Tifton Grass Hay Research Articles

Effect of water deprivation and increasing levels of spineless cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera) cladodes in the diet of growing lambs on intake, growth performance and ruminal and intestinal morphometric changes

We evaluated the effects of total water intake (TWI) deprivation and dietary supplementation with spineless cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera) cladodes on dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio and morphometric characteristics of rumen and intestinal tissues of Santa Inês sheep. Forty-two intact male Santa Inês sheep were used, with an average age of 100 ± 3 days and a body weight of 18.74 ± 2.05 kg. The animals were allocated to a completely randomised design in a 3 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement with additional treatment of the control type, where (3) are cactus diets replacing Tifton-85 hay (30, 50 and 70% on dry matter (DM) basis) and (2) watering regimens (drinking water deprivation or ad libitum access to drinking water). The control treatment (1) contained 0% spineless cactus and had ad libitum access to drinking water). There was no interaction (P > 0.05) between spineless cactus inclusion and water deprivation on sheep performance. Water deprivation reduced (P < 0.001) TWI and increased (P < 0.001) the DMI/TWI ratio. It did not change slaughter body weight, total weight and ADG of sheep (P > 0.05). The spineless cactus inclusion quadratically increased (P ≤ 0.05) the DMI, slaughter body weight, ADG and feed efficiency. Contrary, TWI and DMI/TWI linearly decreased due to spineless cactus inclusion (P ≤ 0.05). Based on the means test, the DMI was higher at 30% inclusion level of cactus and decreased at 50 and 70%. There was no interaction (P > 0.05) between spineless cactus inclusion and drinking water deprivation for rumen papillae length, width and muscle thickness and intestinal mucosal height. The interaction between water and drinking water deprivation demonstrated that intestinal mucosal height (P ≤ 0.05) in the treatment with 50% inclusion was greater for the treatment with drinking water deprivation. A higher weight of the gastrointestinal tract was observed for the cactus substitution levels of 30 and 50%. The inclusion of 30% DM of spineless cactus replacing Tifton grass hay in sheep diet improved DMI, weight gain and feed conversion, regardless of the availability of drinking water. Drinking water deprivation in Santa Inês sheep receiving spineless cactus does not change the length and width of the ruminal papillae. However, sheep receiving spineless cactus increases the height of the intestinal papillae, irrespective of the inclusion level, because liquids facilitate the transportation of gastric contents, resulting in greater nutrient absorption.

Study of morphometric and ruminal parameters in santa inês sheep fed spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica, MILL)

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to morphometrically evaluate the ruminal mucosa and ruminal fluid characteristics of Santa Inês sheep fed different levels of spineless cactus as a replacement for Tifton grass hay. A total of 32 intact male Santa Inês sheep, approximately 180 days old and with a mean weight of 32.0±1.6kg, were studied in a completely randomized design with four treatments and eight replicates. The morphometric measurements evaluated in the ruminal epithelium (papilla height and surface area) were significantly affected (P&lt; 0.05) by supplementation of the diet with spineless cactus, and these effects showed increasing linear trends. Evaluations of the ruminal fluid also showed a significant increasing linear effect (P&lt; 0.05) for ammonia and a quadratic effect for microbial protein. The inclusion of spineless cactus in the sheep diet affects the ruminal epithelium morphology, including the papilla height and surface area, and favors the absorption process in the rumen. The diet containing higher levels of spineless cactus led to maximum microbial protein production. These results characterize spineless cactus as a feasible alternative for feeding sheep during periods of drought, when the typical food source is scarce.

Carcass and meat quality of lambs fed with sunflower seed or oil

The objective of this study was to compare the use of sunflower seeds and oil as a fat source in the diets of finishing lambs. Twelve crossbred Santa Inês × Dorper lambs, with an average initial weight of 22.10 ± 3.82 kg were housed in individual pens and divided into two treatments: diets with sunflower seeds or oil. The total diet of both groups contained 33% roughage (tifton grass hay 85) and 67% concentrate. The proportion of sunflower oil and seeds in the total dry matter of the diets was 1.83% and 5.51%, respectively for the treatments oil and seed. The experimental period lasted for 75 days. The animals were slaughtered when they reached an average live weight of 35 kg. The carcass and meat variables were not different between the treatments studied. The presence of oil or sunflower seeds in the diets, both with a high level of concentrate (67%), did not influence the pH values of the meat, with average values of 5.8 and 5.6, respectively. The use of 5.5% sunflower seed, or 1.8% sunflower oil, as fat sources in diets of crossbred Santa Inês X Dorper lambs in finishing, were effective to obtain quality meat and carcasses.

