Levels Of Whole Cottonseed Research Articles

Serum biochemical panel and modulation of skeletal muscle fibres: effect on the meat quality from lambs fed with different levels of whole cottonseed

The use of whole cottonseed (WCS) in the diet of ruminants has come to prominence mainly because this ingredient contains high levels of protein and lipids. The aims of this study were to evaluate serum biochemical panel and modulation of the skeletal muscle fibres (Longissimus thoracis) of Ile de France lambs fed with levels of WCS; and relationship between skeletal muscle fibres and meat quality. Fifty lambs were used in the experiment: five (5) reference and 45 equally distributed in treatments 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% WCS (64 days feedlot time), using a completely randomised design. Blood biochemical determinations were performed using colorimetric kits. The fibers were determined by histochemistry method and classified as Type I, Type IIA, Type IIB and Type IIC. Muscle fiber characteristics were correlated with meat quality, considering variables of color, texture and sensory profile, physicochemical and fatty acid profile. Cholesterol levels, total protein and gamma-glutamyl transferase increased (p≤0.05) in line with increased levels of WCS in the diet. Muscle fibres modulation (p≤0.05) was observed, with an increase in red, a reduction in glycolytic, and modulation of Type IIB to Type IIA. The addition of WCS to the diet increased (p≤0.05) the relative area of Type IIC. There was correlation between muscle fibres and meat qualitative characteristics. Time effect was more pronounced than diet effect on the muscle fibres modulation. Muscle fibres modulation was closely linked with meat quality.

Effects of soybean oil or various levels of whole cottonseed on intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, and ruminal fermentation characteristics of finishing beef cattle

Six rumen-cannulated Nellore steers (407 ± 24 kg initial body weight) were used in a 6 × 6 Latin square design experiment to evaluate the effects of soybean oil (SO) or various levels of whole cottonseed (WC) in finishing diets. Treatments consisted of five levels [0, 8, 16, 24, and 32% of dry matter (DM) basis] of WC in diets containing 80% concentrate and one diet formulated to contain a similar concentration of lipid (DM basis) as diet WC32 but without WC, rather using SO. Increasing levels of WC decreased the intake of DM, non-fibrous carbohydrate, and total digestible nutrients (linear; P ≤ 0.01), tended to decrease the intake of crude protein (linear; P = 0.10), but didn't affect the intake of neutral detergent fiber (P = 0.12). The intake of total fatty acids increased (linear; P < 0.01) due to the increasing levels of WC. The inclusion of SO also increased the intake of total fatty acids (P < 0.01) but did not affect (P ≥ 0.20) the intake of DM, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber compared with WC0. Increasing levels of WC decreased the total volatile fatty acids concentration (linear; P < 0.001). Feeding SO reduced the total protozoa account (P < 0.001) compared with WC0. Feeding SO did not affect the intake, nutrient digestibility, and the main ruminal characteristics compared with the control diet, therefore no positive effects of increasing dietary fat content from 3.2 to 7.8% with soybean soil on growth performance would be expected. The DM intake was dramatically decreased in response to the levels of WC, as well as the ruminal fermentation characteristics.

Effects of feeding graded levels of whole cottonseed on haemato-biochemical parameters of red Sokoto bucks

Whole cottonseed (WCS) is an important source of protein for ruminants, however, it contains a polyphenolic secondary metabolite gossypol which may reduce its palatability and cause pathophysiological effects. The study was aimed at evaluating the effects of feeding graded levels of WCS on the haemato-biochemical parameters of Red Sokoto bucks (RSB). After a 14-day pre-treatment period, 20 bucks (n = 5) were assigned for 90 days to one of four isonitrogeneous treatments: control (A); 0 % (B); 15 % (C); 30 % and (D); 45 %. Blood was collected for Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and serum analyses at days 0, 45 and 90 of the experimental period for concentrations of urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, globulin and activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The PCV was decreased in groups fed above 15 % of WCS on days 45. There were no significant (P &gt; 0.05) differences in globulin concentration, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities but aspartate transferase activity was higher (p &lt; 0.05) in group D (45% WCS) compared to the various treatment groups. The urea concentration was higher (p &lt; 0.05) in groups B and D at day 45 compared to the control group. The creatinine concentration was higher (p &lt; 0.05) in group D at days 45 and 90 compared to the control group. The serum total protein and albumin concentration were higher (p &lt; 0.05) in groups C and D at day 45 compared to the control group. Our finding revealed that prolonged feeding of bucks above 30 % WCS for more than 60 days exerted considerable deleterious and adverse effects on blood constituents leading to aneamia, hyper-cretenaemia, ureamia, increased levels of total protein, albumin, aspartate transferase activity and death.&#x0D; Keywords: Biochemical parameters, Bucks, Gossypol, Serum, Whole cotton seed

