Lambs fed cassava silage with added tamarind residue: Silage quality, intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance, growth performance and carcass quality

Interaction between residual feed intake and thermal environment on performance, nitrogen balance, ingestive behavior and carcass yield of dorper lambs

Residual feed intake (RFI) is a nutritional variable used in genetic improvement programs, the relationship between the environment and the availability of energy and protein in the diet has not yet been explored. Thus, the aim was to evaluate interactions between RFI and thermal environment on performance, nitrogen balance, ingestive behavior and carcass yield of Dorper lambs receiving diets containing different concentrate levels. Dorper lambs (male, n = 64, 17.83 ± 2.43 kg and 110 ± 10 days of age) were confined individually for 40 days for RFI classification. Lambs were separated into positive RFI (n = 30) and negative RFI (n = 30) and remained confined for another 60 days. The animals were distributed in a randomized block design, with a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial scheme, with 2 confinement environments (full sun or shade), 2 groups of feed efficiency (RFI positive or RFI negative) and three diets containing different concentrate levels (30, 45 and 60%), with 5 replications in each treatment. Isolated effects of concentrate level were observed for dry matter intake and digestibility, feeding, rumination, idle and chewing times, feeding efficiency, ingested, excreted and absorbed nitrogen, and on cooling losses, hot and cold carcass yield (P < 0.05). There was an effect of environment × concentrate interaction on performance, retained nitrogen and nitrogen balance (P < 0.05). There was an effect of RFI × environment interaction on the dry matter rumination efficiency, hot and cold carcass weight (P < 0.05). Under experimental conditions, RFI did not influence the productive performance of Dorper lambs. Interactions between environment and diet indicate better performance for Dorper lamb confined in the shade and receiving a higher proportion of concentrate. Animals with negative RFI show better performance and carcass weight when confined in shade, while animals with positive RFI showed better responses to these variables when confined in full sun.

La adición de orujo mejora el ensilaje de las partes aéreas de la planta de yuca

Antecedentes: Si bien es posible preservar la parte aérea de la yuca en forma de ensilaje, como se demostró en estudios anteriores, el bajo contenido de materia seca puede resultar en fermentaciones indeseables y mayores pérdidas de efluentes durante el ensilaje, levando a una reducción en la calidad final del ensilaje. Una de las formas de solucionar este problema sería el ensilaje mixto de la parte aérea de la yuca con subproductos deshidratados de la agroindustria. Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto de la adición de bagazo de uva deshidratado (BUD) a la parte aérea del ensilaje de yuca (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) sobre la composición química, degradabilidad y producción de gas in vitro del ensilado. Métodos: El diseño experimental utilizado fue completamente al azar y los tratamientos consistieron en: (I) ensilado de brotes de yuca sin aditivos; (II) ensilaje de la parte aérea de yuca con 10% de BUD en materia natural, como aditivo. Luego de 30 días de fermentación, los ensilajes fueron evaluados para materia seca (MS), proteína cruda (PC), extracto de éter (EE), fibra detergente neutra (FDN), nutrientes digestibles totales (NDT), pH, degradabilidad in vitro y producción acumulada de gas mediante la técnica de producción de gas in vitro semiautomática. Resultados: La adición de BUD no cambió los contenidos de PB, EE, FDN y NDT del ensilaje. Sin embargo, BUD promovió un aumento en el contenido de MS (32,61 vs 30,31%) y una reducción en el pH (4,00 vs 4,75) del ensilaje. El ensilado que recibió la BUD mostró mayores coeficientes de degradabilidad de las fracciones solubles y potencialmente degradables, lo que resultó en mayores valores de degradabilidad potencial y efectiva. De manera similar, BUD promovió una reducción en el tiempo de colonización de partículas (6,74 vs 10,01 h) y un aumento en la producción acumulada de gas (62,03 vs 57,82 mL/g MS). Conclusiones: La adición de 10% de bagazo de uva deshidratado al ensilaje de la parte aérea de yuca puede ser útil para reducir el pH y aumentar el contenido de materia seca del ensilaje.

