New citrus by-products in ruminant nutrition

• Grant number: 23/03502-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Evandro Maia Ferreira
• Grantee: Evandro Maia Ferreira
• Host Investigator: Simon Quigley
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Central Queensland University (CQU), Australia

Abstract

The goal with this proposal is to obtain a Research Grant Abroad (BPE) for the development of scientific activities under the supervision of Dr. Simon Quigley at the Institute for Future Farming Systems, Central Queensland University, Australia. Doctor Simon is a distinguished researcher in ruminant nutrition (sheep, goats, and cattle) in Australia. During the period abroad, the objective will be to learn about new research methods, analyze and discuss data from five experiments carried out in the laboratory under my responsibility in the Department of Animal Science at ESALQ/USP, carry out two experiments entirely in Australia, write scientific articles and prospect research opportunities to be developed in partnership with the Dr. Simon. This proposal includes 7 experiments to evaluate the use of by-products from the citrus industry as an energy ingredient in diets for ruminants (sheep and cattle). The field part of the first five experiments will be carried out in Brazil and the last two experiments will be carried out in Australia. In experiment 1, lactating ewes fed diets containing orange molasses replacing corn will be used to evaluate the effects on milk production and composition. In experiment 2, the effects of partial replacement of corn with orange molasses on nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation characteristics of lambs will be evaluated. In experiments 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 orange essential oil (source of D-limonene) will be evaluated as a feed additive. Experiments 3 (performance) and 4 (metabolism) will be with lambs, experiment 5 will be with cattle and experiments 6 and 7 will be in vitro in order to define the effects of orange essential oil on enteric methane production and dry matter digestibility in two dietary situations commonly used in ruminant production systems in Brazil and Australia, the production in confinement (diets with high concentrate content) and on pasture (diet based on native Australian pasture (Heteropogon contortus)). (AU)