Ruminal fermentation and degradation, kinetic flow of digesta and milk fatty acid composition of cows fed sugarcane silage-based diets supplemented with whole cottonseed

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ruminal fermentation and degradation parameters, the kinetic flow of digesta in the gastrointestinal tract, and the milk fatty acid (FA) profile in Holstein x Gyr cows fed 59% sugarcane silage-based diets with 0% (control), 5%, 10% and 15% whole cottonseed (WCS) on a dry matter (DM) basis. Four rumen-cannulated cows with an average milk yield of 14.4±3.3 kg day-1 and 85±25 days in milk were allocated in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. There was no effect of dietary WCS levels on the intake of organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and nonfibrous carbohydrates, but there was a linear increase in the intake of ether extract (EE). There was no treatment effect on the apparent digestibility of DM, OM, CP, EE and NDF or on the ruminal degradability parameters for DM and NDF of sugarcane silage. Also, no treatment effects were observed on rumen pH, ruminal and postruminal particulate passage rates or on the rate of passage of the fluids in the rumen. WCS promoted linear reductions in the milk fat contents of lauric, myristic and palmitic acids and linear increases in the milk fat contents of stearic, oleic, trans-10 C18:1 and elaidic acids. The milk fat contents of vaccenic, rumenic, linoleic and ?-linolenic acids were unaffected by WCS supplementation. The inclusion of up to 15% WCS in sugarcane silage-based diets did not alter the digestibility of nutrients, the rumen degradability of the fiber, or the kinetic flow of digesta in the gastrointestinal tract of Holstein x Gyr cows but improved the nutritional quality of milk fat through an increase in the content of oleic acid, which is beneficial to human health, and decreased levels of hypercholesterolemic lauric, myristic and palmitic acids.

Effects of soybean oil or various levels of whole cottonseed on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of finishing bulls

This study evaluated the effects of including various levels of whole cottonseed (WC) or one level of soybean oil (SO) in high concentrate diets fed to finishing beef cattle. Two hundred eighty Nellore bulls were blocked by initial body weight (BW = 349 ± 33 kg), assigned to 40 feedlot pens and pens within weight block were randomly assigned to treatments: five levels of inclusion of WC [0%, (WC0); 8%, (WC8); 16%, (WC16); 24% (WC24); and 32% (WC32); dry matter (DM) basis] in diets containing 13% (DM basis) of sugarcane bagasse. One additional treatment was formulated to contain similar concentration of lipid as diet WC32 but with no WC, rather using soybean oil (SO). When averaged across the total feeding period, increasing dietary level of WC affected DM intake (DMI), final body weight, average daily gain (ADG), and feed efficiency (G:F; quadratic; P ≤ 0.01). Compared to WC0, diet SO decreased DMI (P < 0.001), tended to reduce ADG, and final BW (P ≤ 0.09) but no differences in G:F were observed between this two treatments (P = 0.38). Compared to WC32, bulls fed SO had greater DMI, ADG, final BW, and G:F (P ≤ 0.02). Increasing dietary level of WC affected hot carcass weight (HCW), dressing percentage, and longissimus muscle area (quadratic; P ≤ 0.05). Bulls fed SO had greater HCW, dressing percentage, 12th-rib fat (P ≤ 0.001), and a tendency for greater longissimus muscle area (P = 0.09) compared with WC32. Increasing levels of WC did not affect meat composition (P ≥ 0.12). No differences in meat composition were observed between bulls fed SO and WC0 (P ≥ 0.24) or bulls fed SO and WC32 (P ≥ 0.31). Trained panelists detected changes in tenderness (linear; P = 0.05) due the increasing levels of WC in the diets. Compared to WC0 (P = 0.06) and to WC32 (P ≤ 0.05) bulls fed SO have greater tenderness and overall acceptability. Increasing levels of whole cottonseed in high-concentrate diets reduced the DMI of finishing bulls. Levels of WC greater than 15% of diet DM decreased feed efficiency. Including up to 32% of WC in finishing diets had no effects on meat quality or acceptability. No positive effects of increasing dietary fat content from 3.2 to 7.8% with SO were observed on growth performance and overall meat characteristics of finishing bulls.

