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This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of coconut fruit pulp by-product (CPB) on the intake, apparent digestibility, nitrogen balance, and ruminal parameters of sheep. Five intact, male, non-descript lambs with a mean initial body weight of 25.5 ± 1.68 kg were assigned to a Latin square design (5 × 5) of five treatments consisting of CPB inclusion levels, in five proportions of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% dry matter (DM), in diets consisting of sugarcane bagasse as forage, with corn and soybean meal. Each period lasted 15 days for adaptation followed by 6 days for data collection. The inclusion of CPB linearly decreased (P 0.05) the intake of DM, crude protein, non-fibre carbohydrates, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), and DM digestibility. The inclusion of CPB linearly increased (P 0.05) the ether extract digestibility, but did not influence (P 0.05) the NDF digestibility. There was a linear reduction (P 0.05) in the absorbed nitrogen (N) and retained N (g/day); however, a quadratic increase (P 0.05) for N absorbed (% consumed) as well as ammonia nitrogen was observed. There was a quadratic increase (P 0.05) for propionate (mMol/L and %) and the ratio of acetate, propionate and butyrate (mMol/L and %) with the inclusion of CPB in the diet. Based on these findings, it was recommended to incorporate CPB up to the level of 5% in the diet of sheep.

This research evaluated the effects of biscuit bran and cashew nut bran as energy source and additional energy level on intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, energy partitioning, N balance, and blood parameters on ewes. Twenty Morada Nova cull ewes breed (average age of 3 years old and initial body weight of 30.1 ± 3.56 kg) were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme of two energy sources (biscuit bran vs. cashew nut bran) and two levels of energy above 10% and 25% of the recommended energy requirements. The inclusion of cashew nut bran above 10% of the recommended energy promoted a lower crude protein (CP) and ethereal extract intake (P 0.01) than cashew nut bran above 25% of the recommended energy. The interaction between energy source × energy level did not affect digestibility and energy partition on ewes (P 0.05). The diet containing cashew nut bran above 10% of the recommended energy presented lower metabolizable energy intake and energy balance (P 0.05). Regarding N balance, the cashew nut bran diet above 10% of the recommended energy decreased N

The objective of this research was to estimate the energy and protein requirements for maintenance and growth in male (castrated and intact) and female Saanen goat kids between 15 and 30 kg BW. To determine the net energy requirements for maintenance (NEm ) and the net protein requirements for maintenance (NPm ), 75 goats (25 castrated and 26 intact males and 24 females) were used. Twenty-one goats (seven castrated and eight intact males and six females) were randomly assigned for slaughter to estimate the initial empty body composition. The 54 remaining animals (18 castrated and 18 intact males and 18 females) were randomly assigned in a split-plot design using a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement with three sexes and three levels of intake (ad libitum and restricted feed to 75% or 50% of the ad libitum intake). Within each sex, six blocks (three goats per block) were formed and one goat was randomly assigned to each level of intake. The 75% and the 50% of ad libitum rationing were determined daily, based on the DMI of the animal fed ad libitum on the previous day. All animals within block were slaughtered when the animal fed ad libitum reached 30 kg BW. The net energy requirements for gain (NEg ) and the net protein requirements for gain (NPg ) were obtained using 58 animals (20 castrated and 20 intact males and 18 females). The animals were fed ad libitum and slaughtered at targeted BW (15, 23 or 30 kg). Sex did not affect NEg and NPm (277.8 kJ/kg0.75 BW day and 2.98 g CP/kg0.75 BW day respectively), as well as NPg (180.9 ± 6.48 g/kg EBW gain) in Saanen goat kids. However, castrated males and females had similar NEg (varied from 12.6 ± 0.424 to 17.9 ± 1.38 MJ/kg EBW gain), greater than intact males (varied from 9.74 ± 0.420 to 10.7 ± 0.984 MJ/kg EBW gain), as the BW increased from 15 to 30 kg.

Accurate values for energy requirements are necessary for the proper feeding management of goats. The aim of this study was to estimate the energy requirements for maintenance and growth of Caninde goat kids. We used 33 castrated goat kids with an average initial weight of 15.62 ± 0.87 kg. Five of them (baseline) were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment to determine the initial body composition. The other goats (n = 28) were assigned in a randomized block design into seven groups of four animals each. The diet consisted of 55% forage (Tifton) and 45% concentrate. The treatments consisted of four levels of intake: ad libitum and 80%, 60% and 40% of the ad libitum intake. Each group was slaughtered when the animal from the ad libitum level reached 26.55 ± 0.65 kg. We used the comparative slaughter method to assess body composition and calculate the nutritional requirements. Body composition varied from 177.43 to 166.98 g of protein, from 127.92 to 193.46 g of fat and from 2.15 to 2.69 Mcal of energy per kg of empty body weight (EBW). The ratio of empty body weight/body weight was 0.81. The net energy requirements for maintenance were estimated at 52.64 kcal/kg EBW0.75. The net requirements to gain ranged from 2.96 to 4.84 Mcal/kg EBW gain for the castrated indigenous goat kids weighing between 15 kg and 25 kg. The energy requirements to maintenance of indigenous goat kids are lower, which might indicate different adaptive capabilities, but these goats require more energy to gain and to accumulate fat in their body.