Injection anaesthesia with a combination of ketamine and azaperone (K/A) is discussed as a painless alternative to commonly used non-anaesthetized castration. To protect anaesthetized piglets from being crushed, they have to be separated from the sow for 3 h following castration. The aim of this study was to test if this separation and the different treatments would affect short-term behaviour after castration (3 to 6 h after castration) as well as weight gain. Piglets were 5 to 7 days old. Treatment Group 1 received a combination of anaesthesia and analgesia (n = 29, ketamine: 25 mg/kg BW; azaperone: 2 mg/kg BW; meloxicam: 0.4 mg/kg BW), Group 2 received only analgesia (n = 24) and Group 3 received no medication (n = 29). Behaviour and suckling order were compared for a 3 h period the day before castration and after castration. A significantly higher number of teats used by anaesthetized piglets (P = 0.004) suggests a decrease in suckling order stability. There were significant treatment effects between all three groups in the time spent at the sow's teat, with an increase in Group 2 (+69%), decrease in Group 1 (−28%), whereas the control Group 3 (+2%) almost remained unchanged. The anaesthetized piglets showed an increase in the time spent active away from the sow after castration of almost 200% (Groups 2 and 3: ∼50%, P < 0.001). However, no significant treatment effect was seen for weight gain. The results suggest that analgesia has an effect on behaviour, perhaps due to less post-castration pain. This advantage is not apparent for animals receiving additional anaesthesia, probably because of impaired coordination. Although the behavioural changes did not affect weight gain significantly, a decrease in suckling order stability indicates a certain degree of stress due to fighting over teat positions as a consequence of separation. Thus, post-castration behaviour must be taken into account when evaluating alternative castration methods.

This study aims to investigate the relative contribution of ante- and post-mortem factors to the final quality of beef. In all, 112 steers (four breed-crosses) were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experimental including production system, growth implant and β-adrenergic agonist strategies. Carcasses were suspended by the Achilles tendon or the aitch bone and meat was aged for 2/6/13/21/27 days (longissimus muscle) or 2/27 days (semimembranosus muscle). Meat quality traits related to beef texture were measured. Statistical analyses were developed including ante- and post-mortem factors and their relative contribution to the variability observed for each measured trait was calculated. The main factor responsible for the variability in sarcomere length was the suspension method (91.1%), which also influenced drip-loss (44.3%). Increasing the percentage of British breeds increased (P < 0.05) the intramuscular fat content in longissimus muscle, but only when implants were not used. Thus, the breed-cross, implant strategy and their interaction were responsible for >58% of the variability in this trait. The variability in instrumental and sensory tenderness was mainly affected by post-mortem factors (carcass suspension, ageing time and their interaction), explaining generally ∼70% of the variability in these traits. Breed-cross was the second most important effect (∼15%) when carcass suspension was not considered in the model, but still ageing time was responsible for a much larger proportion of the variability in tenderness (>45%). In conclusion, post-mortem handling of the carcasses may be much more effective in controlling beef tenderness than pre-mortem strategies.

Chromic oxide (Cr2O3) has been used for some time as an inert marker to estimate the faecal output of livestock. Although several methods of administration have been reported (Grassland Research Institute, 1961) the more widely used form would appear to be that of purchased gelatin capsules containing a suspension of Cr2O3 in maize oil. An alternative is to include the Cr2O3 in a concentrated feeding stuff. This method was widely used by early workers (e.g. Edin, Kihlén and Nordfeldt, 1944).