The inclusion of detoxified castor bean meal in sugarcane silage increases the carcass weight and the content of unsaturated fatty acids in lamb meat

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and meat quality of lambs fed sugarcane silage containing increasing levels of detoxified castor bean meal (DCBM). Twenty-four Santa Inês male sheep were used, with initial body weight of 25.34 ± 2.57 kg, distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments (0, 70, 140, and 210 g/kg of DCBM in the sugarcane silage). Intake and digestibility of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) were positively influenced (P < 0.05) by the levels of DCBM. There was a linear increase (P < 0.05) on the intake and digestibility of neutral detergent fiber with the inclusion of DCBM. The daily and total gains showed a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) with the inclusion of DCBM, with a maximum point of 241.64 g/d and 18.12 kg at the level of 161.9 g/kg of DCBM. There was a linear increase (P < 0.01) on the hot carcass with the inclusion of DCBM. The inclusion of DCBM did not influence (P > 0.05) the levels of total lipids (2.1%) in lamb meat, but the levels of oleic acid (C18:1 n-6c) and total monounsaturated fatty acids presented a quadratic effect (P < 0.05). It is recommended to include 160 g/kg of detoxified castor bean meal in sugarcane silage.

Amino acids metabolism by rumen microorganisms: Nutrition and ecology strategies to reduce nitrogen emissions from the inside to the outside

For the ruminant animal industry, the emission of nitrogenous substances, such as nitrous oxide (N₂O) and ammonia (NH₃), not only challenges environmental sustainability but also restricts its development. The metabolism of proteins and amino acids by rumen microorganisms is a key factor affecting nitrogen (N) excretion in ruminant animals. Rumen microorganisms that affect N excretion mainly include three types: proteolytic and peptidolytic bacteria (PPB), ureolytic bacteria (UB), and hyper-ammonia-producing bacteria (HAB). Microbes residing in the rumen, however, are influenced by several complex factors, such as diet, which results in fluctuations in the rumen metabolism of proteins and amino acids and ultimately affects N emission. Combining feed nutrition strategies (including ingredient adjustment and feed additives) and ecological mitigation strategies of N₂O and NH₃ in industrial practice can reduce the emission of nitrogenous pollutants from the ruminant breeding industry. In this review, the characteristics of the rumen microbial community related to N metabolism in ruminants were used as the metabolic basis. Furthermore, an effective strategy to increase N utilisation efficiency in combination with nutrition and ecology was reviewed to provide an inside-out approach to reduce N emissions from ruminants.

Tannins from Mimosa tenuiflora in the diet improves nutrient utilisation, animal performance, carcass traits and commercial cuts of lambs

Context Tannins are polyphenolic compounds found in legumes, trees and forage shrubs, such as Mimosa tenuiflora, and form hydrogen bonds with proteins. Aims The objective of the present study was to determine the optimal dietary concentration of natural tannins from M. tenuiflora for enhancing intake, digestibility, nitrogen (N) and tannin physiological balance, performance, carcass traits and commercial cuts of lambs. Methods Forty-eight uncastrated Santa Ines lambs were distributed between two experiments, each with four diets containing natural tannins (1.21 (control), 9.29, 17.4 and 25.4 g/kg dry matter (DM) total) from M. tenuiflora hay. Key results With increasing level of inclusion of natural tannins from M. tenuiflora hay in the diet, there were quadratic increases (P ≤ 0.05; up to 17.4 g/kg DM inclusion) in the daily nutrient intake, N faecal excretion, N urinary excretion, performance, carcass traits and rib and loin commercial cut weights of lambs. However, intake, faecal excretion, physiological balance of tannins and carcass leg circumference increased (P ≤ 0.05) linearly with an increasing inclusion of tannins from M. tenuiflora hay. Furthermore, there were linear decreases (P ≤ 0.05) in the digestibility of DM, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre corrected for ash and protein, acid detergent fibre, non-fibrous carbohydrate and total digestible nutrients and decreases in faecal excretion of total phenolic compounds and feeding efficiency in lambs with increasing dietary concentration of tannins. Conclusions It is recommended that M. tenuiflora hay replace Brachiaria decumbens hay at 250 g/kg of dietary roughage, corresponding to 17.4 g/kg DM of tannins, in the diet of Santa Ines finishing lambs because the resulting increased bioavailability of tannins improves nutrient intake, N retention, average daily gain, carcass weight and the weights of the most profitable cuts (leg, loin and rib). Implications The use of M. tenuiflora legume (which is common in the Caatinga biome) as hay roughage in the lamb diet increases tannin bioavailability and the efficiency of protein use, consequently improving performance and contributing to the economic viability of sheep production in the region.

