Uso do ácido orgânico (ácido fumárico) nas rações de frangos de corte

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of the addition of fumaric acid to broiler diet on birds performance. One thousand and eighty Hubbard day-old broiler chicks were alloted in a randomized block design, six treatments with two replicates of males, and four replicates of females. Three basal diets were formulated to meet the nutritional requirements in each growing phase: from 1 to 21 days, 21 to 37 days and 37 to 45 days. Treatments consisted first in the addition of growth promoter to 0.75 and 1.0%, of fumaric acid. The group treated without of both growth promoter and fumaric acid presented a higher intake and a smaller feed:gain ratio in relation to the fumaric acid treated groups. However, there were no differences among groups treated with growth promoter and fumaric acid. The contrasts did not show any difference among weight gain, carcass yield and abdominal fat. The addition of fumaric acid levels to the diets promoted reduction of feed intake, without any effect on weight gain, improving, therefore, the feed/gain ratio. A digestibility experiment was carried out, using 30 Hy-Line roosters, to determine apparent metabolyzed energy (AME), corrected by nitrogen of the diets containing 0.0, 0.5 and 1.0% of the acid. An increase on the AME of the diets was observed with fumaric acid addition.

Produção e qualidade da forragem aproveitável de cultivares de guandu durante o período seco

This work was carried out at Boa Esperanca Farm, sited in Jeriquara, Northeast of São Paulo State aiming to study seven cultivars of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp). Ramdomized blocks design were used in a split-plot scheme studying the following cultivars: Empasc 307, Fava Larga, Branco de Minas, ICPL 304, ICPL 85063, ICPL 270 and LGR 30, being the last four of them of Indian origin. Cultivars were cut three times during the period May-October, 1992. These cuts were done every twelve weeks, when leaves, flowers, pods and branches were harvested with diameter equal or smaller than 6 mm; the set of these fractions was considered available forage. Results showed that the cultivars, except Empasc 307, always revealed higher percentage of leaves and, consequently, higher dry matter production of this fraction in relation to total available forage. The available forage production, as well as the crude protein and acid detergent fiber percentage and in vitro dry matter digestibility allow to recommend the LGR 30, ICPL 304, Branco de Minas and ICPL 270 cultivars as the most promising ones for utilization as protein banks to be used during dry season.

Effect of age on seed digestion in parrots (Amazona aestiva)

The objective of this study was to compare the capacity of adult (more than 3 yr old) and young (less than 1 yr old) true parrots to digest seeds that are normally included in their diet in captivity, particularly soybean, sunflower, and corn. All the seeds were offered for 5 d with an interval of 15 d between different diets. The seeds of soybean and corn were boiled for 15 min and soaked in water at ambient temperature for 12 h before being fed to the birds. There were no differences in the digestibilities of crude protein and fats (ether extract) among animals, but the digestibilities of dry matter and crude fiber by the adult animals were higher than those of the young ones. The digestibility of carbohydrate (nitrogen-free extract) by adult birds was higher only for sunflower seeds. It is concluded that the capacity of parrots to digest fiber may change according to the age of the animal. Since the digestion of fiber depends on the action of microorganisms, these results suggest that the colonization of the gastrointestinal tract is delayed or very slow in young parrots.

Estádio de Desenvolvimento do Milho. 2. Efeito sobre o Consumo e a Digestibilidade da Silagem em Ovinos

Corn plants were ensiled at the milk, milk-early dough, medium dough, and semi-hard dough stages. The intake and digestibility trials showed that: a) silage DM and NFE contents increased and ADF, cellulose, and lignin contents decreased with plant maturity; b) corn plant maturity had little effect on the digestibility of the silages, but the milk and medium dough stages produced the best results; c) no consistent effect of maturity was observed in DM and CP daily intakes (mean values 41.86 and 26.77/g/kg(75), respectively). Nevertheless, daily digestible dry matter and digestible protein intakes (g/kg(75)) were higher with medium-dough grains (31.74 and 1.97g, respectively) than with the milk (23.27 and 1.45g, respectively) and the milk-early dough stages (22.60 and 1.28g, respectively). However, similar intakes were observed with the medium-dough and semi-hard dough stages. Total digestible nutrient contents of the silages were affected little by corn plant maturity. Nevertheless, statistical differences were Found between the medium dough (70.09%) and the milk-early dough stages (63.07%).

