title: Milk production, intake, digestion, blood parameters, and ingestive behavior of cows supplemented with by-products from the biodiesel industry.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the intake, digestion, blood parameters, and feeding behavior of crossbred dairy cows (Holstein × Gir) managed on Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzania-1 and provided supplementation with groundnut cake, sunflower cake, or palm kernel cake (to replace soybean meal). Sixteen cows were randomly assigned in a Latin square design with four treatments and four experimental periods. The consumption of nutrients from the pasture did not vary between experimental treatments. Cows receiving the palm kernel cake supplement had a reduced crude protein, non-fibrous carbohydrate, and total digestible nutrient intake and an increase in the average consumption of ether extract. There was also a reduction in the digestibility of dry matter. The inclusion of supplements in the diet did not influence the average time spent eating, ruminating, or resting. The mean values of respiratory and heart rates showed thermal comfort during the trial period. There was a reduction in blood urea nitrogen with palm kernel cake supplementation, and the values of total protein, albumin, and glucose were also significantly different with this supplement. It is recommended that cakes of groundnut cake and sunflower cake seed be used for a total replacement of soybean meal supplements for lactating cows, but the use of palm kernel cake is not recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zootecnia, Federal University of Paraíba, Areia, Paraíba, Brazil, gonzaga@cca.ufpb.br.
authors.forename: Severino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gonzaga Neto
authors.forename: Ronaldo Lopes
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Francisco Helton Sá
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.forename: Ariosvaldo Nunes
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: de Medeiros
authors.forename: Leilson Rocha
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Bezerra
authors.forename: Júlio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Viégas
authors.forename: Nilton Guedes
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: do Nascimento
authors.forename: Marcondes Dias
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: de Freitas Neto
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D056804:Biofuels; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D001947:Breeding; D002417:Cattle; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D004063:Digestion; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006813:Humidity; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D013025:Glycine max; D013636:Tanzania; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels