ABSTRACT We evaluated performance, non-carcass components, and carcass characteristics of crossbred Texel lambs in different categories of residual intake and gain (RIG). We assessed 77 crossbred (¼ Pantaneira and ¾ Texel) non-castrated animals in two study phases. The first phase included 47 lambs with an initial average weight of 29.9±5.5 kg, and the second phase included 30 lambs with initial average weight of 22.4±3.3 kg. Dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain (ADG) were evaluated for 70 days. Animals were divided into three groups in terms of efficiency: efficient (high RIG), intermediate (medium RIG), or inefficient (low RIG), based on the standard deviation of the mean for the RIG variable. We measured the yield of non-carcass components, carcass characteristics, and yield of meat cuts. Efficiency group had no association with DMI, nor with initial and final body weights of the animals. The ADG of efficient (0.310 kg day−1) and intermediate (0.290 kg day−1) animals was greater than observed in inefficient (0.260 kg day−1) animals. Lambs in the efficient and intermediate groups had significantly higher levels of all efficiency indicators evaluated. Efficient and intermediate animals yielded significantly more wool/skin in comparison with lambs in the inefficient group. Animals with high RIG also had lower relative weight of testicles/scrotal sac in comparison with inefficient animals. Fat deposition in the omentum and mesentery as well as total fat were decreased in efficient animals. No significant differences occurred among groups regarding carcass characteristics and yield of meat cuts. The RIG index allows for the identification of lambs with higher growth rates and greater wool/skin yield and lower proportion of visceral fat.

RESUMO. O uso de fontes proteicas alternativas para ruminantes pode alterar a produtividade e reduzir os custos na produção animal. O objetivo da pesquisa foi avaliar o desempenho, a digestibilidade aparente e as características quantitativas dos componentes de carcaça das ovelhas alimentadas com níveis crescentes (0, 50, 100 e 150 g kg-1 de matéria seca) de torta de crambe nas dietas. Foram distribuídas 24 ovelhas em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Todos os animais foram mantidos em instalação, com baias individuais equipadas com cocho, bebedouro e chão de concreto coberto com cascas de arroz. Os animais receberam silagem de milho como forragem e as dietas foram isoenergéticas com 700 g kg-1 de NDT. Os animais foram abatidos quando atingiram o escore de condição corporal de 3,5 pontos. A ingestão de matéria seca (948,53 g dia-1) e o ganho médio diário (0,15 kg dia-1) não foram influenciados pela inclusão de torta de crambe na dieta. A torta de crambe aumentou a digestibilidade do extrato etéreo e diminuiu a ingestão e digestibilidade da proteína bruta. Não houve efeito da torta de crambe nas características da carcaça e nos componentes não carcaça, no entanto houve redução no rendimento da carcaça fria. A substituição total da farinha de soja e a torta de crambe na dieta para as ovelhas não alteraram as características de desempenho, carcaça e não carcaça.

ABSTRACT. The use of alternative sources of protein for ruminant can alter productivity and reduce costs in animal production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance, apparent digestibility and quantitative characteristics of carcass components of ewes fed increasing levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 g kg-1 dry matter) of crambe crushed in the diets. Twenty-four culling ewes were distributed in a completely randomized design. All animals were kept in a shed, with individual stalls equipped with feeder, drinker and concrete floor covered with rice hulls. The animals received corn silage as roughage and diets were isoenergetic with 700 g kg-1 of TDN. Animals were slaughtered when reached a body condition score of 3.5 points. The dry matter intake (948.53 g day-1) and average daily gain (0.15 kg day-1) were not influenced by the inclusion of crambe crushed in the diet. The crambe crushed increased ether extract digestibility and decreased crude protein intake and digestibility. There was no effect of the levels of crambe crushed on carcass characteristics and non-carcass components but rather a reduction in the cold carcass yield. Total replacement of soybean meal with crambe crushed in the diet for ewes did not alter performance, carcass and non-carcass characteristics.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the replacement of soybean meal by crushed crambe on the qualitative characteristics, lipids, and chemical composition of the meat from crossbred Santa Ines ewes. These animals presented an initial body score of 2.5, were finished in confinement for 60 days, fed diets containing crushed crambe replacing 0, 33, 67, and 100% of soybean meal, and slaughtered with a body condition score of 3.5. The statistical design was completely randomized, with slaughter weight used as a covariate in the model. Sensory evaluations were performed in the gluteobiceps muscle by untrained evaluators (n = 100) of different ages. There was no significant effect for color, shear force, or cooking loss of the semimembranosus muscle. The replacement levels of soybean meal influenced only the moisture content, with a linear increase, and the ash content, which decreased linearly. For saturated fatty acids, there was linear effect on capric acid (C10:0), and a linear reduction of myristic (C14:0), pentadecanoic (C15:0), and heptadecanoic (C17:0) fatty acids. There was no influence of the inclusion level of crushed crambe on monounsaturated fatty acids. A linear increase was observed in the polyunsaturated fatty acids linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) and eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3n-3). For the sensory attributes, there were differences only for the variables flavor and tenderness, in which meat was considered more flavorful if it was from animals fed 0% crushed crambe, with an average of 1.6, and considered more tender if it was from animals finished with 15% crushed crambe in the diet, scoring an average of 1.7. Crushed crambe can be considered a promising alternative in the feeding of ewes finished in feedlot, replacing soybean meal in the diet, showing satisfactory results with respect to meat quality.

