Abstract Effects of protein supplementation, with and without starch supplementation, on nutritional performance and metabolic characteristics of cattle fed low- and medium-quality tropical forages were evaluated using 4 cannulated steers distributed according to a 4 × 4 Latin square. Experimental periods were divided into two subperiods. In the first subperiod, two animals received low-quality hay and two animals received medium-quality. Supplementation schemes were evaluated in the second subperiod: low-quality hay with protein (300 g of crude protein – CP/d); low-quality hay with protein (300 g CP/d) and starch (225 g/d); medium-quality hay with protein (300 g CP/d); and medium-quality hay with protein (300 g CP/d) and starch (225 g/d) supplementation. Without supplementation, medium-quality forage provided higher intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance (NB) and efficiency of nitrogen utilization (EFNU). Comparing subperiods, supply of supplements depressed medium-quality forage intake, but did not affect low-quality forage intake. Supplementation increased NB, EFNU and serum concentration of IGF1 in animals fed low-quality forage. Protein supplementation increases nitrogen retention in animals, an effect attributed mainly to anabolic stimuli. However, this effect is more prominent when animals are fed low-quality forages. No positive impact on animal metabolism was obtained with combination of supplemental protein and starch.

Abstract Legume silage can increase the forage quality of the diets as well as supply it with nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus. The objective was to evaluate the intake, apparent digestibility, rumen fermentation and nitrogen efficiency in sheep fed a tropical legume silage with or without concentrate. Twelve crossbred sheep with an average initial body weight of 32.2 ± 1.26 kg, with six animals cannulated in the rumen were distributed into four 3 × 3 Latin squares. The treatments were 1) Stylosanthes silage without concentrate (StS), 2) Stylosanthes silage with concentrate (StS+C), and 3) corn silage with concentrate (CS+C). StS diet showed lowest intake, except for neutral detergent fiber (NDF). The diets StS+C and CS+C showed similar intake of dry matter (DM) and crude protein. The intake of total digestible nutrients was higher for CS+C diet than diets StS+C and StS. Animals fed CS+C diet had lowest ruminal pH. The nitrogen use efficiency was similar for the diets with concentrate. In conclusion, StS+C diet replacing CS+C diet decreases the intake of total digestible nutrients.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to compare the estimates of ether extract (EE) contents obtained by the Randall method and by the high-temperature method of the American Oil Chemist's Society (AOCS; Am 5-04) in forages (n = 20) and cattle feces (n = 15). The EE contents were quantified by using the Randall extraction or AOCS method and XT4 filter bags or cartridges made of qualitative filter paper (80 g/m²) as containers for the samples. It was also evaluated the loss of particles, and concentration of residual chlorophyll after extraction and the recovery of protein and minerals in the material subjected to extraction. Significant interaction was observed between extraction method and material for EE contents. The EE estimates using the AOCS method were higher, mainly in forages. No loss of particles was observed with different containers. The chlorophyll contents in the residues of cattle feces were not affected by the extraction method; however, residual chlorophyll was lower using the AOCS method in forages. There was complete recovery of the protein and ash after extraction. The results suggest that AOCS method produces higher estimates of EE contents in forages and cattle feces, possibly by providing greater extraction of non-fatty EE.

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar o melhor nível e o efeito de dietas contendo diferentes níveis de proteína bruta (PB) sobre o desempenho e características de carcaça em cordeiros Santa Inês confinados. No ensaio 1, oito cordeiros, não castrados, com peso vivo médio de 25,8 kg foram distribuídos em dois quadrados latinos 4 x 4, sendo mantidos em gaiolas metabólicas individuais. A colheita total de fezes foi utilizada para estimar a digestibilidade e o método de colheita total de urina foi utilizado para determinar o balanço de nitrogénio. No ensaio 2, 32 cordeiros, não castrados, com peso vivo médio de 22,0 kg, foram distribuídos num delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com oito repetições e mantidos em gaiolas metabólicas individuais. Em ambos os ensaios, as dietas consistiram em quatro níveis de PB (14,25; 15,50; 16,75 e 18,0%); com 40% de silagem de milho e 60% de concentrado, com base na matéria seca. O aumento nos níveis de proteína bruta nas dietas não alterou a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, desempenho ou as características da carcaça nos cordeiros Santa Inês terminados em confinamento, portanto, recomenda-se o nível de 14,25% de PB, por permitir ganhos satisfatórios no desempenho de carcaça.