Performance, digestibility, nitrogen balance and ingestive behaviour of goat kids fed diets supplemented with condensed tannins from Acacia mearnsii extract

Context Tannins are phenolic compounds derived from secondary plant metabolism that at moderate levels can limit the excessive degradation of the protein in the rumen and provide greater amino acids availability in the small intestine. Aims Two experiments were performed to determine the best level of inclusion of condensed tannins (CT) from Acacia mearnsii extract in the diet of goat kids. An experiment was performed with 32 castrated crossbreed Boer goat kids, with a mean age of 4 months and mean bodyweight (BW) of 19.7 ± 2.05 kg, to measure nutrient intake and performance, and another experiment was developed with 20 Boer goat kids, at 5 months of age and 29.0 ± 2.45 kg BW, in which the digestibility, nitrogen (N) balance, microbial protein synthesis, ingestive behaviour and blood urea N were determined. In both experiments, a completely randomised design was used, including CT levels at 0, 16, 32 and 48 g/kg DM. Results DM; crude protein; ether extract; neutral detergent fibre (NDF); non-fibrous carbohydrates and total digestible nutrients intakes, ether extract digestibility; time spent on ruminating, idling or chewing; number of chews per bolus; eating and ruminating rate of DM and NDF; N intake and retained, blood urea N and loin eye area were not affected (P &gt; 0.05) by the addition of CT from A. mearnsii extract in the goat kid diets. However, the NDF g/kg BW and BW0.75 intakes and N faecal excretion showed a linear increase (P &lt; 0.05). There was a linear increase trend (P &lt; 0.1) in time spent eating, and a linear decrease on N urinary excretion by CT from A. mearnsii extract inclusion. The digestibility of DM, crude protein, NDF, non-fibrous carbohydrates and total digestible nutrients exhibited a linear decrease (P &lt; 0.05) by CT from A. mearnsii extract inclusion. There was a quadratic increase (P &lt; 0.05) in synthesis and microbial efficiency, final BW, average daily gain, total gain, gain:feed ratio, and hot and cold carcass weights and yields. Conclusion The inclusion of CT from A. mearnsii extract up to 17.7 g/kg DM is recommended, as it improves the synthesis and efficiency of microbial production, increasing the gain:feed ratio and performance of goat kids. Implications The use of condensed tannins from A. mearnsii does not affect the nutrient intakes on goat kids’ diet and also improves performance and carcass trait of these animals.