Efeitos da amonização sobre o valor nutritivo do feno de capim-braquiária

This work was conducted to determine the effects of ammoniation and supplementation on the nutritive value of signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf) hay. The hay was treated with anhydrous ammonia (3.0% DM) and introduced into the rations for sheep with 12.00% of CP, identified as T1 grass hay without NH3 + cotton seed meal; T2 = treated hay (3.0% de NH3); T3 = treated hay (3.0% de NH3) + com grain meal; T4 = hay + cotton seed meal + corn grain meal. nit: following coefficients of digestibility were determined for T1, T2, T3 e T4, respectively: DM (54.90; 55.50); 54.50; and 56.12%); NI)I: (51.36; 60.20; 55.30; and 48.35%); ADF (47.36; 58.66; 56.03; and 47.07%); hemicellulose (58.80; 63.32; 56.00; and 49.70%); cellulose (55.58; 71.80; 68.07; and 58.21%); lignin (10.10; 32.18; 31.74; and 0.72%) and protein (64.6; 59.36; 56.16; and 70. 15%). nle N balances for T1, T2, T3 and T4 were 5.69; 3.88; 3.90; and 8,82 g N/day. It was concluded that the ammoniation was equivalent to the vegetable protein supplementation in the rations. Furthermore, this treatment showed a greater potential to increase fiber digestion, particulary for ADF and cellulose.

Food intake and digestive efficiency in temperate wool and tropic semi-arid hair lambs fed different concentrate: forage ratio diets

This work was conducted to evaluate food intake and digestive efficiency of temperate wool and tropic semi-arid hair lambs, according to different concentrate: forage ratios in diet. Twenty-four lambs, averaging 90 +/- 1.8 days old and a mean body weight of 20 +/- 0.69 kg, 12 of them wool lambs, F, from Ideal x Ile de France crossing, and 12 others pure Santa Ines hair lambs, were distributed into a four replication 3 x 2 factorial arrangement consisting of three diets and two genotypes. Experimental diets consisted of: D1 = 60% concentrate mix (C) and 40% Cynodon sp. cv. Tifton-85 hay (F), D2 = 40% C and 60% F, and D3 = 20% C and 80% F. D1 was formulated for a daily gain of 300g per animal. Increasing forage levels in diets resulted in linear reductions (P < 0.01) in DM, OM, CP, TCH and metabolizable energy (ME) intake, and a linear increase (P < 0.01) in NDF ingestion. Tropic semi-arid hair lambs had higher DM, OM, NDF, CP, and TCH intake than temperate wool lambs. Although there were no genotype effects in OM and GE coefficient of digestibility, hair lambs showed more efficient (P < 0.05) digestibility of DM, CP, NDF and TCH. Increases in forage levels of diets corresponded to a negative linear effect (P < 0.01) in the apparent digestibility of DM, OM, CP, TCH and GE, while apparent digestibility of NDF increased linearly (P < 0.01). Total endogenous nitrogen (fecal plus urinary N) for F(1) Ideal x Ilede France wool and Santa Ines hair lambs were, respectively, 182 and 312 mg/kg(0.75) per day. Thus, Santa Ines tropic semi-arid hair lambs showed to be more responsive than F(1) Ideal x Ile de France temperate wool lambs to low quality fibrous diets. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Degradabilidade in situ do Capim Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia Incubado Cortado ou na Forma de Extrusa

The aim of this study was to compare the chemical composition, in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) and ruminal degradation of Panicum maximum, J. cv. Tanzania samples obtained by clipping (square method) or extrusa collection (animal selection). In the in situ trial, three ruminal fistulated dry crossbred cows, with 499 kg LW, were used in a completely randomized block design with split-plot arrangement design. Five grams of clipped (+/- 2 cm) grass or extrusa samples were placed in nylon bags (7 x 14 cm) and rumen incubated during 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 120 hours. The IVDMD and the CP, NDF and ADF content were, respectively, 55.8, 7.6, 81.9 e 43.6%, for the clipped grass and .66.5, 12.1, 78.8 e 39.5%, for the extrusa samples. The potential degradability of DM, C P, NDF and ADF were 62.59, 80.88, 50.73 and 46.65%, for clipped grass; and 79.53, 90.97, 71.21 and 65.68%, for extrusa samples. The quality of the selected animal diet (extrusa) was better than the available forage in terms of IVDMD and chemical composition (high protein and low fiber content). In situ degradability trials carried out with clipped samples, and non selected by animal, could not supply reliable results closed to the animal diet.

