The goal of this study was to assess the effects of increasing levels of soybean molasses (SM) on ruminal parameters of feedlot sheep. Nine crossbred ruminally-cannulated male sheep (73.3 ± 2.5 kg BW) were randomly distributed in a triple 3 × 3 Latin square design. The treatments consisted of isonitrogenous (18% CP) and isoenergetic (2.7 Mcal/kg) diets, containing 0, 15 or 30% SM (DM basis). After 14 d of adaptation period, rumen fluid samples were collected in each experimental period, at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 h after feeding, to evaluate ruminal pH, NH3-N and VFA concentrations. The pH was measured immediately after rumen fluid sampling, and NH3-N concentrations were determined with micro-Kjeldahl apparatus. The concentration of VFA was assessed by gas chromatography. Data were evaluated using the MIXED procedure of SAS, with repeated measures over time. Orthogonal contrasts were used to determine the linear and quadratic effects of SM inclusions, as well as the contrast Control × SM treatments. There was no interaction of time of sampling × treatment for all variables evaluated (P > 0.05). The inclusion of SM increased linearly (P = 0.02) the ruminal pH (5.92 to 5.21 – 0 and 30%, respectively), and decreased linearly (P = 0.006) the NH3-N concentration (32.19 to 21.78 mg/dL – 0 and 30%, respectively). The addition of SM did not alter most of VFA, with exception for valeric acid (quadratic, P = 0.05), with the higher value observed in 15% SM-fed animals (1.33 mMol/L). However, when the percentage of each VFA was evaluated, the inclusion of SM increased linearly the butyric acid (P = 0.05), from 14.1 to 16.9%. The results indicate that the inclusion of soybean molasses at up to 30% (DM basis) improves the ruminal fermentation of diets in feedlot crossbred sheep.

Soybean molasses (SBM) is a byproduct of the manufacture of soy protein concentrate and has high energy value. This byproduct has a high potential for use in the nutrition of ruminant animals, mainly in the replacement of other energy feeds such as corn grain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of SBM to replace corn grain up to 30% dry matter (DM) in the total diet on growth performance, feeding behavior, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of feedlot lambs (½ Santa Inês × ½ Dorper). Forty intact male lambs with an initial average body weight of 20.6 ± 2.5 kg and approximate age of 120 d were used. The animals were distributed in four treatments (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% SBM), divided into five randomized blocks according to the initial weight and adapted for 16 d, with diets containing increasing concentrations of concentrate and SBM. Feeding behavior was analyzed at the beginning, middle, and final of the finishing period, and when animals reached 42 d on the finishing diet they were slaughtered. Data were evaluated using SAS software (version 9.4), by polynomial orthogonal contrasts, where the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality values were analyzed as randomized blocks, and the feeding behavior data as randomized blocks with a repeated measure over time. Significant differences were detected for the contrast 0 vs. SBM treatments, which the inclusion of SBM caused an increase (P ≤ 0.05) in ash intake but decreased the ether extract intake. The intake of DM in % body weight was higher for SBM treatments than 0% treatment (P ≤ 0.05). Feeding behavior, ruminating while lying down and drinking water presented a decreasing linear effect (P ≤ 0.05), and for feeding, efficiency increased with the addition of SBM (P ≤ 0.05). Fatty acids C14:0, C17:0, C17:1, C18:2n6c, C20:2, and C20:3n6 showed lower values ​​with the inclusion of SBM (P ≤ 0.05), while fatty acids C22:0 and C22:6n3 increased. The values ​​of n6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and n-6/n-3 ratio were lower (P ≤ 0.05) for SBM treatments. The values ​​of total polyunsaturated fatty acids showed a decreasing linear effect (P ≤ 0.05) with the inclusion of SBM. The use of up to 30% SBM in DM did not impair animal growth performance and feeding behavior did not cause damages to carcass parameters and still made the meat healthier, improving the n-6/n-3 ratio, therefore can be used to feed finishing lambs.