This is a draft schedule. Presentation dates, times and locations may be subject to change.

600
Performance and Carcass Traits of Feedlot Murrah Buffalos Fed with Forage Palm Associated at Cottonseed Replacing High Concentrate Diets

Monday, July 10, 2017
Exhibit Hall (Baltimore Convention Center)
Valdi Lima Lima Junior, UFRN, NATAL, Brazil
Fabrício Brandão Pereira, University Federal of Piauí, Bom Jesus, CA, Brazil
Joseane Nunes Batista, University Campina Grande, Patos, Brazil
Leilson Rocha Bezerra, University Federal of Piauí, Bom Jesus, Brazil
Viviany Lúcia F Santos, University Federal of Piauí, Bom Jesus, Brazil
Francisco Flávio da Silva Filho, UFRN, NATAL, Brazil
Lucas Dias do Nascimento Ferreira, UFRN, NATAL, Brazil
Wadleighn alves Saraiva, UFRN, NATAL, Brazil
Ronaldo Lopes Oliveira, UFBA, SALVADOR, Brazil
Ricardo Loiola Edvan, University Federal of Piauí, BOM JESUS, Brazil
Marcos Jácome de Araújo, University Federal of Piauí, BOM JESUS, Brazil
Aderbal Marcos de Azevedo Silva, University Campina Grande, PATOS, Brazil
The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and carcass traits from Murrah buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) fed with different levels of cactus pear + cottonseed completely replacing high concentrate diets. The research was approved by Ethics Committee on Animal Experiment from Protocol No. 210/16. Twenty-four Murrah buffalos male, uncastrated with age between 8 and 10 months and body weight 300 ± 14.1 kg (mean ± SD) were identified. The treatments consisted with four levels of cactus pear + cottonseed (0, 33, 66 and 100% in total DM) replacing completely high concentrate diets. The animals were fed with total mixed rate containing soybean meal, corn grain, and cactus pear and cottonseed to meet the nutritional requirements according to National Research Council (NRC, 1996) to average daily weight gain of 100 g/day. The diets were offered ad libitum, individually in two equal portions daily (08:00 and 16:00). During 125 days, Murrah buffalo performance growth was evaluated and the animals were fasted for 16 hours, then weighed and sent to slaughter and determination of the qualitative characteristics of the carcasses. Data were submitted to linear and quadratic polynomial contrasts using PROC REG procedures implemented in the SAS® statistical software (version 9.1.2, Cary, NC, USA). Differences were considered at P < 0.05. There was a quadratic increment (P <0.001) of the dry matter intake with different levels of cactus pear + cottonseed replacing high concentrate diets. The substitution of high concentrate diets by cactus pear + cottonseed reduced linearly the final body weight (P <0.001), total weight gain (P <0.001), average daily weight gain (P < 0.001), cold carcass weight and yield (P <0.001), hot carcass weight and yield (P <0.001), cold carcass weight and yield (P <0.001). There was effect of completely replacing high concentrate diets cactus pear + cottonseed on cooling losses (P = 0.821) of buffalos meat. The use of cactus pear associated at cotton seed replacing to high concentrate diets is not recommended because decrease performance and carcass traits of Murrah buffalos in feedlot.