Alexandre Lima de Souza

This study evaluated the effects of increasing inclusion levels of low‐protein dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) in high‐concentrate diets on nutrient intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance, and ingestive behavior of finishing lambs. Four Santa Inês crossbred, uncastrated male lambs (24.8 ± 1.0 kg body weight) were assigned to four dietary treatments in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Treatments consisted of a control diet without DDGS and diets containing 200, 400, or 600 g/kg dry matter (DM) of low‐protein DDGS. DM and TDN intakes showed quadratic responses ( p < 0.05) to DDGS inclusion. Neutral detergent fiber intake increased linearly, whereas NFC intake decreased linearly ( p < 0.05). Inclusion of DDGS did not affect ( p > 0.05) apparent digestibility of DM, CP, or EE. However, NDF digestibility increased linearly by 4.99 g/kg per unit of DDGS added. Nitrogen retention, plasma urea nitrogen, and blood glucose were not affected. Rumination time increased linearly ( p < 0.05). Low‐protein DDGS can be included at 600 g/kg DM in finishing lamb diets. However, including 200 or 400 g/kg DM may result in negative associative effects for some variables. Overall, low‐protein DDGS remains a valuable feed ingredient for substituting ground corn and soybean meal.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a phytogenic additive on nutrient intake, diet digestibility, nitrogen balance, and ruminal parameters of lambs. Four lambs with an average body weight of 27.6 ± 2.9 kg were distributed in a 4 × 4 Latin square design and fed a basal diet composed of 600 g DM/day of corn silage and 400 g DM/day of concentrate. The basal diet was supplemented with no additive 0.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 g/kg DM of pepper. The intake of DM, crude protein (CP), organic matter (OM), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in g/day decreased linearly (P < 0.05). No effects (P > 0.05) were observed for the apparent digestibility of DM, OM, NDF, and ether extract. There was a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on the digestibility of CP and non-fibrous carbohydrate, with maximum digestibility estimated at 707.7 and 924.8 (g/kg DM) at levels of 2.55 and 0.27 g/kg DM of pepper, respectively. There was no effect (P > 0.05) on urinary nitrogen and retention nitrogen. Increasing levels of pepper did not alter (P > 0.05) the pH value and N-NH₃ concentration of the ruminal fluid. However, there was an effect (P < 0.05) of time on the pH and N-NH₃ value of the rumen. The inclusion of pepper in the diet of confined lambs negatively alters dry matter and NDF intake without impairing nutrient digestibility, nitrogen utilization, and other ruminal parameters.

Looking at pasture-based beef cattle production systems, there needs to be more pasture management and low zootechnical indexes, which culminate in low productivity and environmental impact. In this sense, cattle farming has been labeled as harmful to the environment due to the emission of gases that can contribute to the excessive increase in the greenhouse effect. These gases are methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide, which come from ruminal fermentation, manure fermentation, and biomass management. The objective was to simulate eight scenarios: the first occurred in areas of degradation and desertification of pastures induced by livestock farming, the second occurred with the recovery of degraded pasture areas, the third occurred with the improvement of pasture management, the fourth occurred with the implementation of integrated production systems, the fifth occurred with the improvement in diet quality, the sixth occurred with the association of supplementation strategies for grazing cattle with fattening in confinement, the seventh occurred with the reduction in the feeding cycle production of beef cattle and the eighth occurred with the intensification of land use. It is concluded that the adoption of more intensive production systems proves to be more efficient, both productively and environmentally, by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases and improving zootechnical indices, guaranteeing the supply of animal protein in the face of growing demand globally.

