Palm kernel cake from the biodiesel industry in diets for goat kids. Part 1: nutrient intake and utilization, growth performance and carcass traits

Lambs supplemented with Amazonian oilseed co-products: Meat quality and fatty acid profile

The Amazon has a wide variety of oilseeds that generate a huge amount of co-products with potential for use in animal nutrition. The objective was to use alternative resources (oilseed cakes) in the feeding of lambs to assign a sustainable destination to this biomass, and evaluate its influence on the quality and fatty acid (FA) profile of the meat. Twenty-four lambs, male, castrated, crossbred Dorper × Santa Inês, weighing 30 ± 1.3 kg of initial body weight, were distributed in a completely randomized design in 4 treatments (diets) with six replications (animals). The control diet (Control) contained corn and soybean meal as main ingredients, which were partially replaced in the other diets by cupuassu cake diet (Cup), palm kernel cake diet (Palm) and tucuma cake diet (Tuc). The inclusion of Amazon cakes influences the lipid (P = 0.02) and protein (P < 0.01) composition of meat (longissimus lumborum); reduces cooking losses (P < 0.01); influences the colors (L, a, b), chroma, and Hue Angle (P < 0.01); promotes changes in total FA composition and FA profile (P < 0.05); reduces hypocholesterolemic FA (h) (P = 0.01), but does not influence hypercholesterolemic (H) and indices h:H, AI and TI (P > 0.05). The inclusion of oilseed cakes influences the chemical composition, physical parameters, composition and fatty acid profile of the meat, but does not influence the indicators of atherogenicity, thrombogenicity and cholesterolemia.

Exploring the effects of palm kernel meal feeding on the meat quality and rumen microorganisms of Qinghai Tibetan sheep

Palm kernel meal (PKM) has been shown to be a high-quality protein source in ruminant feeds. This study focused on the effects of feed, supplemented with different amounts of PKM (ZL-0 as blank group, and ZL-15, ZL-18, and ZL-21 as treatment group), on the quality and flavor profile of Tibetan sheep meat. Furthermore, the deposition of beneficial metabolites in Tibetan sheep and the composition of rumen microorganisms on underlying regulatory mechanisms of meat quality were studied based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry as well as 16S rDNA sequencing. The results of the study showed that Tibetan sheep in the ZL-18 group exhibited superior eating quality and flavor profile while depositing more protein and fat relative to the other groups. The ZL-18 group also changed significantly in terms of the concentration and metabolic pathways of meat metabolites, as revealed by metabolomics. Metabolomics and correlation analyses finally showed that PKM feed mainly affected carbohydrate metabolism in muscle, which in turn affects meat pH, tenderness, and flavor. In addition, 18% of PKM increased the abundance of Christensenellaceae R-7 group, Ruminococcaceae UCG-013, Lachnospiraceae UCG-002, and Family XIII AD3011 group in the rumen but decreased the abundance of Prevotella 1; the above bacteria groups regulate meat quality by regulating rumen metabolites (succinic acid, DL-glutamic acid, etc.). Overall, the addition of PKM may improve the quality and flavor of the meat by affecting muscle metabolism and microorganisms in the rumen.

Nutrient intake, digestibility, performance, carcass traits and sensory analysis of meat from lambs fed with co-products of Amazon oilseeds

Introduction

The increase in availability and nutritional composition of oilseed co-products has made it essential to study the use of this biomass.

Methods

The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of including oilseed cakes on intake and digestibility, performance, carcass characteristics and meat sensory in feedlot lambs. Twenty-four crossbred Dorper × Santa Inês lambs, with initial body weight of 30 ± 1.3 kg, male, castrated, aged 4-5 months, were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with four treatments (diets) and six replications (animals), confined in individual stalls for 70 days.

Results

The inclusion of tucuma cake (Tuc) reduced dry matter intake (p < 0.01) and diets with cupuassu cake (Cup) and palm kernel cake (Palm) reduced dry matter digestibility (p < 0.05). The Tuc diet also provided the lowest final body weight (p = 0.02); lower average daily gain (p = 0.03); lower feed efficiency (p = 0.03) and lower carcass weight (p < 0.01). However, diets did not influence carcass yield (%), fat thickness (mm) and loin eye area (cm²; p > 0.05). Meat from lambs on the control diet was rated as less fibrous and more tender (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The inclusion of tucuma cake does not influence digestibility, but reduces intake, performance and influences carcass characteristics and meat texture. Diets with cupuassu cake or palmiste cake reduced digestibility, however, intake, performance and carcass characteristics were similar to the control diet.

Effect of Palm Kernel Cake Supplementation on Voluntary Feed Intake, In Situ Rumen Degradability and Performance in Buffaloes in the Eastern Amazon

The objective was to evaluate the effects of palm kernel cake (PKC) supplementation on voluntary feed intake, in situ rumen degradability and performance in the wettest (WS-January to June) and less rainy seasons (LR-July to December) in the eastern Amazon. A total of 52 crossbred buffaloes that were neither lactating nor gestating were used, with 24 for the LR, aged 34 ± 04 months and an initial average weight of 503 ± 48 kg, and 24 for the WS aged 40 ± 04 months with an average weight of 605 ± 56 kg. The four treatments (levels of PKC in relation to body weight) were distributed in a completely randomized design, with 0% (PKC0), 0.25% (PKC0.2), 0.5% (PKC0.5) and 1% (PKC1) with six repetitions. The animals were housed in Marandu grass paddocks, intermittently, with access to water and mineral mixture ad libitum. Degradability was evaluated by the in situ bag technique in four other crossbred buffaloes with rumen cannulae, in a 4 × 4 Latin square (four periods and four treatments). The inclusion of PKC increased supplement consumption and production of ether extracts and reduced the intake of forage and non-fibrous carbohydrates. The dry matter degradability of Marandu grass was not affected; however, the fermentation kinetics in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) differed between the treatments. The co-product dry matter colonization time was greater in PKC1 and the highest effective degradability rates were from PKC0, but the productive performance of the animals was not influenced. Supplementation of buffaloes with PKC is recommended for up to 1% of body weight.