Whole cottonseed supplementation improves performance and reduces methane emission intensity of grazing beef steers

<h2>ABSTRACT</h2> The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of level of whole cottonseed (WCS) supplementation on ADG and enteric CH₄ emissions of steers grazing tallgrass prairie in the summer. Steers (n = 18; initial BW=316 ± 23 kg) were trained for 3 wk to use a portable, automated head-chamber system (GreenFeed; C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD). Steers were then offered from 0 to 2.9 kg/d (as fed) WCS in individual feeders for 43 d. Body weight was measured weekly before feeding. Total fat concentration of the diet (supplement + forage) at the greatest supplement intake was estimated to be 8.3% of DM. Body weight gain increased linearly as supplement intake increased (<i>P</i> = 0.01). Because of inadequate use of the automated head-chamber system by steers at the 0-kg WCS level, this level was excluded from further analysis. In supplemented steers, there was a tendency (<i>P</i> = 0.1) for a quadratic relationship between CH₄ emissions (g/animal per d) and supplement intake, with minimum CH₄ at 2.0 kg of supplement (WCS + bait) per day. Emission intensity (g of CH₄/kg of BW gain) also responded quadratically (<i>P</i> < 0.004) and was minimized at approximately 2.2 kg of supplement intake per day. The results of this experiment suggest that if WCS supplementation is used to mitigate CH₄ emission intensity in stocker cattle grazing tallgrass prairie in the early summer, a dose near 2 kg/d is suggested.

Physicochemical, technological and sensory properties of hamburger made with meat from lambs fed on whole cottonseed.

The physicochemical composition and the technological and sensory properties of hamburgers made with meat from Ile de France lambs fed on different levels (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40%) of whole cottonseed were studied. The addition of whole cottonseed to the lambs' diets decreased the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the lamb meat and altered the physicochemical characteristics of the hamburgers, which were characterised by low lipid ( ), cholesterol ( ) and caloric content ( ). The results regarding cooking characteristics were directly related to the microscopic observations regarding the hamburgers; the more cohesive structures exhibited better performance after cooking, with increased cooking yield and moisture retention, and decreased cooking loss. The levels of whole cottonseed did not influence the texture profile, but they negatively affected the acceptability of the hamburgers, since as the levels of cotton seedlings increased, the scores for the sensorial attributes decreased. Thus, a maximum inclusion of 16.7% of whole cottonseed in the dry matter of the diet of lambs is recommended.

The effect of feed intake containing whole cottonseed on blood parameters of Nellore bulls