O cultivo e a utilização de plantas medicinais têm acompanhado a evolução do ser humano desde a antiguidade, assim como o desenvolvimento de técnicas de manejo e cultivo das mesmas. Na busca pela sustentabilidade dos agroecossistemas, o uso de fontes de fertilizantes que forneçam os nutrientes necessários às culturas, deve ser feito de modo a causar o menor impacto ambiental possível. Objetivou-se com este trabalho, avaliar a disponibilidade dos nutrientes N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe e Mn, e dos metais pesados Cd, Pb e Cr em plantas de estragão (Artemisia dracunculus) submetidas a diferentes fertilizações, orgânica (composto a base de dejeto suíno) e mineral, em Argissolo Vermelho distrófico (PVd). O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualisado (DIC) em esquema fatorial (2x3), sendo duas fontes e três doses de fertilização (sem fertilização, dose recomendada e o dobro da dose recomendada) totalizando seis tratamentos com quatro repetições. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que tanto as fontes, quanto as doses de fertilização influenciaram na disponibilidade dos elementos avaliados nas plantas. O fertilizante orgânico disponibilizou maiores concentrações de Cu e Mn. A fertilização mineral disponibilizou maiores teores dos nutrientes N e K. Os metais pesados Cd e Cr não apresentaram concentrações dentro do limite de detecção do método utilizado.

The cultivation and use of medicinal plants has accompanied the evolution of mankind since antiquity, together with the development of techniques for their cultivation and management. In the search for sustainability of agroecosystems, the use of sources for fertiliser that provide the necessary nutrients for crops should be handled so as to cause the least possible environmental impact. The aim of this study was to evaluate the availability of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn, and the heavy metals Cd, Pb and Cr, in tarragon plants (Artemisia dracunculus) subjected to different fertilisers, organic (swine-manure based compost) and mineral, in a dystrophic Red Argisol (PVd). The experimental design was completely randomised (DIC) in a 2 x 3 factorial scheme, comprising two sources and three levels of fertilisation (no fertilisation, recommended dose and double the recommended dose), giving a total of six treatments with four replications. The results showed that the source as well as the level of fertiliser influenced availability of the elements under evaluation in the plants. The organic fertilizer provided higher concentrations of Cu and Mn. Mineral fertilisation provided higher levels of the nutrients N and K. The heavy metals Cd and Cr showed no concentrations within the limits of detection for the method used.

Avaliou-se a influência da substituição do farelo de soja pela torta de crambe no suplemento concentrado sobre o desempenho e as características de carcaça de vacas em pastejo, nas proporções 0, 5, 10, 15%. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado, em que foram utilizadas 20 vacas Nelore, que foram suplementadas durante a época de transição água - seca em pastagem de Brachiaria humidicola, e monitoradas quanto ao peso e condição corporal a cada 28 dias. Na pastagem foram quantificadas a massa de forragem total e as proporções de folha, colmo e material senescente. A estimativa da qualidade da forragem consumida pelos animais foi feita pelo método do pastejo simulado. O desempenho dos animais e as características de carcaça não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre os níveis de inclusão de torta de crambe estudados. Deste modo, não foram influenciados os pesos e os rendimentos de carcaça, os cortes comerciais brasileiros, as medidas morfométricas, as características do lombo, a espessura de gordura da carcaça, a gordura perirenal-pélvica, bem como a quantidade de carne aproveitável total. A substituição do farelo de soja pela torta de crambe até 15% no suplemento concentrado não afeta o desempenho e as características de carcaça de vacas terminadas a pasto.

The influence of the replacement of soybean meal by crambe crushed in concentrated supplement at proportions 0, 5, 10, 15%, on the performance and carcass traits of grazing cows is assessed. Within a completely randomized design, twenty Nellore cows, fed on Brachiaria humidicola, were supplemented during the rain-drought transition period and monitored with regard to weight and body conditions every 28 days. Total forage mass and percentages of leaf, stem and senescent material were quantified in loco. The estimation of forage quality consumed by animals was performed by the simulated grazing method. There were no significant differences between the levels of inclusion of crambe crushed on animal performance or carcass characteristics. Replacement did not affect weight, carcass yield, Brazilian commercial cuts, morphometric measures of carcass, characteristics of loins, thickness of carcass fat, perirenal-pelvic fat and total meat. Replacement of soybean meal by crambe crushed up to 15% in the concentrated supplement does not affect performance and carcass characteristics of cows finished on pasture.