The objective of this study was to determine the best level and the effect of diets containing different levels of crude protein (CP) on performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot Santa Inês lambs. In trial 1, eight intact lambs with an average live weight of 25.8 kg were distributed in two 4 x 4 Latin squares and were kept in individual metabolic cages. The total collection of feces was used to estimate digestibility and the total urine collection was used to determine the nitrogen balance. In trial 2, 32 intact lambs with an average live weight of 22.0 kg were distributed in an completely randomized design with eight repetitions and were kept in individual metabolic cages. For both trials, the diets consisted of four levels of CP (14.25; 15.50; 16.75; and 18.0%), with 40% corn silage and 60% concentrate in the dry matter. The increase in crude protein levels in the diets did not alter the digestibility, performance, or carcass characteristics of feedlot-finished Santa Inês lambs; therefore, a level of 14.25% crude protein is recommended, as it allowed for satisfactory gains in animal performance.

Dois experimentos foram realizados com o objetivo de avaliar diferentes fontes protéicas e energéticas em suplementos múltiplos para bovinos. No primeiro experimento, estudou-se o desempenho de novilhos em fase de recria em pastagem de Brachiaria brizantha, no período da seca. Utilizaram-se 20 novilhos mestiços Holandês x Zebu, não-castrados (17 meses de idade e 265±18 kg de peso vivo inicial), distribuídos em quatro piquetes de 1,5 ha. Os suplementos foram fornecidos diariamente na proporção de 0,75% do PV. Empregou-se como fonte protéica grão de soja (GS) ou caroço de algodão (CA) inteiros e farelo de trigo (FT) ou farelo de arroz (FA) como fonte de energia, em esquema fatorial 2 x 2. Não foram verificadas diferenças no ganho médio diário (GMD), no peso vivo final (PVF) e no ganho de peso total (GPT). A suplementação propiciou aos animais GMD de 0,589; 0,530; 0,620 e 0,606 kg/dia, respectivamente, nos tratamentos GS/FT, GS/FA, CA/FT e CA/FA. No segundo experimento, determinaram-se as frações dos carboidratos da pastagem e dos ingredientes utilizados na formulação dos suplementos e estimaram-se as respectivas taxas de digestão das frações pela técnica de produção de gás. A forragem apresentou altos teores da fração indigestível (C) e baixos da potencialmente digestível (B2). Entre os concentrados, o FA apresentou menor fração C. O GS e o FT destacaram-se pela elevada proporção de CNF. O CA, embora tenha demonstrado fração C superior aos demais, apresentou rápida taxa de digestão da fração B2. As taxas de digestão dos CNF foram 35,06; 14,86; 17,83 e 58,80, respectivamente, para FA, FT, GS e CA. A opção por uma das fontes protéicas ou energéticas estudadas depende, portanto, do preço e da disponibilidade no mercado, pois não influenciou o desempenho dos animais. Os carboidratos estruturais (B2 e C) são responsáveis pelo alto teor de carboidratos totais presentes na Brachiaria brizantha no período da seca, pois correspondem a aproximadamente 80% de sua composição. Observaram-se variações entre as frações dos carboidratos, assim como na taxa de degradação das fontes energéticas e protéicas estudadas.