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diets containing whole cottonseed (WC) on blood biochemical parameters of bulls. Thirty bulls with 30±6 months and 382.7±28.4kg were kept in feedlot (85 days) and fed the following WC levels: 0, 2.22, 4.44, 6.66, 8.88 and 11.11%. In comparing biochemical indicators from the beginning to the end of the experiment, the control group (CG) and those fed diets containing 2.22, 8.88 and 11.11% of WC had an increase (P&lt;0.05) in serum Ca concentrations (8.34±0.65−9.56±0.92mEqL-1). In relation to Fe (202.79±69.04−300.04±79.88µg/dL), the CG and those treated with 6.66% WC showed an increase (P&lt;0.05) in serum concentrations. As to the Mg (1.92±0.18−2.40±0.27mEqL-1), groups treated with diet containing 2.22, 4.44 and 6.66% of WC had higher (p&lt;0.05) concentrations at the end of the study. Regarding blood lipids, groups with diets containing 2.22; 4.44; 6.66 and 8.88% of WC increased (p&lt;0.05), respectively, in concentrations of HDL, TG, VLDL and COL. The group that received 11.11% of WC increased (P&lt;0.05) in the concentrations of COL and HDL. It can be concluded that diets containing WC, caused no alterations in the concentrations of blood parameters analyzed in this study, with the exception of Mg.

Caroço de algodão em dietas sem volumoso para cordeiros confinados

The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance, intake, feeding behavior, costs of production and nutritional parameters of sheep fed diets containing different levels of whole cottonseed (WC): zero, 10, 20, 30 and 40%. Two experiments have been carried out, in which in the first trial we have used a completely randomized design with five treatments and six replicates each, which lasted 70 days. The animals were kept in collective stalls and all of them have been weighed at the beginning and end of the experiment. The second experiment was a 5x5 Latin square design with five treatments and five animals divided in five periods of 14 days, totaling 70 days of experimentation. The intakes of the DM, OM, EE, NDF and NFC ave been not affected by WC levels (P>0.01). The WC levels had quadratic affect only on EE digestibility (P 0.05). There were no effects (P>0.05) of whole cottonseed on average daily gain with average of 200.8g/animal/day, as well as there was no effect of the WC levels on intake behavior. A gross margins of R$ 0.18 to 0.19 per animal / day was observed for WC levels of 10 to 20%.Thus, it was concluded that whole cottonseed can be included in lambs diets up 20% of dry matter basis in which roughage has been not used.

Performance, Carcass Traits and Meat Quality of Crossbred Lambs Fed Whole Cottonseed Levels

Byproduct as whole cottonseed (WCS) and soybean hulls are quite used in finishing diets to feedlot lambs and WCS is a potential source to be included in lambs diet when prices are advantageous. The most part of the studies with WCS is used as a replacement of cereals as corn. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing a fibrous byproduct (soybean hulls) with increasing levels of WCS (0, 10 and 20%) on the performance, carcass traits and meat quality of feedlot lambs. Thirty crossbred lambs (15 males and 15 females, 20±1.6 kg) were fed 1 of 3 high concentration diets: CTL (without WCS), WCS10 (with 10% WCS), and WCS20 (with 20% WCS) in a block design (sex) for 56 days. Feeding 10 or 20% WCS significantly (P=0.013) improved the feed conversion without affecting the final weight gain, average daily gain or dry matter intake in kg/d. However, the DMI (in %) of live weight was affected by treatments (P<0.0001): lambs fed the CTL and the WCS10 diet consumed more DMI than the lambs from WCS20 diet (4.19, 4.03 and 3.6%, respectively). The hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, longissimus muscle area and fat thickness were not affected by the WCS levels. The shear force and meat colour were similar among treatments. These results suggested that fattening lambs may benefit from an increase in feed efficiency from 10% WCS up to 20% without negatively impacting carcass and meat quality.

Effect of diets containing whole cottonseed on the quality of sheep semen

This study evaluated the semen quality of Santa Ines sheep fed diets containing different levels of whole cottonseed (WCS). Twenty sheep were distributed into four groups that were given diets with 0; 20; 30; 40% of WCS. For this study the semen was collected by electroejaculation, and a monthly andrological examination was performed during nine months. The analyzed variables were: scrotal circumference (SC), appearance and color of the ejaculate, progressive motility (PM), vigor, mass movement (MM), total sperm concentration (spzX109), sperm morphology (SM) and blood hematocrit. The SC had no difference among diets, with mean 31.83 cm. The animals fed diets with WCS, presented mean intake of 9.16 mg gossypol kg BW, and were prone to present greenish semen, and appearance ranging from thin creamy to watery. The PM decreased linearly (p &lt; 0.05) with increasing level of WCS, while the vigor had a quadratic trend. The total defects increased linearly in relation to reference values described in literature. The WSC had no influence on hematocrit levels, but did affect the PM and vigor of spermatozoa, thus not recommended to diets of animals for breeding.

Produção e composição do leite de vacas submetidas à dieta contendo diferentes níveis de caroço de algodão

The present study aimed to evaluate the production and milk composition of four multiparous Holstein-Zebu lactating cows average 70 days of lactation, 488 kg of body weight fed different levels of whole cottonseed will be added to sugarcane silage and concentrate consisting of corn and cottonseed meal. The treatments consisted of four diets with increasing levels of whole cottonseed (5, 10 and 15%) in the diet dry matter. The experimental design was a 4x4 Latin Square. The results demonstrate that supplementation with cottonseed did not affect the efficiency of milk production (EfMP, kg milk / DMI), concentration of net energy (NE) and protein: fat ratio (PFR) in milk, but was able to change corrected milk production (MPcorr) and the percentage of lactose content. The data from this study suggest that using supplemental whole cottonseed in the diet of dairy cows, maintaining the quality of milk produced and consequently is an alternative for sustainable food systems for milk production.

Feeding of whole cottonseed on performance, carcass characteristics and intestinal morphology of Zandi lambs

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of including different levels of whole cottonseed (WCS) in the finishing diet of lambs on their dry matter intake (DMI), live weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR, kg feed/kg gain), carcass characteristics and small intestinal morphology. Twenty Zandi male lambs (29.8 &plusmn; 1.6 kg body weight) were assigned to one of four diets in a completely randomized experimental design. The experimental diets contained 0%, 4%, 8% and 16% WCS on a dry matter (DM) basis. The diets were prepared as total mixed rations and fed to the lambs ad libitum. The lambs were slaughtered on day 90 and carcass data was collected. The DMI and average daily gain (ADG) were significantly greater for lambs fed the 8% WCS diet compared with the other treatments. The FCR was significantly lower in the diets containing WCS compared to the control, viz. 6.11, 5.6, 5.46 and 5.68, for treatments 0, 4, 8 and 16% of WCS, respectively. However, the positive effects of including 8% cottonseed in the diet were significant in hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, liver, fat tail, intestinal fat and spleen compared with the control group. Furthermore, villous morphology and depth of crypt gland were affected by both diet and sampling site. No negative effects were observed in the organs and carcasses of the lambs that received different diets. The results indicate that the inclusion of 8% WCS in lamb diets could have a positive effect on most of the traits, but increasing the WCS inclusion up to 16% in the diet may have negative effects on lamb performance.Keywords: Growth, finishing diet, carcass, sheep, gossypol

Características quantitativas de carcaça de ovinos Santa Inês confinados alimentados com rações contendo diferentes níveis de caroço de algodão integral

Avaliaram-se as características de carcaça, os rendimentos dos cortes e a musculosidade da carcaça de 24 ovinos Santa Inês, inteiros, confinados em baias individuais, alimentados com dietas contendo 0; 20; 30 e 40% de caroço de algodão integral (CAI). Os animais apresentaram peso corporal inicial médio de 19,5 kg e foram abatidos quando atingiram peso médio de 32,2 kg. Utilizou-se delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro dietas e seis repetições. Não houve efeito para as características quantitativas analisadas em função dos níveis de CAI empregados. O rendimento verdadeiro médio foi de 56,46%. Para os pesos dos cortes em relação à meia-carcaça, houve efeito linear decrescente para a paleta, enquanto para os rendimentos de cortes não houve efeito dos níveis de CAI. A estimativa de musculosidade da carcaça sofreu efeito linear decrescente para a relação músculo:osso e área de olho-de-lombo. Entre os tecidos constituintes da perna, a porcentagem de músculo sofreu influência decrescente. Os níveis de CAI proporcionaram menor musculosidade da carcaça, sem, no entanto, afetar as características e o rendimento de cortes da carcaça de cordeiros Santa Inês, podendo ser incluído em dietas de terminação.