Voluntary intake of Tanzania grass (Panicum maximum) under rotational grazing by lactating cows

The study was conducted at Nucleo de Pesquisas Zootecnicas Nordeste of the Instituto de Zootecnia, Ribeirao Preto, SP, in a rotational grazing area of Tanzania grass (Panicum maximum), to estimate the dry matter intake by lactanting cows. The estimation of dry matter intake was calculated from the feces production estimated using extrusa Chromium-mordent and the in vitro digestibility of diet. The three treatments were crossbreed cows fed 3 kg.day(-1) of concentrate, crossbred cows without concentrate suplementation and pure Gir cows also without concentrate supplementation. The milk production was 11.98, 6.53 and 5.46 kg per cow per day, the grass intake was 8.26 +/- 5.66, 11.01 +/- 5.37 and 9.55 +/- 2.31 kg of dry matter per day or 2.15%, 2.37% and 2.34% of live weight for the three experimental groups respectively. The milk production was higher (P<0.01) for cows fed with concentrate. No difference was found for dry matter intake.

Digestibilidade Aparente e Efeito Macro-Microscópico em Tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) Arraçoadas com Torta de Dendê

To evaluate the nutritional value of palm kernel meal on the performance Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), five isonitrogenous (30% crude protein), isoenergetic (2800 kcal/kg of digestible energy), and isofibrous (10% crude fiber) diets, with increasing levels of palm kernel meal (0, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35%). were ad libitum fed to fingerlings with initial body weight of 1.52g +/- 0.04, housed per 120 days in 35 aquarium of 60 liters with fingerlings each. The environmental culture condition were monitored during all experimental period. Statistical analyses of recorded data were performed through polynomial regression models. To determine the apparent digestibility, macroscopic analysis of viscera and microscopic analysis of intestine epithelium were performed. The obtained results indicated that the inclusion of palm kernel meal up to 35% Nile tilapia diets did not affects the apparent digestibility and did not induce any pathological effects on viscera and intestinal epithelium.

Energia e nutrientes digestíveis de alimentos para a tilápia do nilo

The utilization of energetic and protein feeds, highly digestible as well, becomes more and more necessary due to the quality of formulated rations, fish performance and relationship with the environment. Apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of dry matter, protein, energy, phosphorus, and amino acids of corn starch, corn, wheat, rice, soybean, and cottonseed meal, corn gluten and fish meal were determined for Nile tilapia. ADC was determined using a reference diet based on albumin, gelatin and corn starch, was used inert indicator chromium III oxide (Cr(2)O(3)). Each test diet composed by 70% of reference diet and 30% of the test diet. Feces were collected using mofied Guelph system. ADC values for protein and average ADC of amino acids were as follows: corn 89.76 and 96.43%, rice meal 95.88 and 92.26%, wheat meal 93.54 and 84.41%, fish meal 82.59 and 86.36%, corn gluten 89.82 and 87.98%, soybean meal 94.13 and 91.93%, cotton meal 87.10 and 77.47%, respectively. According to the results of this work, ADC of protein is not a reliable indicator of ADC values of amino acids, even more so for wheat meal, corn, and cotton meal. Among protein feeds, soybean meal was found to have the highest ADC for protein and amino acids, while corn was the energetic feed with the highest ADC (86.15%) for energy.