Two trials were conducted to investigate different protein and energy sources in multiple supplements fed to growing crossbred bulls. In the first experiment, performance of 20 crossbred growing bulls averaging 17 months of age and 265±18 kg of body weight was evaluated in the dry season. Animals were maintained in 1.5 ha paddocks of Brachiaria brizantha with supplements being offered daily in a proportion of 0.75% of the body weight. A completely randomized design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement was used. Supplements contained whole soybean (WSB) or whole cottonseed (WCS) as the protein sources and rice bran (RB) or wheat bran (WB) as the energy sources. No significant differences on the average daily weight gain (ADG), final body weight (FBW), and total weight gain were observed among diets in this trial. The ADG and FBW averaged 0.589 and 318.2, 0.530 and 317.2, 0.620 and 319.6 and 0.606 kg/day and 323.6 kg for animals fed supplements containing WSB/WB, WSB/RB, WCS/WB, and WCS/RB, respectively. The objective of the second study was to estimate the carbohydrate fractions of the pasture and that of the feeds used in multiple supplements as well as their digestion rates using the gas production technique. Forage had higher indigestible fraction (C) and lower potentially degradable fraction (B2) compared to the supplements. Among supplements, WCS had the lowest C fraction while WSB and WB had the highest proportion of non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC). Although WCS had the highest content of C fraction, it also showed the fastest rate of digestion of the B2 fraction. Digestion rate of NFC were: 35.06, 14.86, 17.83 and 58.80, respectively for RB, WB, WSB and WCS. The choice of each protein and energy source will depend on market price and availability because there were no significant differences among treatments. The structural carbohydrates (B2 e C) are responsible for the high concentrations of total carbohydrates in Brachiaria brizantha during the dry season, which averaged 80%. It was observed variations in the carbohydrate fractions as well as in the degradation rates across supplements.

RESUMO Avaliaram-se o pH e a concentração de amônia ruminal (N-amoniacal), a taxa de passagem, o balanço de compostos nitrogenados e a produção de proteína microbiana em novilhos Holandês x Zebu alimentados com dietas contendo quatro níveis de proteína bruta (10,5; 12; 13,5 e 15%), com base na matéria seca. As dietas foram constituídas de 65% de feno de capim-tifton 85 e 35% de concentrado. Foram utilizados quatro bovinos castrados fistulados no rúmen e abomaso, com peso vivo médio inicial de 487,3 kg, distribuídos em um quadrado latino 4 x 4. Cada período experimental teve duração de 20 dias: dez para adaptação às dietas e dez para coletas. O pH e N-amoniacal foram mensurados no fluido ruminal imediatamente antes e 2, 4, 6 e 8 horas, após o fornecimento da dieta. A taxa de passagem foi determinada pelo modelo unicompartimental, utilizando-se óxido de cromo como indicador. Para determinação da produção de proteína microbiana, utilizaram-se as bases purinas (RNA) no abomaso como indicador microbiano. A concentração de amônia e o pH ruminal foram influenciados pelos tempos de coleta, estimando-se valores máximos de 17,43 e 6,54 mg/dL, às 3,62 e 4,17 horas após a alimentação, respectivamente. A taxa de passagem da digesta não foi afetada pelas dietas, registrando-se valor médio de 3,69%/h. Os fluxos de compostos nitrogenados no abomaso e a eficiência de síntese microbiana também não foram afetados pelos níveis de proteína bruta das dietas, ao passo que o balanço de nitrogênio, expresso em g/dia, aumentou linearmente com o incremento de proteína bruta.

The objective of this trial was to investigate the effects of different dietary crude protein levels (10.5, 12, 13.5, and 15%) on ruminal pH, ruminal concentration of ammonia nitrogen, ruminal passage rate, nitrogen balance, and microbial protein synthesis in Holstein x Zebu steers. Diets contained 65% of Tifton 85 bermudagrass hay and 35% of concentrate. Four castrated steers averaging 487.3 kg of initial body weight and fitted with ruminal and abomasal cannulas were randomly assigned to a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Each experimental period lasted 20 days with 10 days for diet adaptation and 10 days for sample collection. Ruminal fluid was collected before (0 h) and at 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after feeding for determination of both ruminal pH and ammonia-N. Ruminal passage rate was determined according to a unicompartmental model using chromic oxide as the external marker while abomasal purine bases (RNA) were used as the internal markers for measuring microbial protein synthesis. Ruminal pH and ammonia-N concentration were affected by sampling time with measured maximum values of 6.54 and 17.43 mg/dL at 3.62 and 4.17 h after feeding, respectively. Digesta passage rate did not differ significantly averaging 3.69 %/h across diets. Similarly, abomasal flow of N compounds as well as microbial efficiency were not affected by different dietary crude protein levels while nitrogen balance expressed in g/day increased linearly when the crude protein content increased from 10.5% to 15% in the diet.

