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ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of spineless cactus (Opuntia stricta Haw) in the diet of sheep on the balance of macrominerals, renal function, and blood metabolites. Five sheep cannulated in the rumen (61.5±9.5kg body weight) were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square composed of five diets and five experimental periods. The experimental period lasted 105 days, with five periods of 21 days each. Four diets containing levels of spineless cactus (121, 245, 371, and 500g/kg of dry matter (DM)), and a control diet were evaluated. Samples of the ingredients, orts, feces, urine, and blood were collected. Spineless cactus inclusion in sheep diets increased the DM intake, ash, oxalate, and all macrominerals intake (P < 0.05), but did not affect the urinary and fecal excretion of P, as well as the concentration of P in the blood (P > 0.05). It is possible to verify that the inclusion of spineless cactus, up to the level of 500g/kg of DM in the sheep diets, does not appear to cause damage to the animal’s health. Its inclusion does not compromise kidney function or blood metabolites evaluated herein.

ABSTRACT The objective was to evaluate the effect of water salinity and environmental temperature on the nutrient consumption, digestibility, nitrogen balance, and mineral excretion of creole goats. Thirty-six males with an average age of 5.0±0.6 months and an average weight of 20.0±2.3kg were housed in metabolic cages. They are distributed in a completely randomized design, with a 2×3 type crossover (2 temperatures (T1 = 26±0.6ºC and T2 = 32±1.2ºC) and three levels of salinity (1.0, 6.0, and 12.0 dS m-1). The temperature influenced (P0.05) of temperatures or water salinity levels; the animals consumed and retained averages of 10.31 and 4.19 g day-1 of nitrogen in the body, respectively. The different water salinity levels influenced (P

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of replacing corn with high-tannin sorghum grain in the diet of steers on ruminal degradation of dry matter and fibrous fraction. Four rumen-fistulated cattle with a mean body weight of 519 ± 31 kg were used in this study. These animals were divided into groups using a 4 ´ 4 Latin square experimental design. Animals received four different diets in which increasing levels of ground corn were replaced with high-tannin sorghum grain in the proportions of 0%, 33%, 67% and 100% in the concentrate. Dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were measured by in situ incubation of sorghum grain samples. Rumen residue was analysed for DM and NDF disappearance at incubation times of 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 and 144 h. A quadratic behavior was observed in the fraction “c” of the DM and soluble fraction "a" of the NDF of the sorghum grain in function of the replacement levels of corn for high-grain tannin sorghum. Rumen DM and NDF degradability of sorghum grains with high tannin content up to 144 h showed an increasing behavior for all levels of inclusion of sorghum in the diet. The replacement level 67 showed the maximum DM and fibrous fraction disappearance of sorghum grain up to 144 h of incubation. Sorghum grain achieved maximum ruminal dry matter degradation and the fibrous fraction at the 67% replacement level of ground corn by high-tannin sorghum grain in the diet of steers.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of replacing corn with high-tannin sorghum grain in the diet of steers on ruminal degradation of dry matter and fibrous fraction. Four rumen-fistulated cattle with a mean body weight of 519 ± 31 kg were used in this study. These animals were divided into groups using a 4 ´ 4 Latin square experimental design. Animals received four different diets in which increasing levels of ground corn were replaced with high-tannin sorghum grain in the proportions of 0%, 33%, 67% and 100% in the concentrate. Dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were measured by in situ incubation of sorghum grain samples. Rumen residue was analysed for DM and NDF disappearance at incubation times of 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 and 144 h. A quadratic behavior was observed in the fraction “c” of the DM and soluble fraction "a" of the NDF of the sorghum grain in function of the replacement levels of corn for high-grain tannin sorghum. Rumen DM and NDF degradability of sorghum grains with high tannin content up to 144 h showed an increasing behavior for all levels of inclusion of sorghum in the diet. The replacement level 67 showed the maximum DM and fibrous fraction disappearance of sorghum grain up to 144 h of incubation. Sorghum grain achieved maximum ruminal dry matter degradation and the fibrous fraction at the 67% replacement level of ground corn by high-tannin sorghum grain in the diet of steers.