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing inclusion of soybean molasses (SM) in sheep diets on in vitro gas production, pH, N-NH3 and VFA. Three ruminally-cannulated adult sheep were used as donors of inoculum. The treatments consisted of diets containing 0, 10, 20 and 30% of SM (DM basis) with forage: concentrate ratio of 20:80. The experimental design was completely randomized with repeated measurements over time (2, 6, 12 and 24 hours). Flasks with a volume of 50 mL were used for incubation. Approximately, 0.2 g of sample, 10 mL of the inoculum and 20 mL of the McDougall buffer solution were added into the flasks. Each time consisted of 6 bottles per treatment and 2 bottles without sample (n = 104). Gas production was measured by a pressure transducer. Concentrations of N-NH3 was determined using micro-Kjeldhal apparatus, and VFA was determined by gas chromatography. The disappearance of DM was evaluated by filtration using nylon bags (50 μm porosity). The data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Orthogonal contrasts were used to determine the linear and quadratic effect of SM inclusion. Total concentration of VFA, pH and gas production per g disappeared (mL/g DM disappeared) had no significant effect (P > 0.05). Gas production per incubated g (mL/g DM incubated), disappearance of DM (%) showed increasing linear effect (P < 0.05), with values of 92.87 to 119.64 and 58.48 to 75.40 for 0 and 30% of SM, respectively. N-NH3 (mg/dL) presented a linear decreasing effect (P < 0.05), ranging from 19.27 to 16.95, for 0 and 30% of SM, respectively. The inclusion up to 30% of SM (DM basis) in sheep diets did not affect in vitro fermentation parameters and did not promote a difference in gas production per g disappeared when compared to other treatments.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of supplementation of low-moisture, sugarcane molasses-based block (LMB) on steers fed low quality forage in the excretion of purine derivatives and in the synthesis of ruminal microbial protein. Six rumen cannulated Nellore steers steers (23 months, 350 ± 10 kg) were distributed in a 3 × 3 double Latin square design. The treatments were composed of Brachiaria brizantha ‘Marandu’ hay ad libtum as an exclusive source of bulky (93.65% DM, 3.97% CP and 81.76% NDF) and supplements: complete mineral blend with urea [UR, (urea, salt, mineral-vitamin premix)], a commercial protein supplement [PS, (corn grain, soybean meal, urea, salt and mineral-vitamin premix)] or low-moisture, cooked sugarcane molasses-based protein block [LMB, (cane molasses, cottonseed meal, soybean oil, urea, salt and mineral-vitamin premix)]. Each experimental period lasted 21 days (14 days of adaptation and 7 days of data collection). The total urinary volume was measured for five days in each experimental period. The urine was collected in rubber funnels fixed by elastic loops on the backs of the animals. The urine was conduct through hoses connected to a 20 L polyethylene bucket containing 250 mL of 20% H2SO4 solution. Every 24 hours, the collected urine was homogenized and the total excreted volume was measured. The data were analyzed using Software R, having as fixed effect the treatments and as animal random effect, period, Latin square and error. Supplementation with LMB lead to greater excretion of allantoin (P = 0.046), microbial nitrogen flow (P = 0.023) and higher microbial crude protein (P = 0.023) into the intestine compared to UR and PS. While no effect was observed on total purines and purines absorbed (P > 0.05). Thus, LMB supplementation for rumen cannulated Nellore steers fed low quality forage was effective to improve metabolizable protein supply.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of increasing inclusion of WDG in diets for sheep on in vitro gas production, pH, N-NH3 and VFA. Three ruminally-cannulated adult male sheep were used as donors of inoculum. Treatments consisted of diets containing 0, 15, 30 and 45% WDG inclusion on dry matter basis with forage: concentrate ratio of 20:80. The experimental design was completely randomized with repeated measurements over time (3, 6, 12 and 24 hours). Flasks with a volume of 50 mL were used for incubation. Approximately 0.2 g of sample, 10 mL of inoculum and 20 mL of McDougall buffer solution were added into the flasks. Each time consisted of 7 flasks per treatment and 2 flasks without sample (n = 120). Gas production was measured using a pressure transducer. Concentration of N-NH3 was determined using micro-Kjeldhal apparatus and VFA was determined by gas chromatography. The data were analyzed using MIXED procedure of SAS. Orthogonal contrasts were used to determine the linear and quadratic effect of WDG inclusion. Increasing linear effect was observed for pH (P < 0.05) when WDG was included, with a lower value for 0% WDG (6.90). For N-NH3 and gas production, a linear decreasing effect (P < 0.05) was observed, ranging from 12.60 to 8.45 mg/dL and 93.47 to 58.40 mL/g incubated for 0 and 45% WDG, respectively. The total concentration of VFA did not present a significant effect. Butiric acid showed a linear effect (P < 0.05) ranging from 9.50 to 8.69 mM/L for 0 and 45% WDG, respectively. The acetic acid had a quadratic effect (P < 0.05), ranging from 52.92 to 58.59 mM/L for 15 and 45% WDG, respectively. The results indicate that the inclusion of up to 45% WDG in feedlot sheep diets promoted lower in vitro fermentation without altering the total VFA concentration.