Nutrient intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, nitrogen balance, and performance of feedlot goat kids fed high-concentrate diets containing licury cake (Syagrus coronata)

The current trial was carried out to evaluate the impacts of adding licury cake (Syagrus coronata) in high-concentrate diets for goat kids feedlot-finished on growth performance and metabolic parameters. Forty crossbred non-castrated Boer goat kids with approximately four months and similar initial live weights (20.15 ± 2.79 kg). The experimental design used in this study was a completely randomized, with four diets (0, 10, 20, and 30% of licury cake inclusion in a dry matter basis (DM)). Licury cake inclusion decreased nutrient intake and digestibility (P < 0.05). Times spent in feeding (P < 0.001) and rumination (P = 0.003) activities, number of events in feeding (P < 0.001) and idling (P = 0.015) increased, whereas a linear reduction occurred in feeding and rumination efficiencies of DM and neutral detergent fiber (P < 0.001). Nitrogen (N) intake, retained N (P < 0.001), triglycerides concentrations (P = 0.002), aspartate-aminotransferase, alanine-aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase decreased with the licury cake inclusion (P < 0.05). Final body weight (P = 0.008), average daily gain (P = 0.001), and total weight gain (P = 0.001) decreased linearly when licury cake was included in diets. High-concentrate diets containing increasing levels of licury cake decrease intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients and performance when supplied for goat kids feedlot-finished. Therefore, the inclusion of the studied levels of licury cake in goat kids fed high-concentrate diets is not recommended for feedlot-finished systems.

Palm Kernel Cake in Diets for Lactating Goats: Qualitative Aspects of Milk and Cheese

Simple Summary

Feedlotting lactating goats is a strategy to improve their productivity and the quality of their milk and dairy products. However, feedlotting is associated with increases in production costs, due mainly to the concentrate component of the diet. The use of agro-industrial byproducts allows the reduction of feed costs by replacing costly ingredients, as the former are more easily accessible. We tested the dietary inclusion of palm kernel cake (PKC), a byproduct of the biofuel industry, at the levels of 0, 80, 160 and 240 g kg⁻¹, to evaluate its impact on the qualitative aspects of milk and cheese. The inclusion of up to 80 g kg⁻¹ PKC is recommended for the diet of goats whose milk will be used in the production of Minas Frescal cheese.

Abstract

We investigated the effect of including palm kernel cake (PKC) at the levels of 0, 80, 160 and 240 g kg⁻¹ in the diet of lactating goats on the quality and sensory parameters of Minas Frescal cheese. Twelve goats were used in a triple 4 × 4 Latin square design. The dietary addition of PKC was associated with a reduction in moisture (p = 0.004), which compromised the cheese yield (p = 0.030). The ether extract content showed a quadratic response. There was a decrease in caproic (p = 0.014), caprylic (p = 0.011), capric (p = 0.003) and palmitic (p = 0.049) acids and an increase in lauric (p = 0.012) and myristic (p = 0.02) acids. Monounsaturated fatty acids increased (p = 0.008), whereas the ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids (p = 0.022) and thrombogenicity index (p = 0.023) decreased. Principal component analysis indicated that control treatment and the treatment with 80 g kg⁻¹ PKC were the most acceptable to the cheese tasters. The use of palm kernel cake is a good alternative for lactating goats when added to the diet at levels up to 80 g kg⁻¹.

Palm kernel cake in high-concentrate diets for feedlot goat kids: nutrient intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, nitrogen balance, blood metabolites, and performance

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of including palm kernel cake (PKC) in high-concentrate diets for feedlot goat kids on nutrient intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, nitrogen balance, blood metabolites, and performance. Thirty-two castrated crossbred Boer × mixed breed goat kids with an average age of 4 months and an initial body weight of 19.65 ± 3.00 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design. The diets included one of four levels (0, 12, 24, and 36%) of PKC on a total dry matter basis. The PKC inclusion in the diets promoted quadratic effects in the nutrient intakes (P ≤ 0.05). The digestibility of ether extract increased (P = 0.010), whereas the digestibility of non-fibrous carbohydrates decreased (P = 0.017) with the inclusion of PKC. Palm kernel cake inclusion promoted a quadratic effect on the time spent per episode feeding and decreased the times spent idling and ruminated bolus per day (P ≤ 0.05). The ingested and retained nitrogen decreased with the inclusion of PKC (P ≤ 0.05). The inclusion of PKC in the diets had quadratic effects in the cholesterol concentrations, albumin (A), globulin (G), A:G ratio, and gamma-glutamyltransferase enzyme activity (P ≤ 0.05). The PKC inclusion promoted a quadratic increase in total weight gain (P = 0.026), with the highest value achieved at the inclusion level of 11.68%. The inclusion of up to 12% PKC in high-concentrate diets increases the intake and growth performance without compromising the digestibility of nutrients and feed efficiency.