Effects of condensed tannin-amended cassava silage blend diets on feeding behavior, digestibility, nitrogen balance, milk yield and milk composition in dairy goats

Condensed tannins (CTs) are phenolic compounds derived from secondary plant metabolism that act as part of the plant's chemical defense system against pathogen invasion and herbivorous attack. This study aimed to evaluate the intake, digestibility, nitrogen (N) balance, production and composition of milk from goats fed cassava silage with added levels of CTs. Eight Anglo-Nubian goats with a mean BW of 40 ± 2.0 kg were distributed in a double Latin square design with four levels of CTs (0, 25, 50 and 75 g/kg DM) with four 20-day periods with 15 days of adaptation and five evaluation days for each period. No differences were observed in DM, NDF, CP intake and feed conversion (grams of DM intake (DMI) per gram of milk produced); however, when expressed as percent of BW, DMI showed a quadratic increase to 29.1 g/kg. As the level of supplemented CTs increased in the diet, the CP digestibility (P = 0.023), NDF (P = 0.044), non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC; P = 0.032) and total digestible nutrients (P = 0.033) exhibited a linear decrease. Furthermore, the addition of CTs to cassava silage induced a linear increase in N-fecal excretion (P = 0.014) and a positive quadratic effect on N-retained (P = 0.014) and N-balance (P = 0.024) as well as a positive quadratic trend in N-digested (P = 0.092). Milk urea N (P = 0.023) decreased linearly. The addition of CTs to cassava silage had a positive quadratic effect on ruminating time (P = 0.011). In addition, comparing the use or non-use from the orthogonal contrast test, the inclusion of CTs in goat diet increased water and N-intake, CP and NDF digestibility, spent time eating and ruminating and N-balance and decreased milk production corrected^3.5%, fat milk content, milk urea N and dry defatted extract of milk. Thus, adding CTs to cassava silage at 25 g/kg total DM promoted goats' greater use of the diet without impairing feed conversion and the quality of goat milk produced. Dietary levels of 50 and 75 g/kg total DM are not recommended because under the conditions of this study, they reduced the productive efficiency of dairy goats.

Delinted cottonseed in diets for finishing sheep

The use of agricultural by-products might provide an important alternative to improve animal agriculture and to reduce feeding costs. The effects of inclusion in the diet of four levels of delinted cottonseed (0, 80, 160, and 240 g/kg) on intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance, blood parameters, and the ingestive behaviour of confined sheep were studied. Twenty-four mixed-breed rams with an average body weight of 27.6 ± 2.9 kg were used in a completely randomised design with four treatments. The addition of delinted cottonseed (DCS) did not alter (P > 0.05) the intake of dry matter, crude protein, organic matter, neutral detergent fibre, or ether extract in the two forms calculated (g/day and % body weight). The use of different levels of DCS in sheep feed did not influence (P > 0.05) the voluntary water intake. The dietary DCS levels linearly affected (P < 0.05) the digestibility coefficients of the dry matter (DM), organic matter, neutral detergent fibre, ether extract, and non-fibrous carbohydrates. The DCS inclusion levels did not affect the nitrogen balance (P = 0.22), plasma concentrations of urea (P = 0.51), and glucose (P = 0.17).The feeding efficiency and rumination in g DM/h reduced linearly (P < 0.05) with the addition of DCS in the diet. Therefore, the addition of delinted cottonseed affects the intake, digestibility, and ingestive behaviour of confined sheep, and the addition of up to 80 g/kg delinted cottonseed in the diet of confined sheep is recommended.

Intake, digestibility, ingestive behavior, and nitrogen balance of goats fed with diets containing residue from tamarind fruit