To determine whether non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC) supplementation improves fiber digestibility and microbial protein synthesis, 18 Corriedale ewes with a fixed intake level (40 g dry matter (DM)/kg BW0.75) were assigned to three (n = 6) diets: F = 100% fresh temperate forage, FG = 70% forage + 30% barley grain and FGM = 70% forage + 15% barley grain + 15% molasses-based product (MBP, Kalori 3000). Two experimental periods were carried out, with late (P1) and early (P2) vegetative stage forage. For P2, ewes were fitted with ruminal catheters. Forage was distributed at 0900 h, 1300 h, 1800 h and 2300 h, and supplement added at 0900 h and 1800 h meals. Digestibility of the different components of the diets, retained N and rumen microbial protein synthesis were determined. At the end of P2, ruminal pH and N-NH3 concentration were determined hourly for 24 h. Supplementation increased digestibility of DM (P < 0.001) and organic matter (OM; P < 0.001) and reduced NDF digestibility (P = 0.043) in both periods, with greater values in P2 (P = 0.008) for the three diets. Daily mean ruminal pH differed (P < 0.05) among treatments: 6.33 (F), 6.15 (FG) and 6.51 (FGM). The high pH in FGM was attributed to Ca(OH)2 in MBP. Therefore, the decreased fiber digestibility in supplemented diets could not be attributed to pH changes. The mean ruminal concentration of N-NH3 was 18.0 mg/dl, without differences among treatments or sampling hours. Microbial protein synthesis was greater in P2 (8.0 g/day) than in P1 (6.1 g/day; P = 0.006), but treatments did not enhance this parameter. The efficiency of protein synthesis tended to be lower in supplemented groups (16.4, 13.9 and 13.4 in P1, and 20.8, 16.7 and 16.2 g N/kg digestible OM ingested in P2, for F, FG and FGM, respectively; P = 0.07) without differences between supplements. The same tendency was observed for retained N: 2.55, 1.38 and 1.98 in P1, and 2.28, 1.23 and 1.10 g/day in P2, for F, FG and FGM, respectively; P = 0.05). The efficiency of microbial protein synthesis was greater in P2 (P = 0.007). In conclusion, addition of feeds containing NFCs to fresh temperate forage reduced the digestibility of cell walls and did not improve microbial protein synthesis or its efficiency. An increase in these parameters was associated to the early phenological stage of the forage.

Four experiments, each with 24 growing sheep, were carried out to investigate the effects of 8- or 16-h daylengths on growth and carcass characteristics. In the first two experiments, with 6- to 9-month-old castrated males, and 3- to 5-month-old female and castrated male animals, pair feeding of a concentrate feed was adopted. Live-weight gains were significantly greater under 16-h daylength, but carcass weights were not significantly increased because most of the live-weight difference was due to gut-fill. Carcass weights and measurements suggested that long daylength stimulated the growth of non-fat tissues at the expense of fat.

The third experiment compared castrated males fed either ad libitum or restricted to a daily ration proportional to each animal's own weight from 6 to 9 months of age. Food intake was higher in the ad libitum sheep but not significantly so. Weight gains were, however, significantly greater with ad libitum feeding and long daylength, compared with restricted feeding and short daylength, respectively. Gut-fill was greater in those kept in 16 h daylength and the small advantage in carcass weight was not significant. Carcass characteristics were not markedly affected by daylength, while carcass weight and fatness were higher following ad libitum feeding than restricted feeding.

In the fourth experiment 12 female sheep, aged 9 months, were individually rationed according to live weight and slaughtered after 4 weeks exposure to 16- or 8-h daylengths; another 12 were slaughtered after 7 weeks of treatment. Gut-fill was significantly greater in long daylength at both slaughter times, showing that the effect of daylength on gut fill has occurred within 4 weeks of the start of treatment, while live weight has not been observed to be affected at this stage in any experiment in this series.

Overall these experiments show little stimulating effect of long daylength on growth, and a large effect on gut-fill.

Two hundred and ten piglets weaned at 30 days of age and weighing 9 kg were allocated to a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to examine the influence of feeder type ('wet and dry' single-space feeder (SSF), 'dry' SSF, or multi-space feeder) and method of group allocation (piglets from different litters were mixed together, or piglets were weaned with their littermates) on performance after weaning. The use of a 'wet and dry' SSF did not enhance growth rate or voluntary food intake (P > 0-05) in the 28 days after weaning. Piglets feeding from 'wet and dry' SSF grew proportionately 0-06 slower in the 28 days following weaning as a result of a 0-45 proportional decrease (P = 0.013) in growth in the 1st week. Piglets mixed together from different litters at weaning grew proportionately 0.34 faster (P = 0.010) in the first 14 days after weaning than piglets weaned as littermates. This initial difference resulted in a 0-14 proportional increase in growth rate from day 1 to 28 (385 v. 339 glday, P < 0.001). Piglets from different litters mixed at weaning consumed proportionately from 0.06 to 0.16 more food (P = 0.096) than piglets weaned as entire litters. No interactions between feeder design and the method of group allocation at weaning occurred for any of the production parameters measured. Single-space feeders failed to increase the production of weaner piglets, whilst mixing non-littermate piglets into a new social group seemingly enhanced performance from weaning to 56 days of age.

Measurements were carried out on 200 selected carcasses in order to investigate whether single or multiple site measurements could provide an accurate estimation of the lean meat proportion in the carcass and the major cuts i.e. ham, shoulder, loin and belly. Fat measurements were taken with the Hennessy Grading Probe II at 17 sites on the left side of the carcass, and muscle measurements at four of these sites. The day after selection 200 left sides were dissected according to the simplified European Community (EC) reference method.

Fifty of these left sides were further dissected according to the full EC reference method. The use of multiple site measurements, compared with a single site measurement, only slightly reduced the residual s.d. of the estimated lean meat proportion in the carcass and the major cuts, e.g. addition of a second site measurement reduced the residual s.d. values by 0·3 to 1·3 gjkg only. The measurement between the 13th and 14th thoracic vertebrae, 7 cm off the dorsal mid line, appeared to be the best single estimator, of the sites probed, for lean meat proportion in the carcass and in the major cuts. Prediction of lean meat proportion in the belly appeared to be problematic (residual s.d.> 29 g/kg).

During the experiment two problems emerged. Firstly, the algorithm, which calculates fat and muscle thickness from the optically measured tissue profile, was not appropriate for every site. Secondly, the definition of the probing position did not always coincide with the anatomical position of the intended superficial layer of muscle underneath the subcutaneous fat.

An experiment was designed to quantify the specific genetic parameters which will describe the growth potential of a pig. The experiment was conducted in two stages. In the early stage, 11 unimproved crossbred pigs were serially slaughtered at 2, 13 and 23 days of age. In the later phase, 16 pigs were serially slaughtered at 80, 90 and 100 kg live weight. The chemical composition of each of the entire empty bodies was determined. Linear regression analyses were performed on body protein and lipid weights to determine the Gompertz growth parameter (B), mature body protein weight (Pm) and the lipid: protein ratio at maturity (LPRm) The B value for boars was 0-0107 (s.e. 0·00060) per day and for females 0·0120 (s.e. 0·00044) per day. Pm estimates were 38·7 kg and 28·4 kg whilst the LPRm ratios were 2·60 and 3·89 for boars and gilts respectively.

A small flock of 16 Blackface ewes occupying 40 acres of hill ground grazed as a fairly tight community. From observations over a complete year, 1960, it has been shown that sheltering behaviour was largely dependent on wind speed exceeding 24 m.p.h. Sheltering increased markedly at temperatures below freezing. Temperature above freezing, except for rapid falls in temperature exceeding 4° F., exerted little effect on sheltering. No relationship could be found between sheltering behaviour of the sheep and other factors which included rain, relative humidity, wind direction or season of the year.

It would appear therefore that the sensitivity of sheep to exposure is influenced more by wind speed than any other climatic factor.

Thirty-two Border Leicester ♂ × Scottish Blackface ♀ wether lambs aged about 5 months were divided into two groups on the basis of live weight such that group Gl contained the 16 lightest lambs and group G2 the 16 heaviest. Lambs in group Gl were subdivided equally at random either to be sham-implanted controls (group C1) or to be implanted with 35 mg trenbolone acetate (TBA) + 5 mg oestradiol-17β (group T1) at 24 kg initial live weight. The lambs in group G2 were also subdivided into two groups (groups C2 and T2) and similarly treated approximately 1 month later at 37 kg initial live weight. The lambs were offered ad libitum a good-quality diet. They were slaughtered 60 days after implantation. Comparisons were made for the main effects of hormonal treatment and initial live weight.