Effect Of Feeding Different Levels Of Whole Cottonseed On Performance Of Weaned Calves

A study was carried out to examine the effects of feeding varying levels of whole cottonseed on the performance of weaned calves. Twenty Friesian x Bunaji heifers and eight bull calves, age between 5 and 6 months, and weighing between 100 and 170kg were fed four concentrate diets formulated to contain 0, 25, 50 and 75% whole cottonseed, to determine the effect of level of whole cottonseed on their performance. The result of the study shows that concentrate intake by calves was significantly higher in calves fed 0 and 25% than in 50 and 75% whole cottonseed diets. Daily weight gains averaged 0.87, 0.45, 0.35 and 0.21 kg for the calves fed 0, 25, 50 and 75% whole cottonseed diets, respectively. Changes in blood parameters were not significant (P>0.05) in across treatments. Dry and organic matter digestibilities declined with increase in the level of whole cottonseed in the diet. Crude protein, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, and ether extract digestibilities increased with increase in the level of whole cottonseed. The study shows that calves could be fed diets containing up to 25% without adverse effects. Keywords : Whole cottonseed, Growth, Blood profile, Calves Nigerian Veterinary Journal Vol. 27 (3) 2006 pp. 36-45

Effects of Varying Levels of Whole Cottonseed on Blood, Milk and Rumen Parameters of Dairy Cows

Four lactating Holstein cows were used in a 4×4 Latin-square design to determine the effects of various levels of whole cottonseed (WCS) in diets on parameters including milk (yield and fat content), rumen fluid (pH, ammonia and TVFA) and blood (β- carotene, vit. A, vit. E, urea, NH3, Ca, P and Mg levels). Cows consumed 0, 1, 2 or 3 kg WCS per day. No significant differences were observed among the groups on analysed parameters except plasma vitamin E concentration. In addition, when the amount of cottonseed was increased, milk yield and milk fat content also tended to increase but this increase was not statistically significant. In conclusion, feeding of WCS up to 3 kg per day with ad libitum maize silage did not cause negative effects on milk yield, milk fat and blood vitamin levels in the short term in dairy cows. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2006. Vol 19, No. 6 : 852-856)

Effects of Source of Gossypol and Supplemental Iron on Plasma Gossypol in Holstein Steers

Four experiments were conducted to evaluate factors influencing concentrations of plasma total gossypol (TG) in 30 Holstein steers fed cottonseed products. At the end of each 28-d experiment, steers were weighed and blood samples were collected and analyzed for plasma TG concentrations. During the entire study, steers did not show any overt signs of gossypol toxicity. In the 28 d before experiment 1, 30 steers with a body weight (BW) of 273kg were fed a standardization diet with 15.0% Upland whole cottonseed (WCS) that resulted in a mean intake of 9.08g/d of TG per steer/d and a plasma TG of 1.66μg/mL. In experiment 1, 30 steers were fed 1 of 5 diets with 15.0% Upland WCS, but different levels of supplemental Fe [0, 150, 300, 450, and 600mg/kg of diet dry matter (DM)]. Average daily gain was not affected by level of Fe in the diet, but DM intake, plasma TG, and plasma TG response decreased linearly as Fe in diets increased. In experiment 2, steers were fed diets with 15.0% Upland cottonseed as whole, cracked, roasted, cracked-roasted, or extruded. Analysis of the seed revealed that roasting or extrusion markedly reduced free gossypol (FG) content. Minor effects on animal performance were observed, but plasma TG decreased with roasting or extrusion of seeds, with the greatest reduction when the seed was cracked and then roasted. In experiment 3, steers were fed 2 levels of WCS (7.0 or 14.0% of DM) with 3 levels of cottonseed meal (2.8, 5.5, or 8.5% of DM) in the diet. Animal performance was not altered by diet, but plasma gossypol concentrations and responses were greater in steers fed diets with more WCS, because of the greater FG intake. In experiment 4, 24 steers were fed diets with 15.0% cottonseed (Upland or Pima) either as whole or cracked. Pima cottonseed increased TG and FG intakes, which resulted in greater plasma TG concentration and response. Animal response to processing of cottonseed tended to differ according to type of cottonseed. However, feeding Pima and cracking of cottonseed increased gossypol availability and plasma TG concentrations.

