Claudete Maria da Silva’s research while affiliated with State University of Vale do Acaraú and other places

RESUMO. A fibra representa um componente indispensável e um dos principais itens da dieta de ruminantes, que dependendo de suas características físicas e químicas pode interferir diretamente na fisiologia digestiva do rúmen. Na prática, a fibra no balanceamento das rações recebe termos diferenciados, de acordo com suas características de solubilidade e degradação. Dentre esses termos, inclui FB (fibra bruta), FDN (fibra em detergente neutro) e FDA (fibra em detergente ácido), sendo a FDN mais relacionado aos carboidratos estruturais (celulose, hemicelulose e pectinas), o qual é mais utilizado por interferir no aproveitamento da dieta pelo animal, em que sua quantidade pode estimular ou inibir o consumo de alimento pelos ruminantes. Com base nas características físicas da FDN surgiram dois conceitos: FDN fisicamente efetiva (peFDN) relacionada ao tamanho da partícula e FDN efetiva (eFDN) relacionada a capacidade do alimento em manter o percentual de gordura do leite. O termo FDA refere-se a celulose, lignina, sílica e proteína, sendo utilizada para quantificar a hemicelulose por diferença da FDN. A fibra estimula a mastigação, serve como substrato aos microrganismos, contribui para manutenção dos padrões fermentativos e estabilidade do ambiente ruminal. Assim, a fibra na dieta de ruminantes quando não disponibilizada em quantidade e qualidade aos animais, pode comprometer o desempenho e interferir nas características dos seus produtos finais, além de causar distúrbios no metabolismo energético dos animais. Palavras chave: Digestibilidade, metabolismo energético, produção animal Fiber ruminants: Nutritional, methodological and functional aspect ABSTRACT. The fiber is an essential component and one of the main items in diet of ruminants, and their physical and chemical characteristics can directly affect the digestive physiology in the rumen. In the practice, the fiber in the balance of diets given different terms, according with their solubility and degradation characteristics. These terms, including FB (crude fiber), NDF (neutral detergent fiber) and ADF (acid detergent fiber), NDF being more related to structural carbohydrates (cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin), which is more used to interfere in the diet utilization by animal, their quantity can stimulate or inhibit food intake by ruminants. Based on the physical characteristics of NDF two new concepts were developed: physically effective NDF (peFDN) related to particle size and effective NDF (eFDN) related with the ability of food in maintained the percentage of fat in milk. The FDA refers to cellulose, lignin, silica and protein, and is used to estimated the hemicellulose by subtraction of ADF from NDF. The fiber stimulates chewing, serves as substrate for microorganisms, contribute to maintenance of the fermentative standards and rumen ambient stability. Thus, the fiber in diet of ruminants when not available in quantity and quality at animals may compromise the

The fiber is an essential component and one of the main items in diet of ruminants, and their physical and chemical characteristics can directly affect the digestive physiology in the rumen. In the practice, the fiber in the balance of diets given different terms, according with their solubility and degradation characteristics. These terms, including FB (crude fiber), NDF (neutral detergent fiber) and ADF (acid detergent fiber), NDF being more related to structural carbohydrates (cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin), which is more used to interfere in the diet utilization by animal, their quantity can stimulate or inhibit food intake by ruminants. Based on the physical characteristics of NDF two new concepts were developed: physically effective NDF (peFDN) related to particle size and effective NDF (eFDN) related with the ability of food in maintained the percentage of fat in milk. The FDA refers to cellulose, lignin, silica and protein, and is used to estimated the hemicellulose by subtraction of ADF from NDF. The fiber stimulates chewing, serves as substrate for microorganisms, contribute to maintenance of the fermentative standards and rumen ambient stability. Thus, the fiber in diet of ruminants when not available in quantity and quality at animals may compromise the performance and interfere in the final products characteristics, yonder cause disturbances in the energy metabolism of animals.

The aim of this study was to evaluate performance and economic viability of producing sheep fed different levels of roughage, concentrate, and water. Forty Santa Inês crossbred sheep with an average initial weight of 18.85 ± 2.80 kg and an average age of 5.0 ± 2.0 months were distributed in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement composed of two proportions of roughage and concentrate (30:70 and 70:30) and two levels of water supply (ad libitum, and 50% restriction), with 10 replicates. Water restriction had a negative effect (P0.05) feed conversion or feed conversion. Total weight gain, average daily gain, feed conversion, and feed efficiency were influenced by the proportions of roughage and concentrate. In conclusion, the diet with 70% roughage, associated with a water restriction of 50%, reduced the uptake of energy and protein, compromising the animal performance. The combination of the diet plus concentrate and water restricted to 50% of the free consumption provides a better cost-benefit ratio.

The objective of this study was to analyze the behavior of three genetic groups of confined goats by image monitoring using nine unneutered goats of the Azul, Grauna and Moxot genotypes. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement (genetic groups x periods - morning, afternoon and night), with three replications. Animals were monitored by video cameras placed at the ceiling of each stall for 10 days. There were interaction factors in the frequency of behavioral categories: interaction with the trough, self-cleaning, standing bipedally, social interaction, and other activities. Azul, Grauna and Moxot native goats kept in the same environment under the same system of containment and feeding show different frequencies and durations in their behaviors, which are influenced by the period of the day.

Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar o efeito das estações chuvosa e seca no desempenho produtivo e na qualidade dos ovos de codorna no semiárido paraibano. Utilizaram-se 2.400 codornas das linhagens japonesa (Coturnix coturnix japonica) e europeia (Coturnix coturnix coturnix), com 60 dias de idade no início e 150 dias ao final. Utilizou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, esquema fatorial 2 x 2 x 3 correspondendo às duas linhagens, duas estações e três meses, com 12 repetições. Mensurou-se a temperatura ambiente, umidade relativa do ar, velocidade do vento, carga térmica radiante e o índice de temperatura de globo negro e umidade, durante 24 h por dia e se avaliaram o consumo de ração, produção de ovos, conversão alimentar por massa e por dúzia de ovos. Para qualificação do ovo foram mensuradas as variáveis: peso do ovo, peso do albúmen, peso da gema, peso da casca e espessura da casca. O desempenho produtivo das aves foi melhor na estação chuvosa quando foram registrados os melhores índices de conforto térmico e as aves da linhagem japonesa foram mais eficientes quanto às características quantitativas dos ovos do que a europeia.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of wet and dry seasons in productive performance and egg quality of quails in semiarid region of Paraiba State. 2,400 quails of Japanese lineage (Coturnix coturnix japonica) and European lineage (Coturnix coturnix coturnix), were used with 60 days (age) at the beginning and 150 days at the end. A completely randomized factorial 2 x 2 x 3 design was used corresponding to the two lines, two seasons and three months, with 12 replications. Environmental temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, radiant heat load and index of black globe temperature and humidity were measured for 24 h per day. The feed intake, egg production, feed conversion and weight per dozen eggs were evaluated. Egg weight, egg white weight, yolk weight, weight and thickness of the shell were measured to qualify egg variables. The production performance was better in the rainy season, which recorded the best thermal comfort indices and the birds of the Japanese lineage were more efficient than the European lineage as for the egg's quantitative characteristics.

Resumo A criação de espécies nativas de abelhas, também conhecidas como abelhas sem ferrão, têm despertado interesse geral na área, em função da facilidade de manejo e da qualidade dos produtos. No entanto, pouco se sabe sobre sua produção e sua biologia e por isto o presente trabalho acompanhou o desenvolvimento de colmeias de Melipona scutellaris, avaliando os seus parâmetros produtivos em ambiente de criação. Como o crescimento de uma colmeia tem como parâmetro o armazenamento de alimento, e como no caso da abelha M. scutellaris este armazenamento é feito em potes construídos com cera, foram feitas contagens dos potes nas colmeias classifi cando-os como: potes abertos, potes fechados e potes vazios, separando-os de acordo com o conteúdo (mel ou pólen). Foram medidas as suas dimensões e anotadas para posterior avaliação dos dados. Com os resultados pôde-se averiguar que as colmeias apresentam quantidades de potes diferentes, variando em função do número de indivíduos que colaboram para este fator. Confirmou-se que, quando o alimento é escasso no pasto apícola, as abelhas usam o alimento armazenado nos potes, em função da diminuição de matéria-prima na entressafra.

Stingless beekeeping has drawn the general attention of beekeepers because of the easy management and the quality of products. Nevertheless, little is known about their production and biology. The present study evaluated the development of Melipona scutellaris hives, considering the production parameters in a beekeeping environment. The growth parameter of hives is food storage. In the case of M. scutellaris, storage is made inside beeswax pots. Therefore, beeswax pots in the hives were classified and counted as nectar pots, pollen pots, open pots, closed pots and empty pots. Hive dimensions were also taken and evaluated. The results indicated that hives show different amounts of pots that vary as a function of the number of individuals in the hive. It was confirmed that the availability of food resources determines the utilization of food storage, i.e., if there is resource limitation and foraging is compromised, bees utilize the food that is stored inside the pots.