Spineless cactus varieties resistant to carmine cochineal (Dactylopius sp.) on the composition and sensory properties of goat milk

The physical-chemical characteristics and sensory attributes of milk are variable. This study aimed to evaluate how spineless cactus varieties resistant to carmine cochineal (Dactylopius sp.) influences the composition and sensory characteristics of goat milk. Twelve lactating goats with body weights of 51.35 ± 3.75 kg were distributed in a 4 × 4 Latin square, with three simultaneous squares composed of four animals, four periods, and four experimental diets: Control - goats fed tifton grass hay and concentrate; SCOE - goats fed the Orelha-de-elefante spineless cactus, tifton hay, and concentrate; SCB – goats fed the Baiana spineless cactus, tifton hay, and concentrate; SCM – goats fed the Miúda spineless cactus, tifton hay, and concentrate. The levels of protein and non-greasy solids and the sensory attributes of the milk (odor, butter flavor, and global acceptance) did not differ between the treatments (p &gt; 0.05). The lipid content of the milk was reduced in the SCOE treatment compared to the control (p = 0.0014). The milk obtained from animals fed the SCOE and SCM treatments had a stronger flavor (p &lt; 0.05). These results suggest that varieties of spineless cactus resistant to carmine cochineal can be used as goat feed without affecting milk production or global acceptance.

Use of banana (Musa sp.) pseudostem hay in feedlot sheep feeding

ABSTRACT The objective with this study was to evaluate intake, feeding behavior, rumen fluid characteristics, performance, and nutrient digestibility of sheep fed banana pseudostem hay (BPH) with and without virginiamycin (VM). Thirty-two uncastrated male crossbred Dorper × Santa Ines lambs at approximately five months of age, with an average initial body weight of 25.00±1.95 kg, were used in the experiment. Four diets were tested, as follows: Tifton grass hay (TGH) plus concentrate with VM; BPH replacing 60% of TGH plus [...]

Occurrence of periodontitis and dental wear in dairy goats

Periodontitis and excessive tooth wear are considered two of the most important oral diseases affecting the health, performance, and welfare of small ruminants. The present study aimed to describe the occurrence of periodontitis and excessive wear of the incisor and masticatory teeth among a herd of dairy goats, the presence of possible risk factors, and the presence of microorganisms considered potential periodontal pathogens. For this, 150 dairy goats of the Saanen and Pardo Alpina breeds with different periodontal conditions and aged 13 months to 8 years were clinically examined. Animals were fed a commercial ration specific for each age group and supplied at will bulky hay composed of Tifton grass hay (Cynodon nlemfuensis) or massai (Panicum hybrid vr. Massai) and corn silage. Scores from 0 to 3 were initially attributed to the presence and intensity of gingival recession, presence of supragingival biofilm, and wear of the dental crown. The presence of 23 microorganisms considered, as potential pathogens was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from subgingival biofilm samples obtained from periodontal pockets with clinical probing depth of ≥5 mm (n = 22) and the gingival sulcus of periodontally healthy animals (n = 22). The occurrence of periodontal lesions, characterized by gingival recession in at least one tooth, was 70.7% (106/150) of animals for which 28.0% (42/150) had lesions in the incisor teeth and 62.0% (93/150) had lesions in the masticatory teeth. On examining the teeth, 96.0% (144/150) of animals presented levels of wear with a degree of severity of 1 to 3. Among the animals, 40.0% (60/150) had wear on the incisor and masticatory teeth together; 37.3% (56/150) had wear only on the masticatory teeth; and 18.6% (28/150) had wear only on the incisor teeth. Goats older than 36 months were the most had gingival recession, which had a greater frequency and degree of severity in the masticatory teeth (p = 0.001). This same group had a greater occurrence of wear and severity of wear in the masticatory teeth (p = <0.001; confidence interval [CI] = 0.40). The occurrence of gingival recession and wear on the incisor teeth had an inverse relationship (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively. However, in the masticatory teeth, there was statistical significance between the occurrence of gingival recession and wear (p = 0.04 and p = 0.04, respectively). Goats with higher supragingival biofilm scores had a higher frequency and severity of gingival recession in the masticatory teeth (p = 0.001 and p = 0.03, respectively), and a higher degree of wear in the incisors (p = <0.001). In samples from sites with periodontitis, Fusobacterium nucleatum (81.8%), Tannerella forsythia (63.0%), and Fusobacterium necrophorum (63.0%) were the most prevalent microorganisms. In periodontally healthy animals, the most prevalent microorganisms were Fusobacterium nucleatum (68.0%), Tannerella forsythia (27.0%), Actinomyces israelli (27.0%), Prevotella nigrescens (22.7%), Enterococcus faecium (22.7%), and Fusobacterium necrophorum (18.0%). Significant statistical associations between the presence of identified periodontal pathogens and the occurrence of periodontitis and its clinical signs such as periodontal pocket, gingival recession, suppuration, and mobility of the dental unit were evidenced by the Student's t-test and Spearman's correlation test. The Spearman correlation test indicated a statistical significance of favorable ecological interactions in the subgingival biofilm of the animals studied.