Atualmente busca-se novas descobertas do uso de plantas fitogênicas e seus extratos vegetais como moduladores da função ruminal, uma vez que a proibição da utilização dos antibióticos na produção animal é crescente por países importadores de produtos de origem animal. O principal componente das pimentas é a capsaicina, um composto ativo classificado como terpenoide aromático, que confere aos frutos a pungência, com atividade antimicrobiana. O objetivo do trabalho foi realizar uma compilação de dados através de uma revisão de literatura sobre a utilização de aditivos naturais, como o uso de pimentas do gênero Capsicum spp. nas dietas de ruminantes (estudo in vivo). A revisão abordou as diferentes formas de utilização com inferências sobre o consumo e digestão dos nutrientes, parâmetros da fermentação ruminal, balanço de nitrogênio. Além disso, discorreu sobre o comportamento ingestivo, parâmetros sanguíneos e parâmetros fisiológicos de ovinos. Assim, foi possível produzir um estudo com linguagem técnico-científica sobre o assunto. As pimentas são frutos que podem ser utilizadas na alimentação de ovinos e, em dietas de ruminantes com alto teor de concentrado, o pH ruminal torna-se ácido, em que a molécula de capsaicina é deslocada para um estado hidrofóbico, tornando-se mais ativa no efeito antimicrobiano.

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of monensin in supplements for grazing heifers. In experiment I, treatments consisted of protein supplements (low intake – 0.5 kg/animal/day and high intake – 1.0 kg/animal/day) associated or not with monensin. Animal performance, nutrient intake, and digestibility were evaluated. Forty crossbred heifers with an initial body weight (BW) of 213.8 ± 4.5 kg were used. There was no difference in average daily gain between treatments (average of 0.588 kg/animal/day). There was no interaction between monensin and supplements for intake parameters and digestibility. Dry matter (DM) intake was equal between treatments (~ 2% of BW). However, there was a reduction in pasture intake with the high-intake supplement. In experiment II, treatments consisted of two types of supplements (protein or mineral) associated or not with monensin. The variables analyzed were productive performance, ingestive behavior, and thermal comfort, evaluated through the index of thermal stress for cows (ITSC). Forty crossbred heifers with a BW of 159.2 ± 1.3 kg were used. The type of supplement did not influence the performance of the animals. However, monensin promoted greater weight gain in the animals (110 g/animal/day). There was an interaction effect between supplementation and monensin addition on behavioral activities, except for idle time. The inclusion of monensin in the protein supplement reduced the grazing time. The ITSC value influenced the activities of ingestive behavior, and the increase of this index reduced the grazing time in all treatments. Forage quality influences the response to monensin use, and the addition of monensin in supplements for grazing cattle during the rainy season is recommended for forages with high CP content.

This study aimed to evaluate intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance, ingestive behavior, and blood parameters of sheep fed with cotton lint levels. Twenty rams weighing 30.2 ± 3.7 kg and aged 12 ± 1.3 months were distributed in a completely randomized design, with four treatments and five repetitions. Diets consisted of 50% roughage and 50% concentrate. The treatments consisted of replacing corn with cotton lint at levels of 0, 70, 140, and 210 g/kg of dry matter (DM) of the diets. The animals’ feeding behavior was determined in the last three days of the experimental period. Data were subjected to regression analysis. Decreased linear effect (p < 0.05) was observed for the nutritional fraction’s intake. However, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) intake and plasma urea-N were not affected (p > 0.05) by lint levels. Apparent digestibility of DM, crude protein (CP), ethereal extract (EE), and non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC) were affected (p < 0.05), except for total carbohydrate. There was a decreased linear effect (p < 0.05) for the intake efficiency of DM and NDF in g/h. The nitrogen balance (g/day) and glucose levels (mg/dL) were reduced with the addition of lint in the diet. The addition of cotton lint up to 70 g/kg in DM can be used over a short-term period.

