery residue (WBR) silage additives on carcass characteristics and sheep meat quality. Thirty-two Santa Inês male sheep uncastrated with initial body weight of 22.61 ± 7.

Partially replacing sorghum silage with cactus (Opuntia stricta) cladodes in a soybean oil-supplemented diet markedly increases trans-11 18:1, cis-9, trans-11 CLA and 18:2 n-6 contents in cow milk.

Based on low 18:0 contents observed in milk fat of cows fed cactus cladodes (CC), we hypothesized that including Opuntia stricta cladodes in a soybean oil (SO)-supplemented diet would promote incomplete rumen biohydrogenation of supplemental PUFA, leading to increased trans-11 18:1 and cis-9, trans-11 CLA contents in milk. Twelve Holstein cows were used in a two-period study: (a) Baseline: all cows received a total mixed ration (TMR) composed of sorghum silage (SS) and a concentrate containing no SO for 14 days; (b) Treatment: cows received one of the following SO-supplemented diets for 21 days: (1) SS-TMR: a TMR composed of SS and a SO-enriched concentrate, (2) CC-TMR: a TMR containing CC as a partial substitute for SS plus the SO-enriched concentrate, and (3) CC-PMR: same diet as in treatment 2, but CC were mixed with the SO-enriched concentrate and fed as a partial mixed ration (PMR). Both CC diets increased relative abundances of trans-11 18:1, cis-9, trans-11 CLA, and 18:2 n-6 in milk fat, whereas opposite effects were observed on 18:0 and cis-9 18:1.

Intake, digestibility, and performance of lambs fed spineless cactus cv. Orelha de Elefante Mexicana.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of the carmine cochineal-resistant spineless cactus genotypes cv. Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (Opuntia) and Miúda (Nopalea) on the intake and digestibility of nutrients, ingestive behavior, performance, and ultrasound measurements of growing lambs.

Methods: Thirty-six male (non-castrated) Santa Inês lambs were used, with an average age of 6 months and an initial average weight of 22.

Intake, performance, and carcass characteristics of lambs fed spineless cactus replacing wheat bran.

To assess the intake, digestibility of nutrients, ingestive behavior, performance, and carcass characteristics of feedlot lambs, 36 F1 Santa Ines × Dorper male lambs with an initial average weight of 19.5 ± 0.27 kg were fed with different levels of spineless cactus (0, 33, 66, and 100 %) as a replacement of the wheat bran.

Liquid residue of cassava as a replacement for corn in the diets of sheep.

The effect of the replacement of corn with the liquid residue of cassava was evaluated at levels of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% in the diets of sheep on the intake and nutrient digestibility, weight gain, and carcass characteristics. Forty non-castrated crossbred Santa Ines sheep at 4 months of age and an initial body weight of 19.5 ± 2.

Cassava peel as a replacement for corn in the diet of lactating cows.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the replacement of corn with cassava peel in the diets of dairy cows. Eight Holstein cows were used. The experimental treatments consisted of four replacement levels of corn with cassava peel (0, 33, 66, and 100 %).

Ingestive behavior of pastured crossbred dairy cows offered different supplement types.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different supplements on the behavior variables of crossbred dairy cows that were in pasture that comprised two 4 × 4 Latin squares (four periods, four treatments, and four animals). Each experimental period lasted 15 days (10 days to adapt animals to treatments and 5 days for data collection). The animals were supplemented twice a day, with different forage (corn silage and cactus pear) and concentrate sources (soy mea + wheat meal + corn meal + cotton seed together and soy meal as a single constituent of the concentrate).