Caroço de algodão como fonte de fibra e proteína em dietas à base de palma forrageira para vacas em latação: digestibilidade

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of five levels of whole cottonseed (0.00; 6.25; 12.50; 18.75; e 25.00%) in partial replacement of soybean meal and sorghum silage, on the apparent nutrients digestibility and apparent minerals absorption. Five Holstein cows were assigned in one (5X5) latin square design. The apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, total carbohydrates, nonfiber carbohydrates, neutral detergent fiber and TDN estimated in a digestibility trial was not affected by whole cottonseed levels (69.25; 69.33; 68.37; 81.42; 49.52; 47.29; and 70.62%, respectively). The crude protein apparent digestibility decreased and ether extract apparent digestibility increased linearly by the increase of whole cottonseed. Minerals apparent absorption was not affected by whole cottonseed levels (50.67; 35.7; 91.03; 86.38; and 29.17% for Ca, P, K, Na e Mg, respectively)

Ruminal Fermentation and Amino Acid Flow in Holstein Steers Fed Whole Cottonseed with Elevated Concentrations of Free Fatty Acids in the Oil

The influence of feeding whole cottonseed (WCS) containing elevated concentrations of free fatty acids (FFA) in the oil on ruminal fermentation and amino acid (AA) flow to the abomasum was evaluated in a 4×4 Latin square trial. Four ruminally and abomasally cannulated Holstein steers were fed diets containing 12.5% of dry matter as WCS with concentrations of 8.0, 11.3, 14.7, or 18.0% FFA in the oil. Intake, ruminal digestibility, and flow to the abomasum of dry matter, organic matter, and acid detergent fiber were not affected by FFA level of WCS. Intake of neutral detergent fiber and total kilograms of neutral detergent fiber digested in the rumen were similar for all treatments. Ruminal neutral detergent fiber digestibility was lower for 8 and 14.7% FFA, resulting in a cubic effect on flow to the abomasum. Ruminal pH, molar proportions of isobutyrate, and total branched-chain volatile fatty acids (VFA) decreased linearly, whereas molar proportions of acetate and acetate:propionate ratio increased linearly as FFA in WCS increased. Total VFA were lower, and molar proportions of propionate were higher, for 8 and 14.7% FFA, resulting in a cubic effect. Intake of N, total N flow, and nonmicrobial N flow to the abomasum were similar among treatments. Flow of microbial N was lower for the 11.3% FFA treatment, resulting in a quadratic response. Only nonsignificant differences were observed in AA flow to the abomasum. Results of this trial indicate that WCS with FFA up to 18% may result in small changes in rumen fermentation.

Efeito da inclusão do caroço de algodão sobre o consumo, digestibilidade e balanço da energia em dietas para ovinos

Vinte e cinco carneiros castrados, em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, foram utilizados para avaliar o efeito de níveis crescentes de inclusão (0, 12, 24, 35 e 45%) de caroço de algodão integral (Gossypium hirsutum) à dieta básica de feno de "Tifton 85" (Cynodon spp.) sobre a digestibilidade aparente da energia bruta, sobre os consumos de energia digestível e metabolizável por unidade de tamanho metabólico, e sobre o balanço energético. O consumo de energia digestível aumentou até o nível de 24% de inclusão de caroço de algodão integral (192,58 Kcal/kg0,75/dia). O balanço energético foi positivo para todas as dietas em virtude do atendimento aos requisitos energéticos de mantença. Os animais que receberam 24% de inclusão do caroço de algodão integral à dieta tiveram maior consumo de energia e melhores digestibilidade e balanço energético.