William Soares Teixeira

Feedlot systems for small ruminants require nutritionally adequate and viable diets, and the incorporation of olive residues can offer a sustainable and economically advantageous alternative. This study evaluated the effects of including olive waste at 7.5%, 15%, 22.5% and 30% in the diets of Texel × Ile‐de‐France lambs, assessing the architecture and structure of the Ansa spiralis coli through gross anatomy, morphometry and light microscopy using ImageJ software (Fiji). Diets with up to 22.5% olive residue did not modify the morphology or morphometric parameters of the Ansa spiralis coli , with all specimens exhibiting three centripetal and three‐and‐a‐half centrifugal gyri and a mean length ratio of 1.18; however, the 30% inclusion level significantly increased the thickness of the tunica muscularis, suggesting potential effects on intestinal motility. These findings indicate that up to 22.5% olive residue can be safely incorporated into lamb feed as a sustainable and economically viable option, helping bridge knowledge gaps on olive byproduct use in ruminant nutrition while offering practical solutions for producers seeking to optimize regional feed resources and maintain animal health and productivity.

A utilização de subprodutos agroindustriais na alimentação de cordeiros surge como uma alternativa viável diante dos altos custos dos alimentos convencionais, que representam até 70% dos custos de produção. O bagaço de azeitona, gerado em grandes quantidades no processo de extração de azeite, apresenta potencial como alimento alternativo para ruminantes, contribuindo com a sustentabilidade e a economia da produção. O Rio Grande do Sul, principal produtor nacional de azeite, destaca-se pelo volume de resíduo disponível. Contudo, a digestibilidade e os efeitos morfofisiológicos no trato digestivo dos cordeiros precisam ser analisados, devido à presença de compostos que podem afetar a absorção de nutrientes. A revisão bibliográfica revela que o uso controlado e processado, como pela ensilagem, pode minimizar os impactos negativos, permitindo melhor aproveitamento do alimento. O estudo da morfofisiologia dos órgãos digestivos é fundamental para entender as adaptações dos animais ao novo manejo alimentar, otimizando o desempenho produtivo e a qualidade da carne.

Para se avaliar as adaptações morfofuncionais do trato digestório de cordeiros alimentados com silagem de bagaço de azeitona, foram utilizados 35 cordeiros machos, não castrados, oriundos de cruzamento entre as raças Texel e Ile de France, com idade média de 55 dias. Os animais foram submetidos a cinco planos nutricionais (ad libitum), constituídos por diferentes níveis de substituição de silagem de milho por silagem de bagaço de azeitona, sendo abatidos com aproximadamente 36kg de peso vivo, em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Após o abate, o rúmen, retículo, omaso, fígado, pâncreas e intestino delgado foram coletados, pesados e seccionados em fragmentos que seguiram o processamento histológico para posterior avaliação. Dentro das variáveis analisadas, os resultados indicaram que a inclusão de silagem de bagaço de azeitona na dieta de cordeiros de até 15% MS não altera as características histomorfométricas do trato gastrointestinal, hepáticas ou pancreáticas, que poderiam comprometer o desempenho animal.

The present study evaluated the effect of increasing levels of wet brewery residue (WBR) as a source of roughage on nutrient intake, performance and ingestive behaviour in lambs finished in confinement. Thirty-two uncastrated male lambs were used, weaned at 50 days of age. The treatments comprised increasing levels of WBR as roughage in the diet: 31, 44, 57 and 70%, on a dry-matter. The concentrate consisted of disintegrated corn, soybean meal, calcitic limestone and mineral salt. There was a quadratic effect (P ≤ 0.05) from the increasing levels of WBR on the intake of DM, OM, CP and TCH. The intake of EE, NDF and ADF increased linearly (P ≤ 0.01), while TDN intake showed a linear reduction (P < .0001) for increases in the level of WBR. There was a quadratic effect (P ≤ 0.010) on the average daily weight gain (ADG) from the addition of WBR to the diet. The time spent on feeding and rumination (P ≤ 0.05), expressed in minutes, showed a linear increase. Feeding rate for DM showed decreasing linear behaviour (P ≤ 0.006), while NDF rumination rate showed increasing linear behaviour (P ≤ 0.013) due to the increased levels of WBR in the diet. There was a linear increase in the time spent on each feeding activity (P ≤ 0.007) with the increase in WBR in the diet. Maximum weight gain is achieved when 46.9% WBR is used as a source of roughage in the diet, and this level can be recommended for terminating lambs in confinement.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of wet brewery residue (RUC) levels as a forage source on the apparent digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen balance of feedlot lambs. The treatments consisted of four levels of RUC as forage, as follows: 31; 44; 57 and 70 % on a dry matter basis. The increase in the level of RUC as a roughage in the diet leads to a linear decrease (P≤0.01) of the digestibility coefficients of dry matter and organic matter. N intake decreased linearly (P≤0.05) with increasing dietary RUC level.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of including wet brewery waste (WBW) as the exclusive dietary roughage source on the characteristics of carcass and non-carcass components of feedlot-finished lambs. Thirty-two non-castrated male lambs weaned at 50 days of age, resulting from the cross between the Texel and Ile de France breeds, were used. The diet was constituted by roughage (WBW) and a concentrate composed of crushed maize, soybean meal, limestone and common salt. Treatments consisted of four levels of WBW as the roughage source in the diet (% dry matter), namely, 31, 44, 57 and 70%. Lambs were slaughtered upon reaching 34 kg live weight. The treatments resulted in a linear decrease in hot and cold carcass weights and yields, carcass compactness index, conformation, degree of fatness and rib-eye area. Among the primal cuts, the absolute weights of pallet, ribs and legs decreased as the WBW level was increased. As to the non-carcass components, only the total gastrointestinal content increased linearly with WBW. The increasing levels of WBW led to greater fasting losses and reduced carcass weights and yields. There was also a reduction in the degree of fatness, carcass compactness, carcass conformation index and rib-eye area Wet brewery waste at the concentration of 31% as the roughage source in the diet of finishing lambs in the feedlot provides better carcass traits.