&lt;b&gt;Cuts of dairy-origin cattle fed mesquite pod meal in replacement of corn

This study was carried out in order to assess commercial front and rear cuts of dairy-origin cattle fed mesquite pod meal. Twenty-five non-castrated male bovines (Holstein-Zebu), distributed according to a completely randomized design, with five animals per treatment, were used. The feed contained about 121.2 and 544.98 g kg-1 of crude protein and total digestible nutrients, respectively, and was composed of tifton grass hay, cornmeal, soybean meal, mesquite pod meal and mineral salt. The right half carcass of each animal was separated between the 5th and 6th ribs, in front and rear quarters, from which commercial cuts were obtained. There was no effect (p &gt; 0.05) as to the replacement of corn for mesquite pod meal on the weights and yields of front cuts (shoulder, brisket, chuck, hump and flanks) and rear cuts (tenderloin, shank, knuckle, thin flank, flat, eye round, rump tail, top side, cap of rump, rump, cut of rump, striploin, cap of cube roll). Mesquite pod meal can substitute cornmeal in 100% in the concentrate without changes in weight and yield of the commercial front and rear cuts of male bovines of dairy origin.

Exigências de energia de borregas mestiças alimentadas com níveis crescentes de concentrado na dieta

RESUMO Objetivou-se estimar as exigências energéticas de borregas mestiças confinadas, alimentadas com níveis crescentes de concentrado na dieta. Foram avaliadas 36 borregas, com peso corporal inicial de 23,7±3,67kg. Seis animais foram abatidos no início do experimento para obtenção dos valores do grupo referência. Os demais (30 animais) foram distribuídos em cinco tratamentos: mantença (alimentação restrita com feno de capim Tifton) e suplementados com níveis crescentes de concentrado (20, 40, 60 e 80%) em base de matéria seca (seis animais por tratamento). As borregas foram abatidas quando atingiram 37,70±9,89kg. Os níveis de concentrado influenciaram a eficiência de utilização da energia metabolizável para mantença (km) e consequentemente as exigências diárias de energia metabolizável para mantença. A exigência de energia líquida para mantença de borregas mestiças em crescimento é 57 kcal/PCJ0,75/dia, em que PCJ é o peso corporal em jejum. As borregas com 20kg apresentaram exigência de energia líquida para 100g de ganho de peso diário de 465kcal/dia. As borregas com 40kg de peso corporal exigiram 930kcal/dia de energia líquida para o mesmo ganho. A exigência líquida para mantença de borregas pode ser estimada pela equação: ELm (Mcal/dia) = 0,057* PCJ0,75. A exigência líquida de energia para ganho de borregas mestiças (Mcal/dia) pode ser estimada a partir da equação: ELg = 0,524 x PVJ0,75 x GPCVZ1,21, em que GPCVZ é o ganho de peso do corpo vazio. As dietas influenciam as eficiências de usos da energia metabolizável para mantença (km) e ganho (kg).