Foram objetivos do presente trabalho avaliar as alterações na composição bromatológica e nas frações nitrogenadas e de carboidratos, estimar a taxa de digestão dos carboidratos fibrosos (CF) e não-fibrosos (CNF), determinar a digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS) e estimar o teor de nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) da silagem de milho com diferentes proporções de grãos. As silagens foram confeccionadas nas seguintes proporções de grãos: 0, 15, 30, 45 e 60%. Foram determinados os teores de matéria seca (MS), compostos nitrogenados (N), extrato etéreo (EE), matéria mineral (MM), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), bem como os compostos nitrogenados não-protéicos (NNP) e as frações nitrogenadas B1+B2, B3 e C. Foram também determinados os teores dos carboidratos não-fibrosos (CNF) e das frações potencialmente digestíveis (B2) e indigestíveis da FDN (C). As taxas de digestão dos CNF e da fração B2 dos carboidratos totais foram estimadas por meio da técnica de produção de gases. Foram, ainda, realizadas a DIVMS por meio da técnica de dois estádios e a estimação do NDT por intermédio da composição química. O acréscimo de grãos à silagem aumentou linearmente os teores de MS, N e CNF e reduziu a MM, FDN, FDA e lignina. O NNP e as frações B3 e C variaram de 34,04 a 54,62%, 6,63 a 2,61 e 7,83 a 1,32% da PB. Os teores dos CNF e das frações B2 e C dos carboidratos totais foram influenciados linearmente pela adição de grãos à silagem, que variaram de 153,55 a 585,10; 489,57 a 203,29; e 233,50 a 85,51 g/kg de MS, respectivamente. As taxas de digestão dos CNF e da fração B2 apresentaram comportamento quadrático, sendo os valores máximos estimados de 0,2723 e 0,02771 h-1, para as silagens com 40,08 e 14,57% de grãos, respectivamente. O volume final de gás, a DIVMS e o NDT estimado, aumentaram linearmente, em função da porcentagem de grãos, os quais variaram de 20,03 a 28,47 mL, 62,19 a 83,21 e 56,08 a 81,40%, respectivamente.

The objectives of this work were to evaluate the chemical composition alteration, the nitrogen and carbohydrate fractions changes, to estimate the digestion rate of non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC) and fiber carbohydrate (FC), to determine the in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and to estimate the TDN of corn silage with different grain proportions. The silage were done in the following proportions: 0, 15, 30, 45 e 60% of grain. The amount of dry matter (DM), nitrogen compounds (N), ether extract (EE), ash, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF), as well the non-protein nitrogen compounds (NPN) and the B1+B2, B3 and C nitrogen fractions, were determined. The amount of non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC) and of potentially digestible (B2) and indigestible (C) fractions of NDF were also determined. The rate digestion of NFC and B2 fraction of carbohydrate were estimated by mean of gas production technique. IVDMD was determined by the two-stage technique and the TDN content was estimated by the chemical composition. The addition of grain to the corn silage showed linear increase in DM, N and NFC contents and reduced the ash, NDF, ADF and lignin. The NPN and B3 and C fractions ranged from 34.04 to 54.62, from 6.63 to 2.61 and from 7.83 to 1.32% of the total N. The amount of the NFC and B2 and C fractions of carbohydrate were linearly influenced by grain addition in the corn silage, that ranged from 135.55 to 558.10, 489.57 to 203.29 and from 233.50 to 85.51 g/kg of DM. The digestion rate of the NFC and B2 fraction were quadraticly affected, and the maximum estimated values were of 0.2723 and 0.02771 h-1, for the silage with 40.08 and 14.57% of grains, respectively. The total gas production, IVDMD and TDN increased linearly as a function of grain percentage, that ranged from 20.03 to 28.47, from 62.19 to 83.21 and from 56.08 to 81.40, respectively.