Concentrations in blood of 17-β-hydroxy-trenbolone (TBOH) and oestradiol-17β (OE) measured by radioimmunoassay peaked within 1 to 3 weeks after implantation and declined thereafter. Maximum concentrations and concentrations at slaughter respectively were 1·46 and 0·32 μg/l (group T1) and 0·78 and 0·28 μg/l (T2) for TBOH and 85 and 33 μg/1 (T1) and 59 and 37 ng/l (T2) for OE. Values up to week 7 were consistently greater in implanted animals in group T1 than in group T2. Hormonal implantation decreased the concentrations of total plasma triiodothyronine and thyroxine and urea and increased values for glucose up to week 5 or 6 after implantation. The animals in group G1 compared with G2 had, on average, variably lower concentrations in plasma of triiodothyronine, thyroxine, glucose and urea.

The highest concentrations of solvent-extractable residues were obtained in samples of kidney and liver (up to about 500 ng/kg for TBOH and 180 ng/kg for OE) with intermediate levels for fat and lowest levels for muscle. Conjugated trenbolone ranging from 45 to 186 ng/kg was present in samples of kidney, liver and perinephric fat. Trenbolone acetate was detected only in samples of fat. Variable effects of live weight at implantation on residue levels were recorded.

Histological intestinal villus alterations were studied in piglets fed a raw pigeon pea meal (PM) diet including a powder mixture of amorphous charcoal carbon and wood vinegar compound solution (CWVC). Twenty-eight male castrated piglets were divided into seven dietary groups of four piglets each. The control group was fed raw PM supplemented to the basal diet (178 g/kg crude protein, 4.23 kcal/g gross energy) at 0 g/kg (CONT), 200 g/kg (PM200) and 400 g/kg (PM400). The treatment groups were fed CWVC in both PM200 and PM400 diet groups at levels of 10 g/kg and 30 g/kg (PM200 + CWVC10, PM200 + CWVC30, PM400 + CWVC10 and PM400 + CWVC30). With increasing dietary PM levels, daily feed intake tended to increase. In contrast, daily body-weight gain tended to decrease, significantly in the PM400 group (P < 0.05), resulting in a significant decrease of feed efficiency in PM groups (P < 0.05). Body-weight gain and feed efficiency were higher in the CWVC groups compared with the PM groups. The duodenum and ileum were longer (P < 0.05) in the PM400 group than in CONT, but were similar to CONT in CWVC groups. The liver was heavier (P < 0.05), whereas the weights of the heart, kidney and stomach were decreased in the CWVC groups than in other groups. Most values for the intestinal villus height, cell area and cell mitosis number were lower in PM groups than those in CONT (P < 0.05) for each intestinal segment; however, these values were higher in CWVC groups than in PM groups (P < 0.05). The epithelial cells on the duodenal villus surface of the PM200 group showed cell morphology almost similar to CONT. However, the PM400 group had a smooth villus surface due to the presence of flat cells. The epithelial cells of the CWVC groups were protuberated, resulting in a much rougher surface than CONT. The current growth performance and histological intestinal alterations in piglets fed PM and PM + CWVC diets demonstrate that the intestinal features might be atrophied by feeding PM, resulting in decreased growth performance. CWVC might prevent the harmful effects of PM dietary toxins on intestinal function, resulting in a normal growth performance.

1. Young adult and adult British Friesian female cattle (heifers and cows) which were lactating were individually fed on diets of grass silage ad libitum with supplements of dried grass, dried grass/barley or barley/groundnut in two randomized block experiments.

2. In Experiment I, equal quantities of dry matter (DM) as dried grass in the form of a wafer (W), cob (C) or pellet (P) were given with the silage during weeks 8 to 18 of lactation, to three groups of 12 heifers. Silage DM intakes were respectively 14·2, 14·3 and 15·8 ± 0·43 g/kg live weight per day (P<0·05). Milk yields were 14·0, 15·6, 16·7 ± 0·35 kg/day (P< 0·001). Milk composition and live-weight change did not differ significantly.