Dietary digestible lysine requirement and essential amino acid to lysine ratio for pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Enzyme production by solid-state fermentation: Application to animal nutrition

Many microorganisms that decompose lignocellulosic material are being studied as producers of enzymes to perform enzymatic hydrolysis of the lignocellulosic material present in residues from the agroindustries. Although the cellulose and hemicellulose present in these materials have their value for feeding cattle, their bioavailability requires breakdown of the bonds with indigestible lignin. Predigestion of such materials with ligninases, xylanases and pectinases (cellulase free) may transform the lignocellulosic substrate into a feed with greater digestibility and higher quality for ruminants.. This review provides an overview of variables to be considered in the utilization of fungal plantdepolymerizing enzymes produced by solid-state fermentation from agricultural production residues in Brazil. (c) 2007 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Use of Pyrosequencing and Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis to Examine the Effects of Probiotics and Essential Oil Blends on Digestive Microflora in Broilers Under Mixed Eimeria Infection

A protective digestive microflora helps prevent and reduce broiler infection and colonization by enteropathogens. In the current experiment, broilers fed diets supplemented with probiotics and essential oil (EO) blends were infected with a standard mixed Eimeria spp. to determine effects of performance enhancers on ileal and cecal microbial communities (MCs). Eight treatment groups included four controls (uninfected-unmedicated [UU], unmedicated-infected, the antibiotic BMD plus the ionophore Coban as positive control, and the ionophore as negative control), and four treatments (probiotics BC-30 and Calsporin; and EO, Crina Poultry Plus, and Crina PoultryAF). Day-old broilers were raised to 14 days in floor pens on used litter and then were moved to Petersime batteries and inoculated at 15 days with mixed Eimeria spp. Ileal and cecal samples were collected at 14 days and 7 days postinfection. Digesta DNA was subjected to pyrosequencing for sequencing of individual cecal bacteria and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) for determination of changes in ileal and cecal MC according to percentage similarity coefficient (%SC). Pyrosequencing is very sensitive detecting shifts in individual bacterial sequences, whereas DGGE is able to detect gross shifts in entire MC. These combined techniques offer versatility toward identifying feed additive and mild Eimeria infection modulation of broiler MC. Pyrosequencing detected 147 bacterial species sequences. Additionally, pyrosequencing revealed the presence of relatively low levels of the potential human enteropathogens Campylobacter sp. and four Shigella spp. as well as the potential poultry pathogen Clostridiun perfringens. Pre- and postinfection changes in ileal (56%SC) and cecal (78.5%SC) DGGE profiles resulted from the coccidia infection and with increased broiler age. Probiotics and EO changed MC from those seen in UU ilea and ceca. Results potentially reflect the performance enhancement above expectations in comparison to broilers not given the probiotics or the specific EO blends as feed supplements.

Parâmetros bioquímicos sanguíneos, balanço de nitrogênio e metabolizabilidade da energia bruta em suínos alimentados com dietas contendo diferentes balanços eletrolíticos

The aim of this study was to evaluate different dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) on the blood biochemical parameters, nitrogen balances and crude metabolizable energy of swine in the initial phase. Sixteen barrows were used, averaging 27.95 kg of initial weight, allotted individually in metabolic cages in a randomized blocks design with four treatments (DEB of 160, 208, 257 and 305 mEq/kg) and 4 replicates. The blood biochemical parameters analyzed were chloride, potassium, sodium and urea in blood. Urine pH was also evaluated, and the parameters evaluated in nitrogen (N) balance were N intake, fecal N, N excreted in urine, absorbed N, N retention, retained N/absorbed N and total excretion of N. The gross energy digestibility and metabolizibility coefficients were determined, and the respectives values of digestible and metabolizable energy. The values of urinary pH increased (P < 0.01) linearly with increasing levels of DEB, ranging from 6.90 to 8.03. The results for chloride, potassium and nitrogen balances of variables and gross energy were similar (P > 0.05) between the evaluated DEB. A linear increase (P < 0.01) was also observed for sodium concentrations in blood serum due to the increase of DEB, with values of 2.91, 3.03, 3.27 and 3.18 g/l, respectively for the different treatments. Urea levels in blood serum increased linearly (P < 0.01), with values of 26.21, 28.64, 34.32 and 32.89 mg/dl. It was concluded that increasing the dietary electrolyte balance, from 160 to 305 mEq/kg resulted in higher concentrations of urea and sodium in blood serum, and higher pH values in the urine of swine in the initial phase.