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of different finishing systems on the in vivo measurements, quantitative and qualitative carcass characteristics, commercial cut ratio, and shoulder tissue composition of lambs. Thirty-two male lambs were distributed in four finishing systems with eight replications each, as follows: suckling lambs on pasture; suckling lambs in confinement, with access to creep-feeding containing corn bran and soybean meal; weaned lambs fed roughage, characterized by ad libitum supply of alfalfa hay; and weaned lambs fed concentrate, composed of oat grain and soybean meal. The lambs were slaughtered as they reached the pre-set live weight at slaughtering of 30 kg. Most of the in vivo biometry variables were not significant (P > 0.05) when comparing the finishing systems, except for hindlimb height and thoracic perimeter. Regarding the quantitative carcass characteristics, all variables differed (P < 0.05) between systems, except for carcass length, leg width, and subcutaneous fat thickness. For the qualitative carcass characteristics, only the fatness and carcass conformation presented significant differences (P < 0.05). Most in vivo measurements and the proportion of carcass cuts were not influenced by finishing systems. Weaned lambs fed an exclusive concentrate diet presented leaner carcasses with an inferior conformation when compared to the other finishing systems. Suckling lambs in confinement presented shoulders with a higher fat deposition when compared to those weaned. Suckling lambs both on pasture and in confinement presented a superiority in the quantitative carcass characteristics when compared to weaned lambs.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of using different high-grain diets on the carcass characteristics and tissue composition of the meat of feedlot-finished lambs. Thirty-two male castrated Texel lambs born from single births and weaned at approximately 50 days of age were allotted to treatments that consisted of different unprocessed grains, as follows: corn grain, white oat grain, black oat grain, or grain of rice in the husk. The animals were slaughtered upon reaching the pre-established slaughter weight of 32 kg, which corresponds to 60% of the mature weight of their mothers. Lambs fed the high-corn grain diet had higher weights and yields of hot and cold carcass and larger loin-eye areas than those finished in the feedlot receiving high-grain diets based on white oat, black oat, or rice in the husk. Additionally, they had a higher degree of fatness and a thicker subcutaneous fat layer at slaughter, which lead to decreased cooler shrink loss. The neck, shoulder, ribs, and leg cuts were heavier in lambs fed the high-corn grain diet. By contrast, these lambs had a lower proportion of leg, more rib, and higher meat fat content, which may be undesirable for the consumer market. The use of high-corn grain diets, in comparison with high-grain diets based on black oat, white oat, and rice in the husk, may be recommended for finishing lambs in the feedlot when they are slaughtered at similar weights.

The use of agroindustrial by-products in ruminant nutrition to be an interesting alternative in order to reduce production costs and environmental impacts arising from the inadequate destination of residues. The initial step of beer production yields a large volume of wet brewer’s grains all year around, which is available at a low cost and has a high nutritional quality, and hence a big potential for animal production. Twenty-four Suffolk non-castrated male lambs, from simple parturition were kept in individual spots and allocated to four treatments constituted by four levels of substitution of sorghum silage by WBG (i.e.0; 33.5; 66.5 and 100% of substitution). It was used roughage: concentrate rate of 50:50, based on dry matter. The ether extract intake increased while the acid detergent fiber intake decreased linearly (P ≤ 0.05). Substituion of sorghum silage by WBG did not change lambs’ feed DMI, daily weight gain and feed conversion. The substitution of sorghum silage by WBG as roughage showed to be a viable alternative from the productive and economic point of view for finishing of feedlot lambs.