Crambe meal and crude glycerin from biodiesel production in diets for finishing of crossbred cattle in feedlot

Our hypothesis is that crambe meal can totally substitute soybean meal and crude glycerin can partially replace the corn in the diet without leading to losses of nutrient intake and productive performance. Two assays were performed using heifers and steers. In the first assay, 24 Beefalo-Nellore heifers with 18 months old with 311.5 ± 5.5 kg, and in the second assay, 24 Beefalo-Nellore steers with 18 months old with 317.0 ± 6.4 kg were evaluated. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete design, in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme, consisting of two energy sources (corn and crude glycerin) and two protein sources (soybean meal and crambe meal). Both assays had 104 experimental days of feedlot. There was no interaction between the variation sources. There was an effect of protein source on nutrient intake for heifers except to neutral detergent fiber intake, which presented effect of energy source. Heifers fed soybean meal showed higher results for total weight gain and daily weight gain. There was observed effect of energy source on rib eye area and subcutaneous fat thickness. Steers fed soybean meal showed higher neutral detergent fiber intake and non-fibrous carbohydrates. Steers fed corn + crude glycerin showed higher results for total weight gain and daily weight gain. The steers fed soybean meal showed higher averages for subcutaneous fat thickness. Crambe meal and crude glycerin can be used as alternative sources of energy and protein to replace 100% of soybean and 50% of corn, respectively, for finishing Beefalo-Nellore cattle in a feedlot.

Combinations of by-products from biodiesel production included in the supplement for finishing heifers on deferred pastures

We hypothesized that by-products from biodiesel production like crambe meal (Crambe abyssinica) totally replace soybean meal (Glycine max) and crude glycerin could partially replace corn (Zea mays). Our aim was to evaluate different supplements with combinations of crambe meal and crude glycerin replacing soybean meal or corn on performance and carcass traits of finishing heifers. Sixty Nellore heifers 18 months old were used, and 298.96 ± 21.99 kg of body weight allotted in Brachiaria brizantha pastures. All heifers were distributed in a randomized complete block design, with four treatments being the following supplements: corn + soybean meal (CS), corn + crambe meal (CCr), corn + soybean meal + crude glycerin (CSG), corn + crambe meal + crude glycerin + (CCrG). The animals were distributed in four paddocks of 13 hectares each, in a continuous grazing system. We evaluated pasture characteristics, intake, performance, carcass traits, characteristics, and centesimal composition of Longissimus thoracis muscle. There was an effect (P < 0.05) of inclusion of crambe meal on the performance of the animals for slaughter weight and daily gain. The supplement containing corn + soybean meal (CS) presented better conversion rates and food efficiency. There was an effect of inclusion of crambe meal and crude glycerin on the centesimal composition of Longissimus thoracis muscle. The use of crambe meal and crude glycerin as alternative sources from the agro-industry of biodiesel in concentrate supplement for finishing heifers in pastures can promote positive effects related to productive performance and carcass characteristics.

Batzella, Crambe and Monanchora: Highly Prolific Marine Sponge Genera Yielding Compounds with Potential Applications for Cancer and Other Therapeutic Areas

Pyrroloquinoline and guanidine-derived alkaloids present distinct groups of marine secondary metabolites with structural diversity that displayed potentialities in biological research. A considerable number of these molecular architectures had been recorded from marine sponges belonging to different marine genera, including Batzella, Crambe, Monanchora, Clathria, Ptilocaulis and New Caledonian starfishes Fromia monilis and Celerina heffernani. In this review, we aim to comprehensively cover the chemodiversity and the bioactivities landmarks centered around the chemical constituents exclusively isolated from these three marine genera including Batzella, Crambe and Monanchora over the period 1981-2017, paying a special attention to the polycyclic guanidinic compounds and their proposed biomimetic landmarks. It is concluded that these marine sponge genera represent a rich source of novel compounds with potential applications for cancer and other therapeutic areas.