Productive performance of finishing lambs fed with faveleira fodder salt (Cnidoscolus quercifolius Pohl)

This study evaluated food intake and productive performance of crossbred (½ Santa Inês x ½ dorper) lambs supplemented with different levels of faveleira (Cnidoscolus quercifolius Pohl) fodder salt. Thirty male sheep fed tifton grass hay, water, and faveleira fodder salt were randomly allocated into five treatments with six replicates each. The treatments consisted of diets with different inclusion levels of faveleira hay in the fodder salt composition: Treatment 1 (1% mineral salt + 99% faveleira hay), Treatment 2 (3% mineral salt + 97% faveleira hay), Treatment 3 (5% mineral salt + 95% faveleira hay), Treatment 4 (7% mineral salt + 93% faveleira hay), and Treatment 5 (Control - 100% mineral salt). Intake of dry matter, tifton hay and water, average daily gain, feed conversion, and feed efficiency were not affected by fodder salt supplementation (P &gt; 0.05). There was a significant difference (P &lt; 0.05) in fodder salt intake between Treatments 4 and 5, and daily intake was higher in animals submitted to Treatment 4 (61.0 g day-1). Mineral salt intake increased significantly with increasing mineral salt levels in the diet. However, no significant difference was observed in average daily gain across treatments, indicating that faveleira hay, even in small quantities, and tifton hay were able to meet the nutritional requirements of animals to support a good average daily gain. The inclusion of up to 99% faveleira hay in fodder salt formulations did not affect voluntary intake of forage, water and dry matter, average daily gain, feed conversion, and feed efficiency. Lambs supplemented with faveleira fodder salt had average daily gains within the optimal range for slaughter and high feed conversion and feed efficiency values. Faveleira was shown to be an effective supplementary feed alternative in sheep.

Performance of lambs fed alternative protein sources to soybean meal

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of alternative protein sources (castor bean cake, sunflower cake, and sunflower seed) to soybean meal on the intake and performance of 40 lambs, initially weighing 19.8±1.84 kg, fed diets based on Tifton grass hay. The experimental design was completely randomized blocks. There were no differences in the nutrient intake of castor bean diets compared with soybean meal. The intake of nutrients in the sunflower cake and sunflower seed diets was decreased compared with soybean meal. The apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber of sunflower cake and sunflower seed diets were decreased compared with soybean meal. The average daily weight gain of animals fed the castor bean diet (0.190 kg) was not different from that of the animals fed the soybean meal diet (0.217 kg). The sunflower cake and sunflower seed diets provided less weight gain (0.171 and 0.135 kg d-1, respectively) than soybean meal due to the lower nutrient intake. The hot carcass yield and true yield were not affected by the protein sources. The neck, ribs, and ham weights were similar in lambs fed soybean meal and castor bean cake diets. It is recommended to use castor bean as an alternative protein source in the diet of lambs.

Qualidade de frutos de morangueiro sob diferentes condições de sombreamento e tipo de mulching no oeste do Paraná

West of Parana The use of mulching and shade screens are determinant cultivation practices for maximizing the production and the quality of the strawberries production. Aiming at verifying the quality of the fruits of strawberries, Fragaria ananassa cv. Camarosa short day, under different kinds of mulching and levels of shading, this experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of the State University of the West of Parana (Unioeste), Campus of Marechal Cândido Rondon, Parana, Brazil. The seedlings were placed in a 30 x 30 cm within three rows in bed of 1.0 m wide, receiving irrigation and cultivation of fertilization and pest management, according to the culture demand. After the fixation of the seedlings, mulch was inserted over the flower beds, and the screen with 50% of shade to 50 cm tall. The experimental design was randomized blocks, factorial double, 4 x 2 (black polyethylene 200 μm; Tifton grass hay, non-textured fabric, and sifted charcoal x open field and 50% shading), containing three replicates with 12 plants for each repetition. For the open field condition, we observed statistic differences in the percentage of healthy fruit, fruit biomass and the number of fruits/plant, besides the higher levels of soluble solids, favoring the quality of the strawberries fruits. The Tifton mulching mower can be considered as an important coverage construction, since it can be naturally recycled providing plant nutrients and organic material to the soil, instead of generating waste, as the plastic commonly does.

