The objective of this study was to evaluate intake and apparent digestibility of agro-industrial by-product of peach palm in diets for lambs. Twenty castrated, crossbred Santa Ines lambs, with average age of 150 days and body weight of 22.4 ± 3.4 kg, were distributed in a completely randomized design with four experimental diets composed of the following: fresh by-product of peach palm enriched with urea + ammonia sulfate (FU); fresh peach palm by-product + concentrate (FP); silage of peach palm by-product + concentrate (SP); and silage of peach palm by-product enriched with 15% of cornmeal + concentrate (SPC). Intake was recorded daily, and the digestibility coefficients were estimated with the internal marker indigestible acid detergent fiber (iADF). Diet FU resulted in the lowest intake and digestibility of the nutrients evaluated. Animals receiving diet FP showed higher intakes of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), total digestible nutrients (TDN), and digestible energy (DE) in relation to animals fed diets SP and SPC. Diets SP and SPC showed higher coefficients of digestibility of DM, OM, CP, and NDF than diet FP. Diet SP reduced the intakes of DM, OM, ether extract (EE), non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC), TDN, and DE and the digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, and NFC as compared with diet SPC. Feedlot lambs fed a diet with fresh peach palm by-product + concentrate (diet FP) have higher nutrient intake.

O desconhecimento de tecnologias, que permitam melhorias no manejo da cultura da pinha, principalmente no que se refere às épocas de podas e métodos de polinização, limita o crescimento da área plantada desta fruta no Brasil. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento de frutos de pinha em função de épocas de poda e de métodos de polinização. O experimento foi conduzido no município de São Francisco do Itabapoana-RJ, no período compreendido entre abril de 2001 e fevereiro de 2002. O delineamento experimental adotado foi em blocos casualizados (DBC), com parcelas subdivididas, em esquema fatorial 5x3, sendo cinco épocas de poda (maio, junho, julho, agosto e setembro de 2001) e três métodos de polinização (Polinização aberta ou natural; Polinização com pincel macio, realizada diretamente na flor, e Polinização realizada com bomba polinizadora), com quatro repetições. O comprimento e o diâmetro dos ramos foram influenciados pela época de poda. Os dois métodos de polinização artificial aumentaram a porcentagem de fecundação de frutos. O florescimento foi influenciado pela época de poda. Em média, o pico de desenvolvimento dos frutos foi verificado com aproximadamente 50 dias após a polinização e foi superior quando se utilizou a polinização artificial.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplying the by-product of peach-palm (Bactris gasipaes) on performance and characteristics of carcass and non-carcass components of feedlot lambs. Twenty Santa Ines lambs of 150 days average age and 22.4 ± 3.4 kg body weight were confined in individual pens. A completely randomized design was utilized with four experimental diets composed of: fresh peach-palm by-product enriched with urea, fresh peach-palm by-product + concentrate, silage of peach-palm by-product + concentrate, and silage of peach-palm by-product enriched with 15 % corn meal + concentrate. Intake was evaluated daily, and at the end of 42 days of experiments, lambs were slaughtered and the characteristics of carcass and non-carcass parts were evaluated. Performance and carcass characteristics showed differences between the animals' intake of total mixed rations (TMR) and only the diet with roughage. For the lambs that intaked TMR, the form of utilization of roughage (fresh or as silage) affected animal performance but did not change the carcass characteristics. Dry matter intake and feed conversion were influenced by the form of utilization of the silage (with and without additive). Providing fresh by-product plus concentrate improves lamb performance but does not interfere in the carcass characteristics, compared with the use of by-product in the form of silage.

The objective was to evaluate the parameters of kinetics of ruminal fermentation of cocoa husks (CH) treated with alkali and thermal agents, using the semi-automated in vitro gas production technique. Cocoa husks samples were subjected to alkali and thermal methods (effect of time of exposure) treatment, as follows: control; alkaline treatment with calcium hydroxide ((Ca(OH) 2 ) and calcium oxide (CaO), both doses of 15.0; 30.0 and 45.0 g kg -1 of CH; heat treatment in an autoclave at a pressure of 1.23 kg cm -2 (15 psi) and a temperature of 123°C for 30, 60 and 90 minutes. For statistical analysis, orthogonal contrasts and regression. The degradation rate and the final volume of gases of non-fiber carbohydrates decreased with the addition of Ca(OH) 2 and CaO, however, for fibrous carbohydrates effects were positive. For each percentage of Ca(OH) 2 and CaO included, it is estimated an increase of 5.74 and 2.9% in the final volume of the fiber, respectively. When the heat treatment, a decrease in all parameters was estimated. For each minute of exposure to heat, there was a decrease of 0.4% in total final volume of gases. The alkali treatment can be an efficient alternative for improving the digestibility of fibrous fractions of CH. Key words: Alternative feed, chemical treatment, residue, ruminants ResumoObjetivou-se avaliar os parâmetros da cinética de fermentação ruminal da casca de cacau (CC) tratada com agentes alcalinos e térmicos, utilizando a técnica in vitro semi-automática de produção de gases. Amostras da CC foram submetidas aos métodos de tratamento alcalino e térmico (efeito do tempo de exposição), assim distribuídos: controle; tratamento alcalino com hidróxido de cálcio (Ca(OH) 2 ) e óxido de cálcio (CaO) com pressão de 1,23 kg cm -2 (15 psi) e temperatura de 123º C durante 30, 60 e 90 minutos. Para análise estatística, foram utilizados contrastes ortogonais e regressão. A taxa de degradação e o volume final dos gases dos carboidratos não fibrosos decresceram com a inclusão de Ca(OH) 2 e CaO, entretanto, para os carboidratos fibrosos os efeitos foram positivos. Para cada percentual de Ca(OH) 2 e CaO incluídos, estima-se um acréscimo de 5,74 e 2,9 % no volume final dos carboidratos fibrosos respectivamente. Quanto ao tratamento térmico, houve decréscimo em todos os parâmetros estimados. Para cada minuto de exposição ao calor, houve diminuição de 0,4% no volume final total dos gases. O tratamento alcalino pode ser uma alternativa eficaz para a melhoria da digestibilidade das frações fibrosas da CC.