Resumo em Português:

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the effect of spent mushroom compost (SMC) meal on the growth performance and meat characteristics of geese. The SMC extracts contained 2.49±0.62 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight (DW) and 1.08±0.15 mg quercetin equivalent/g DW of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents. A total of 120 White Roman geese, aged five weeks, were randomly distributed among 12 pens and fed a grower diet ad libitum during the growing period, with each pen containing five males and five females in a completely randomized design. Each treatment comprised three pens (total of 30 geese), including control (corn-soybean meal); supplementation with 5% SMC meal (5% SMC); supplementation with 10% SMC (10% SMC); and supplementation with 15% SMC (15% SMC), for eight weeks. The results revealed that the body weight of the 15% SMC group was significantly lower than that of the control group at the age of 12 weeks. There were no significant effects among the groups on feed conversion ratio or intake. The malondialdehyde content of the serum in the 15% SMC group was lower than that of the control group at week 12. There were no significant effects among the groups for blood biochemical parameters in grower geese at week 12. The color values of meats in the SMC groups were higher than those obtained with control group. The flavor and acceptability score of meats in the 5% SMC group were significantly higher than for the 15% SMC and control group. Supplementation with SMC at 5% in the diet has no adverse effects on the growth performance of grower geese. However, SMC meal at 5% in the diet favorably affects sensory attributes (meat flavor and acceptability).

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to determine the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients and gross energy (GE), metabolizable energy (ME), coefficient of metabolizability of gross energy (CM of GE), and fecal characteristics of dogs fed diets with two levels of feather meal, with or without addition of an enzyme blend containing lipase and protease activity. Ten adult Beagle dogs (aged between 1 and 2 years and weighing 10.2±1.4 kg) were arranged in a 5 × 3 incomplete Latin square design with five treatments and three periods. The extruded basal diet was provided in equal amounts to all dogs (220 g/d), and 7.5 and 15% of hydrolyzed feather meal without enzymes (HFM) or HFM processed with addition of the enzyme blend (HFM EB) was added on top of the basal diet just before feeding. The contrast analysis showed that inclusion of 7.5 or 15% feather meal negatively affected CTTAD of crude protein (CP), GE, and ME of the diets with no apparent effect of the enzyme treatment. However, when both feather meal samples were evaluated, the HFM EB resulted in better CTTAD of GE and CM of GE (0.774 vs. 0.666) than HFM without enzymes (0.670 vs. 0.567), respectively. There was no effect of either feather meal on fecal score. Regression analysis showed that the enzymes added to the feathers during the digestion process increased digestible energy by 600 kcal/kg of dry matter in the diet containing HFM EB. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis demonstrated that feather meal had a low molecular weight, with about 95% of the molecules below 10,000 Da. Addition of enzymes during the feather hydrolysis process may improve the energy content of the feather meal when included in diets for adult dogs.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Seventy-two barrows were used to evaluate the effects of the use of soy protein concentrate (SPC) in diets of post-weaning piglets on their performance, intestinal histomorphometry, and blood parameters. Piglets were weaned at 21 days of age and distributed in a randomized-block experimental design with four treatments (0, 3, 6, and 9% SPC), six replications, and three piglets per replication. Diets were formulated to meet the requirement of the piglets according to phases of 21 to 32, 33 to 42, and 43 to 66 days of age. Both feed and water were provided ad libitum during the entire experiment. The feed of the phase of 43 to 66 days was based on corn and soybean meal. In the period between 21 and 32 days of age, the use of SPC in the diet did not impact the daily weight gain (DWG) or the daily feed intake (DFI) of the piglets, whereas there was a linear effect on feed conversion (FC), which decreased as the levels of SPC in the feed were increased. In the period between 33 and 42 days of age, a linear effect was observed on FC, which increased as the level of SPC in the feed was increased. In this period, no effects of SPC were observed on DWG or DFI. Inclusion of SPC in the diets does not influence performance, intestinal histomorphometry, or blood parameters of piglets in the period between 21 and 66 days of age.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Forty male Naemi lambs were used to evaluate the effect of total mixed rations (TMR) alone or in combination with supplementation of alfalfa hay offered at different schedules on growth, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Lambs at the age of three months, with an average weight of 28.85±1.09 kg, were randomly selected and distributed into four different feeding systems, 10 lambs each, as follows: TMR diet (control); TMR plus 100 g alfalfa hay; TMR plus 200 g alfalfa hay every two days; and TMR plus 300 g alfalfa hay every three days. The TMR and fresh drinking water were offered ad libitum. Lambs in the treated groups (with alfalfa hay) had significantly higher body weight, body weight change, dry matter intake, and feed conversion ratio compared with the control. Similarly, slaughter weight, carcass weight (hot and cold), and internal organs weight significantly increased in the treated groups, except for dressing weight percentage, which improved only in the treatment with TMR plus 300 g alfalfa hay. By contrast, mesentery fat, back fat, and body wall fat decreased in treated groups. Meat quality characteristics indicated that cooking loss and pH values did not differ between the control and treated groups; however, meat colour (lightness, yellowness, and redness) and pH (1 and 24 h) improved in post-slaughter treated groups. Furthermore, no difference was found in texture profile analysis (hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, and chewiness), although the shear force decreased significantly in treated groups. Addition of alfalfa hay offered at the present plan may not only improve the growth and carcass characteristics, but also enhance the meat quality of Naemi lambs. From the labour and economic point of view, TMR plus 300 g alfalfa hay every three days may be adopted while taking into account the management decision.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to assess the effects of including crude glycerin in the diet on intake, performance, rumen development, and carcass traits of dairy crossbred veal calves fed starter concentrate containing 0, 80, 160, and 240 g kg−1 crude glycerin. Twenty-eight calves with an average weight of 38.03±6.7 kg and five days of age were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments with seven replications. Calves were individually housed in covered stalls equipped with feeders and drinkers for 56 days. The calf response to inclusion of crude glycerin in the concentrate changed over the weeks and the inclusion level of 240 g kg−1 resulted in greater dry matter intake and average daily gain. There was no effect on the final weight and total weight gain of the animals, with mean values of 73.60 and 35.16 kg, respectively. The weight of the rumen-reticulum adjusted for body weight, empty body weight, and total stomach weight increased linearly with the inclusion of crude glycerin. Blood total protein, globulin, urea, cholesterol, gamma glutamyl transferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase concentrations did not differ among treatments. Carcass traits and meat color were not affected. Crude glycerin can be added to dairy calf starter concentrate up to 240 g kg−1 dry matter because it benefits concentrate intake, performance, and rumen development without affecting animal health.