Uso de levedura em equinos alimentados com dietas compostas de fenos de diferentes qualidades nutricionais

Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito do uso de probiótico (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) em dietas para cavalos, utilizaram-se quatro equinos machos com média de 400 kg de peso corporal, em delineamento em quadrado latino 4 õ 4. As dietas foram compostas de concentrado e feno de capim-tifton 85 (de baixa qualidade) ou feno de alfafa (de alta qualidade), com ou sem a adição de levedura. Cada período experimental teve duração de 36 dias, com coleta total de fezes, para determinação dos coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes, e coleta de fezes, para determinação do pH e da microbiologia fecal. A utilização de probiótico não alterou os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes das dietas, com exceção do extrato etéreo. A qualidade nutricional do feno influenciou os coeficientes de digestibilidade da matéria seca (MS), da proteína bruta (PB) e do extrato etéreo (EE) apenas no caso das dietas com feno de capim-tifton sem probiótico e com feno de alfafa com probiótico. A utilização de cultura de levedura aumentou a população de Lactobacillus nas fezes dos animais que receberam a dieta com feno de capim-tifton com probiótico. Não houve uso de probiótico na população de Lactobacillus nas dietas com feno de alfafa (de boa qualidade). A população de Streptococcus nas fezes aumentou com suplementação de levedura, tanto na dieta com feno de capim-tifton como naquela com feno de alfafa. A dieta com capim-tifton 85 sem probiótico promoveu redução nos valores de pH fecal 14 e 17 horas após a alimentação. Considerando ainda os valores de pH fecal nesses períodos após a alimentação, as dietas suplementadas com probiótico apresentaram valores superiores àqueles obtidos sem adição de levedura.

Palma forrageira enriquecida com uréia em substituição ao feno de capim-tifton 85 em rações para vacas da raça Holandesa em lactação

Um experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar o consumo dos nutrientes e a produção e composição do leite de vacas em lactação alimentadas com rações contendo 0; 12,5; 25,0; 37,5 ou 50,0% de palma forrageira (Opuntia ficus indica Mill) e uréia em substituição ao feno de capim-tifton. Foram utilizadas cinco vacas distribuídas em delineamento quadrado latino 5 × 5. Os consumos de matéria seca e matéria orgânica apresentaram comportamento quadrático com a inclusão de palma e uréia. O consumo de proteína bruta e o teor de gordura do leite não foram influenciados pela inclusão de palma e uréia na dieta. Os consumos de carboidratos não-fibrosos (CNF) e de nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT), a eficiência alimentar, a produção de leite e a produção de leite corrigida para 3,5% de gordura aumentou, enquanto o consumo de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e de água diminuiu linearmente com a inclusão de palma e uréia na dieta. A inclusão de palma e uréia em substituição ao feno de capim-tifton aumenta o consumo de energia e a produção de leite.

Balanço de nitrogênio e perdas endógenas em bovinos e bubalinos alimentados com níveis crescentes de concentrado

The work aimed to evaluate the concentrations of plasmatic and urine urea, the balance of nitrogen compounds, and to estimate the protein requirements for maintenance. Equations recommended by the American and British systems were used in four bovine and four bubaline steers, with initial average weight of 461.19 ± 7.59 and 455.44 ± 7.85 kg for cattle and buffaloes, respectively, distributed into two 4 x 4 Latin squares. The treatments consisted of different levels of concentrate (0.0; 24.0; 48.0; and 72.0%) composed of cracked corn, soybean meal, mineral salt, and Tifton-grass hay. Each period lasted 21 days, being 14 for adaptation and seven for collection. Samples of feces and urine (spot) were taken to estimate the production of fecal dry matter and urine volume. Interactions were observed between the species for N intake (NC), urine-N (UN) g kg-0.75 and urinary urea (UU); no interactions occurred for fecal-N (NF), absorbed-N (NABS), UN (g d-1), balance of N (BN) and plasmatic urea (UP). Regardless of the difference observed between the species, the response variables increased linearly as functions of the growing levels of concentrate that resulted in positive BN. The estimate of metabolizable protein maintenance requirements for cattle and buffaloes differs between the American and British systems.