-The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with nitrogenous compounds on intake, digestibility, and rumen microbial synthesis in cattle fed low-quality tropical forage. Five crossbred heifers, averaging 209 kg and fitted with ruminal fistulla, were used. The animals were fed ad libitum with signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.) hay, which had crude protein (CP) content of 5.08%, as dry matter (DM) basis. The five treatments were defined according to the increasing level of CP in the diet (0, 3, 5, 7, and 9 percentile points above the forage CP level). The supplement consisted of the following nitrogen sources: urea, ammonium sulfate and albumin (4.5:0.5:1.0, respectively). The experiment was carried out according to a 5 × 5 Latin square design, with five experimental periods. The average CP levels in the diets were: 5. 28, 8.08, 9.82, 11.87, and 13.63% on DM basis. The intakes of DM, organic matter (OM), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) showed a quadratic response according to CP levels in the diet, with maximum responses at 10.83%, 10.78%, and 10.37% CP, respectively. The digestibility coefficients of OM and NDF showed a linear-response-plateau response according to CP levels, with the plateau beginning (maximum response) at 7.93% and 7.55% CP, respectively. The average daily concentration of rumen ammonia nitrogen (RAN) was positively related with CP levels. The RAN estimate associated with the maximum DM intake was 15.33 mg/dL. It was observed that intestinal flow of microbial nitrogenous compounds and nitrogen intake became equivalent to each other at 7.13% of CP. 8,08; 9,82; 11,87 e 13,63%, com base na matéria seca (MS). Verificou-se efeito quadrático dos níveis de PB na dieta sobre os consumos de MS, matéria orgânica (MO) e fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) (kg/dia), com respostas máximas nos níveis de 10,83%, 10,78% e 10,37% de PB, respectivamente.

Twenty-four beef steers (predominantly Angus x Hereford, 14 to 18 mo of age, 403 +/- 3 kg of BW), were housed and fed in individual pens for about 122 d. Twelve steers came from a herd that had been selected for growth (high growth; HG) and the other 12 from a herd with no selection program (low growth; LG). Another 6 steers (3 from each group) were slaughtered at the beginning to obtain the initial composition. All steers were fed the same corn-based diet (3.06 Mcal of ME/kg of DM, 13.6% CP) on an ad libitum basis. Two weeks before slaughter, total urine was collected for 5 d for estimation of 3-methylhistidine excretion and myofibrillar protein breakdown rates. Compared with LG steers, HG steers had less initial BW but greater final BW, DMI (7.52 vs. 6.37 kg/d), ADG (1.33 vs. 0.853 kg/d), G:F (0.176 vs. 0.133 kg/kg), ME intake (0.233 vs. 0.201 Mcal x kg of BW(0.75) x d(-1)), and retained energy (RE; 0.0711 vs. 0.0558 Mcal x kg of BW(0.75) x d(-1)); gained more fat (676 vs. 475 g/d); and tended to gain more whole body protein (100 vs. 72 g/d), with no difference in residual feed intake (RFI). Estimated net energetic efficiency of gain (k(g)) and ME for maintenance (ME(m)) did not differ between the 2 groups, averaging 0.62 and 0.114, respectively. The HG steers had greater HCW (350 vs. 329 kg), backfat (16.1 vs. 11.6 mm), and yield grades (3.53 vs. 2.80), with a similar dressing percent, KPH fat, LM area, and marbling score. Skeletal muscle protein gain (70.2 vs. 57.6 g/d) and fractional protein accretion rate (0.242 vs. 0.197%/d) tended to be greater in HG than in LG steers. Steers were classified into low (-0.367 kg/d) and high (0.380 kg/d) RFI classes. Compared with the high RFI steers, low RFI steers consumed less DM (6.61 vs. 7.52 kg/d) and ME (0.206 vs. 0.234 Mcal x kg of BW(0.75) x d(-1)) and tended to gain less fat (494 vs. 719 g/d), but were similar for initial and final BW, ADG, G:F, protein gain, HCW, dressing percent, backfat, KPH fat, LM area, marbling score, and yield grade, as well as for all observations related to myofibrillar protein metabolism. Residual feed intake may be positively [corrected] correlated with ME for maintenance. The maintenance energy requirement increased by 0.0166 Mcal x kg(-0.75) x d(-1) for each percentage increase in fractional protein degradation rate, confirming the importance of this process in the energy economy of the animal.

Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de níveis de inclusão de glicerina bruta (GB), contendo 36,20% de glicerol, na dieta de cordeiros em terminação, sobre o consumo, digestibilidade dos componentes da dieta e desempenho produtivo e econômico. Utilizaram-se 35 cordeiros machos não castrados da raça Santa Inês, com peso médio inicial de 20±2,27 kg, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos e seis repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de níveis de inclusão da GB na dieta (0, 3, 6, 9 e 12% da matéria seca), em substituição ao milho. Após 10 dias de adaptação, cinco animais foram abatidos para se obter o rendimento de carcaça inicial. Após o período de adaptação, os 30 animais restantes foram alojados em baias individuais. Quando o grupo atingiu o peso médio de 35 kg, os animais foram abatidos. Houve efeito linear decrescente dos níveis de GB sobre o consumo de MS e ganho médio diário de peso, e efeito quadrático sobre o coeficiente de digestibilidade da fibra em detergente neutro corrigida para cinzas e proteínas. Houve efeito quadrático também sobre o peso corporal final dos animais e conversão alimentar (CA). A GB contendo 36,20% de glicerol pode ser incluída na dieta de cordeiros em terminação em até 6% da MS da dieta, com otimização da CA e aumento dos benefícios econômicos.Termos para indexação: biodiesel, coprodutos, desempenho, glicerol, ovinos, ruminantes. Crude glycerin on finishing lamb dietsAbstract -The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of crude glycerin (CG) inclusion, with 36.20% of glicerol, on finishing lamb diets on intake, nutrients digestibility, and productive and economical performance. Thirty-five intact male lambs (Santa Inês), with 20±2.27 kg of initial average body weight were randomly assigned to five treatments, with six replicates. The treatments consisted of increasing crude glycerin levels on the diet: 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12% of diet dry matter. After ten days of adaptation, five animals were slaughtered to determine initial carcass dressing. After the adaptation period, 30 animals were housed in individual pens. When the group reached average body weight of 35 kg, animals were slaughtered. The CG levels had a negative linear effect on dry matter intake and average daily weight gain, and a quadratic effect on neutral fiber detergent digestibility corrected for ash and protein. Crude glycerin levels had also a quadratic effect on body weight at slaughter and feed-to-gain ratio (FGR). Crude glycerin with 36.20% of glycerol can be included in the diet of finishing lambs up to 6% of dry matter, optimizing the FGR and promoting economic benefits.Index terms: biodiesel, co-products, performance, glycerol, sheep, ruminants. IntroduçãoA terminação de cordeiros em confinamento é uma prática que tem despertado o interesse de produtores, por possibilitar a redução das perdas de animais jovens decorrente de deficiências nutricionais e infestações parasitárias. Além disso, essa prática permite a regularidade de oferta da carne dura...

RESUMO -Nellore animals were slaughtered at 519 and 482 kg, respectively. The subcutaneous fat thickness (FT) and longissimus muscle area (LMA) were measured between 12th and 13th ribs. Higher carcass yield of the Nellore breed was observed (57.7 vs 54.7%).However, there was no difference for weight of hot and cold carcass between the groups. Red Norte animals showed greater LMA, and hindquarter and spare ribs with higher weight and yield, and forequarter with lower weight and yielding. The Red Norte genetic group showed higher weight for cap and rump and striploin, while Nellore showed higher weight for shoulder and flatround. Nellore animals had better carcass yield, which contributes to hot carcass weight. Nevertheless, the group Red Norte have higher hindquarter yield and more weight from cuts of highest commercial value.Key Words: longissimus muscle area, slaughter, slaughterhouse freezer IntroduçãoA pecuária brasileira é baseada na rusticidade e fertilidade das raças zebuínas e ainda apresenta médias zootécnicas baixas para os padrões atuais. O aumento da competitividade com outras fontes de proteína animal, bem como outros mercados concorrentes, e a possibilidade de o Brasil se consolidar ainda mais no mercado mundial de carne bovina tem requerido da atividade pecuária de corte a oferta de produto de qualidade de maneira contínua durante todo o ano (Resende et al., 2010). Um dos grandes desafios da cadeia produtiva da carne bovina é produzir carne que atenda às expectativas dos diversos mercados consumidores, cujo grau de exigência tem se elevado de