Resumo em Inglês:

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.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT This study estimates the technical efficiency of goat rearing in the province of Isparta in Turkey using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The data used were collected from 92 goat farmers using the stratified sampling method by means of a questionnaire. The technical efficiency of the goat farming varied widely between 0.13 and 1.00. The mean efficiency of 92 goat farms was calculated to be 0.44 and 0.66 for constant and variable returns to scale assumptions, respectively. The greatest slacks were in feedstuff concentrates and labour used. The most significant factors affecting efficiency of goat production were farmer experience, cooperative membership, milk yield per goat, and family and hired labour. Technical efficiency should be improved by providing farmers with well-organised education, an extension program, and research and development programs on goat rearing.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to identify different market segments for buffalo meat with target groups defined in the city of Belém, Pará, Brazil. Paired samples of beef and buffalo meat were given to 447 volunteers, and a sensory analysis of the products was conducted. After the tasting, a questionnaire was administered to obtain demographic (age, educational level, marital status) and economic (household income) data as well as information on the habits of respondents and preferences regarding buffalo meat. The factors were estimated using the principal components method and the factors with characteristic roots greater than one were extracted. To check the suitability of the factorial model, Bartlett’s sphericity test and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test were used. A factor analysis was performed, identifying five factors with common variability dimensions. The study has helped identify four distinct market segments which, combined with a targeted marketing strategy, can be used to leverage the productive chain: I - Young and interested, II - Mixed and indifferent, III - Graduates and successful, and IV - Healthy women. All had positive responses to buffalo meat; clusters I and III stood out with regard to several indicators, especially those related to the preference for buffalo meat and the predisposition to purchase and include it in meals. The sensory analysis indicated that consumers showed a greater acceptance of buffalo meat based on the characteristics of flavour, colour, succulence and tenderness. The study helps to identify market segments with distinct features that, combined with a targeted marketing strategy, can be used to leverage the supply chain.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The objective of the present work was to identify and validate single nucleotide variations located in candidate genes to growth traits in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Two transitions were identified in the promoter region of the growth hormone gene (GH); eight nucleotide changes were identified in introns and promoter region of the IGF-I gene; and a transition (T/C) was identified in the Myogenin gene (MyoG). The highest genotypic frequency (0.8) for GHpA1 and MyoG was found in the GG and TT homozygous individuals, while the highest frequency (0.9) for GHpB1 was observed in the CT heterozygous fish. There was no genotypic frequency in the CC homozygous tilapia for the GHpB1 and MyoG markers. Based on their allelic frequencies, validation as novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of those variations located at O. niloticus GH and MyoG genes was possible. These new markers will allow their association with growth traits in tilapia to be exploited in order to determine their potential use as assisted-selection markers.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The primary principle underlying the application of genomics is that it has the most value for difficult and expensive to measure traits. These traits will differ between species and probably also between markets. Maintenance of health will be one of the biggest challenges for efficient livestock production in the next few decades. This challenge will only increase in the face of demand for animal protein, resistance to existing drugs, and the pressure to reduce the use of antibiotics in agriculture. There is probably genetic variation in susceptibility for all diseases but little has been done to make use of this variation to date. In part this is because it is very difficult as well as expensive to measure this variation. This suggests that genomics should provide one of the ways of tackling the challenge of improving animal health. This paper will discuss the concepts of resistance, variation in susceptibility, and resilience; provide examples and present some recent results in cattle and pigs; and briefly discuss the application of gene editing in relation to disease resistance.