3. In Experiment II, five treatment groups of heifers and cows were offered silage with equal amounts of a supplement of either dried grass pellets (treatment 1) or dried grass/barley in the ratios of 2: 1 (treatment 2), 1: 2 (treatment 3), or a barley/groundnut supplement (treatment 4). In treatment 5 the cattle received the same supplement as in treatment 4, but at a 10% higher level. Silage DM intakes for treatments 1 to 5 during lactation weeks 6 to 22 were 8·64, 8·94, 7·96, 6·96, 7·63 kg/day (1, 2>4, P<0·01; 2>5, P<0·05). The intake of digestible organic matter, milk yields and live-weight changes over the whole experimental period were not influenced significantly by treatments 1 to 4, but in treatment 5 the milk was significantly higher in fat, protein and energy content than in treatments 1 to 4. Blood composition was normal and did not differ markedly between treatments.

The milk production, energy balance (EB), endocrine and metabolite profiles of 10 New Zealand Holstein Friesian (NZ) cows and 10 North American Holstein Friesian (NA) cows were compared. The NA cows had greater peak milk yields and total lactation milk yields (7387 v. 6208 kg; s.e.d. = 359), lower milk fat and similar protein concentrations compared with the NZ cows. Body weight (BW) was greater for NA cows compared with NZ cows throughout lactation (596 v. 544 kg; s.e.d. = 15.5), while body condition score (BCS) tended to be lower. The NA strain tended to have greater dry matter intake (DMI) (17.2 v. 15.7 kg/day; s.e.d. = 0.78) for week 1 to 20 of lactation, though DMI as a proportion of metabolic BW was similar for both strains. No differences were observed between the strains in the timing and magnitude of the EB nadir, interval to neutral EB, or mean daily EB for week 1 to 20 of lactation. Plasma concentrations of glucose and insulin were greater for NA cows during the transition period (day 14 prepartum to day 28 postpartum). Plasma IGF-I concentrations were similar for the strains at this time, but NZ cows had greater plasma IGF-I concentration from day 29 to day 100 of lactation, despite similar calculated EB. In conclusion, the results of this study do not support the premise that the NZ strain has a more favourable metabolic status during the transition period. The results, however, indicate that NZ cows begin to partition nutrients towards body reserves during mid-lactation, whereas NA cows continue to partition nutrients to milk production.

The rate of heat transfer from a model animal, covered with one of three animal pelts, was measured when the pelts were dry and when they were exposed to a fine spray of water. Wetting of the pelts increased heat transfer by 192, 114 and 15W/m2 respectively for the hairless skin, the skin with calf's hair coat (5 to 10 mm) and the skin with the lamb's fleece (60 mm). These results demonstrate the considerable protection against the thermal effects of wetting which is provided by animal coats, particularly if these are relatively deep.

A genetico-nutritional experiment is described in which 22 Ayrshire twin cattle, both one-egg and two-egg, were reared and maintained for up to seven years on a standard all-pelleted ration. Six equally spaced constant levels of food intake ranging from 35 1b. to 140 1b. per week were used. Each twin was reared on nearly ad libitum feeding until it had grown sufficiently to be able to consume its pre-assigned level of constant food intake. Thereafter its weekly food intake remained unchanged until the end of the experiment. The number of animals on each of the six feeding levels varied from two to six.

On each constant level of food intake, animals continued to grow fairly rapidly for two or three years, but thereafter their growth tended to slow down and usually an equilibrium weight was eventually attained. The resultant mean weight curves constituted an apparently simple, regular and systematic family with each curve eventually separated from the next by a relatively constant weight difference.

Coefficients of variation were about 3% for unrelated animals strictly conforming to the design, but increased at later ages to around 6% when animals with different pre-treatment were included. Coefficients of variation, however, did not change over the ascending series of feeding levels.

The advantages of the design for exploring the triple relationship of gain, weight and food intake are outlined. The potential use of such results as an empirical feeding scale and the possibility of obtaining paths of maximum efficiency from such a controlled experiment are described.

An experiment was conducted to study the possibility of using marker concentration in faeces to estimate rumen outflow of Cr-treated protein supplements and the liquid phase (PEG). There were no significant differences in the outflow of each marker from the rumen when determined directly from rumen or indirectly from faeces, suggesting that faeces could be used to measure the outflow from the rumen without the need for surgical preparation of the animals. The outflow rate of the liquid phase was considerably faster than Cr-treated protein supplements.