This study is aimed at determining the maximum inclusion level of tamarind (Tamarindus indica) residues in the diet of goats on intake, digestibility, ingestive behavior, and nitrogen (N) balance. Twenty-four crossbred (Boer × undefined breed) castrated goat kids (5 months old and with an initial weight of 23.9 ± 0.3 kg) were assigned in a completely randomized design (4 treatments and 6 replicates). Diets consisted of Tifton 85 (Cynodon sp.) hay as the roughage (400 g/kg) source and concentrate (600 g/kg); the levels of tamarind residue inclusion were 0.0, 7.0, 14.0, and 21.0% on a dry matter (DM) basis. The experimental period lasted 23 days (15 of adaptation and 8 of sampling). Inclusion of tamarind residue in the goat kid diets did not affect (P > 0.05) the intake and digestibility of DM, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and total digestible nutrient; intake of N, urinary N, and retained N (g/day); time spent ruminating; numbers of times/day feeding, ruminating, or idling; eating efficiency of DM and NDF; number of boluses/day; and amount (g) of DM/bolus. However, there were a linear reduction in ether extract digestibility (P = 0.011) and a linear decreasing trend in non-fibrous carbohydrate digestibility (P = 0.083). The addition of tamarind residue had a positive linear effect (P = 0.041) on the time spent feeding and promoted a decreasing linear trend for the time spent idling (P = 0.063). It is recommended to include the residue from tamarind fruit at a level of 21% in diets for goat kids, as it does not affect nutrient intake and digestibility and the N balance.

Physicochemical characteristics and fatty acid composition of the meat of lambs fed cassava silage and dry tamarind (Tamarindus indica)

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of the addition of dry tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) residue to cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) silage on the carcass traits, quality and fatty acid profile of lamb meat. Forty 6-month-old (±2 days) castrated lambs (crossbred Santa Ines × mixed breed) with initial bodyweights of 22.1 ± 3.0 kg were used in a completely randomised design with four treatments (0, 100, 200 or 300 g/kg of DM of dry tamarind residue) and 10 replicates (animals). There was a significant increase in hot carcass weight (P &lt; 0.001) and loin weight (P = 0.04); however, there were no effects on final bodyweight, average daily weight gain, slaughter weight, weights of other commercial cuts, shear force, lightness (L*), redness (a*), yellowness (b*), chroma (C*), lipid profile, ash content, initial and final pH value and cooking weight loss. There was a significant (P &lt; 0.001) quadratic reduction in water-holding capacity with an increasing tamarind residue content. The addition of tamarind residue to cassava silage linearly decreased the lauric (C12:0; P = 0.01) and stearic (C18:0; P = 0.01) fatty acid concentrations (total saturated fatty acids, ΣSFA) (P = 0.03) and the ratio of ΣSFA to unsaturated fatty acids (ΣSFA:ΣUFA; P = 0.04). However, there were linear increases in the C18:2 cis9, cis12 concentration (P = 0.04), polyunsaturated fatty acid n-6 concentration (P = 0.05), ΣUFA (P = 0.03) and the Σn-6:Σn-3 ratio (P = 0.01) in the lamb meat. Dry tamarind can be added to cassava up to a level of 300 g/kg of DM without any negative effects on the performance or meat quality, and it increases the yield of the loin cut, polyunsaturated fatty acid n–6 and ΣUFA, which makes the lamb meat healthier.

Effects of replacing rice bran with tamarind seed meal in concentrate mixture diets on the changes in ruminal ecology and feed utilization of dairy steers

Feed ingredients costs have been impacting the production cost. Attempts have been made to use local feed resources in order to reduce feed costs. The objective of this study was to identify effect of using crushed tamarind seed meal (TSM) in concentrate mixture on rumen fermentation, dry matter intake, and digestibility of dairy steers. Four rumen-fistulated dairy steers were used in a 4 × 4 Latin Square Design. Four levels of TSM were used to replace rice bran (RB) in the concentrate mixtures in four treatments (T1 = 0% replacement of RB, T2 = 30% replacement of RB, T3 = 60% replacement of RB, T4 = 100% replacement of RB). The findings revealed that replacement of TSM for RB resulted in similar digestibility of nutrients and intakes (P > 0.05). However, rumen fermentation parameters were remarkably improved, namely total VFA and the concentration of C3 especially at the highest level of replacements (100%, T4), (P < 0.05). Rumen protozoal population was found lowered in all replacements, especially those in higher levels of TSM replacement. Consequently, the rumen methane productions were significantly reduced. TSM can be a promising energy source to replace rice bran, hence lowering the cost of concentrate mixture.