Estima-se que 5,4 milhões de pessoas serão submetidas à Terapia de Reposição Renal até 2030. A diálise peritoneal parece ser a forma mais difundida de tratamento domiciliar destes pacientes, mas enfrenta problemas relacionados à sua aderência. O monitoramento remoto tem a potencialidade de aumentar a aderência ao tratamento. Este trabalho tem por objetivo a concepção de uma abordagem que integra: (i) uma plataforma para aquisição de sinais vitais e outros parâmetros de um paciente em diálise peritoneal; (ii) um ambiente onde regras personalizáveis construa a Ciência de Situação e, quando necessário envie notificações para a equipe médica; e (iii) uma interface de visualização dos sinais e das imagens que possa ser acessada de forma remota.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the agronomic traits in the pre- and post-grazing and the nitrogen use efficiency of Piatã grass that was subjected to nitrogen fertilization throughout the seasons of the year. The experiment was performed in a randomized block design with four treatments (0, 150, 300, and 450 kg ha⁻¹ N). Grazing was performed with sheep when the forage canopy reached 95% light interception up to 20 cm height of post-grazing. The pre-grazing forage mass of the Piatã grass showed a behavior (p < 0.05) linear to nitrogen fertilization, with higher and lower values in spring and winter, respectively. The post-grazing forage mass responded linearly (p < 0.05) to nitrogen fertilization, with an increase of 43.12% for the dose of 450 kg ha⁻¹ N in relation to pastures without nitrogen fertilization. When the non-fertilized pasture was compared with the highest nitrogen dose, a reduction of 21.79% dead tissue was observed in the post-grazing forage mass. The highest nitrogen use efficiency was obtained with the dose of 450 kg ha⁻¹ N. The forage mass production of the Piatã grass in the pre- and post-grazing conditions are positively influenced by nitrogen fertilization and the seasons of the year, with lower values in winter.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect on intake, digestibility and fractionation of carbohydrates and proteins of cottonseed cake as an alternative protein source in rams diets. The diets were composed of corn silage, soybean meal, ground corn, urea, and cottonseed cake (0, 70, 140 and 210 g/kg dry matter (DM)) in a roughage/concentrate ratio of 50:50. Thirty-two Santa Ines rams, average age 12 months and weight 27.48 ± 4.96 kg were distributed in a completely randomised design. A reduction of 0.161 g/day in crude protein (CP) intake was observed for each gram of cottonseed cake inclusion. The intake of non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC) decreased by 0.511 g/day for each gram of cottonseed cake inclusion. Similarly, the ratio between intake of DM (p = 0.034), CP (p < 0.001), NFC (p = 0.004) and body weight decreased with cottonseed cake inclusion. Inclusion of cottonseed cake caused decreases in the digestibility coefficients of DM (p < 0.001), CP (p < 0.001) and NFC (p = 0.002). A reduction of 0.716 g was observed in carbohydrate fraction A + B₁ (p = 0.006). The inclusion of cottonseed cake in the rams feed should be carried out with caution because this by-product promotes linear reduction in intake and digestibility nutrient, in addition to modifying the amounts of digestible and indigestible fractions in the diets.

This study aimed to determine the protein and carbohydrate fractions as well as the in situ rumen degradability of Brachiaria decumbens silage (BDS) supplemented with soybean hulls. Five soybean hull inclusion levels were used: 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% of the fresh matter of B. decumbens grass, distributed into a completely randomized design with five replications. The inclusion of soybean hulls caused a linear decrease (p < 0.001) in carbohydrate fractions A + B1 and a linear increase (p < 0.001) in carbohydrate fraction C. The percentage of non-protein nitrogen fraction increased linearly (p < 0.001), but the nitrogen fractions B₁ + B₂ and B₃ presented a negative quadratic effect (p < 0.01) with soybean hull level and fraction C presented a linear decrease (p < 0.001). The dry matter (DM) degradability of soluble fraction (A) and the undigestible DM decreased linearly (p < 0.01) with the soybean hull level. The potentially degradable water-insoluble portion (DM fraction B) and degradability rate (c) of the DM fraction B increased linearly (p < 0.001) with soybean hull level. The crude protein (CP) fraction A presented a linear increase (p < 0.001) with soybean hull inclusion; however, soybean hull levels caused a linear decrease (p < 0.001) in the CP level of fraction B. The degradable insoluble fraction of NDF (D) of the silage increased linearly (p < 0.001) and the indigestible NDF fraction of the silage was linearly decreased with the soybean hull level (p < 0.001). The inclusion of intermediate levels (20–30%) of soybean hulls provided better protein and carbohydrate fractions and better quality of BDS.