Abstract
The purpose was to estimate the liquid requirements of Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu for weight gain in 46 castrated Caninde goats in grazing system in the Caatinga supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% levels in relation to live weight. The animals had an initial average body weight of 15.76 ± 0.96 kg. Six animals were slaughtered at the onset of the experiment (16.1 ± 1.15 kg BW) and the rest (n = 40) were randomly distributed into one of the four levels of supplementation. The body composition (mg kg -1 EBW) varied from 8.47 to 9.09 mg Zn, 13.54 to 13.77 mg Fe, 6.34 to 6.36 mg Mn and 3.78 to 5.10 mg Cu, for Caninde goats with 15 and 25 kg BW, respectively, and the liquid requirements for gain (mg kg -1 BW gain) were estimated by the comparative slaughter method, and varied from 6.98 to 7.77 mg Zn; 10.20 to 10.72 mg Fe; 4.64 to 4.82 mg Mn and 4.28 to 5.96 mg Cu for the animals with BW varying from 15 to 25 kg, respectively. The liquid requirements of microminerals estimated in this research were inferior to the recommendations made by international committees.
Highlights
Microminerals, or trace elements, are distributed throughout the body of animals in small quantities, representing less than 0.3% of total minerals stored in the body and 0.02% in diet (MAHAN; SHIELDS JR., 1998)
The ruminal extrusa selected in pasture according to methodology described by Santos et al (2008), by the animal was collected and stored in a freezer to comprise samples by composed of animal and period, to estimate dry matter intake (DMI) in pasture from the estimate of fecal production and dry matter digestibility of the extrusa from four castrated male Canindé goats fitted with permanent rumen cannulas, weighing 22 ± 2.23 kg and approximately 12 months old
The performance expressed as body weight gain (g day-1) of Canindé goats was influenced (p < 0.0001) positively by the supplementation levels, which in turn led to increased nutrient supply (Table 2)
Summary
Microminerals, or trace elements, are distributed throughout the body of animals in small quantities, representing less than 0.3% of total minerals stored in the body and 0.02% in diet (MAHAN; SHIELDS JR., 1998). They play an important role in maintaining normal cell metabolism in animals (LEE et al, 2002). In order for these mineral elements to be absorbed by the body, they must be adequately supplied in the diet, as any excess or deficiency in one element interferes in the utilization of another. The present study was carried out to estimate the net requirements of Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu for weight gain in growing goats under supplementation in the semiarid of Paraíba State, Brazil
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