An experiment was conducted with 50 male Friesian calves between 5 and 11 weeks of age. Milled wheat straw (0·95 cm screen) was included in a pelleted all-concentrate diet at concentrations of 0, 15, 30 or 45 %. The nitrogen content of the diets was maintained by the addition of urea. The diets were given alone or with a chaffed lucerne hay or wheat straw supplement ad libitum. All diets contained 2 % sodium bicarbonate.

The feed intake and weight gains of the calves were increased significantly by the inclusion of 15 % milled wheat straw, but were reduced by 30 or 45 % straw. The supplements of chaffed wheat straw or lucerne hay ad libitum did not influence the performance of the calves. The inclusion of wheat straw in the diets reduced their dry-matter digestibility but the digestibility of acid detergent fibre was maximal with 27 % straw. The digestibility of nitrogen was significantly increased by 15% straw but reduced by further increases in straw.

The inclusion of wheat straw in the diets did not influence the pH of the rumen contents or the concentration of total volatile fatty acids in the rumen. Increasing the level of straw in the diet caused a significant linear increase in the proportion of acetic acid and decreases in butyric, propionic and valeric acids.

(−)-Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), a major component of Garcinia cambogia extracts, has been shown to suppress BW gain and fat accumulation in animals and humans. However, the mechanism remains unknown. In this study, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analyse serum metabolites, and principal component analysis and partial least-squares-discriminant analysis models were generated to analyse serum metabolite changes in broiler chickens after the administration of (−)-HCA at 0, 1000, 2000 and 3000 mg/kg diets for 28 days. Metabolites showing significant changes were screened by ‘variable importance in the projection’ plots. The results showed that 20 metabolites in the 1000 mg/kg (−)-HCA treatment group and 16 metabolites in 3000 mg/kg (−)-HCA treatment group were significantly altered. Metabolites pathway enrichment analysis indicated that these metabolites were mainly associated with metabolism of amino acids, protein synthesis, citric acid cycle, and uric acid and fatty acid synthesis. The data indicated that (−)-HCA promoted protein synthesis by regulating the metabolic directions of amino acids. At the same time, (−)-HCA treatment inhibited fatty acid synthesis by promoting the citric acid cycle, resulting in reduced cytosolic acetyl-CoA content in broiler chickens. The present study identified global changes in metabolites and analysed the main canonical metabolic pathways in broiler chickens supplemented with (−)-HCA. These results will deepen our understanding of the mechanism of (−)-HCA’s effects in animals.

In the herd of Nganda cattle at the Government Livestock Experiment Station, Entebbe, Uganda, it was found that of the known environmental factors affecting milk production, the more important ones were age (in lactations) and length of the calving interval preceding the second and third lactations. The correlations between performance in different lactations of the same animal were high for lactation milk yield (0·73) and average daily milk yield (0·62) and low for calving interval (0·21) and dry period (0·15). The repeatability of lactation length was intermediate (0·42). The heritability values were around 0·3 for the weight measurements, around 0·2 for yield characteristics and around 0·1 for length of lactation and age at first calving.

The sires used in the breeding programme at Entebbe made little impact on production performance in the herd. The estimated genetic improvement in milk yield through selection of dams of cows was also low. It is argued from comparison with results from other parts of the tropics that superior genotypes for milk production are difficult to come by among indigenous cattle in these areas and that we should therefore look for other opportunities and methods to move ahead faster in the future.

Licuri (Syagrus coronate) cake is a biodiesel by-product used in ruminant feed as a beneficial energy source for supplementation in managed pastures. The objective was to evaluate the performance, digestibility, nitrogen balance, blood metabolites, ingestive behavior and diet profitability of eight crossbred Holstein (3/4)×Gyr (5/8) multiparous cows (480±25 kg BW and 100 days milking) grazing and supplemented with licuri cake partially replacing ground corn and soybean meal in concentrate (0, 200, 400 and 600 g/kg in dry matter (DM)), distributed in an experimental duplicated 4×4 Latin square design. Licuri cake partially replacing ground corn and soybean meal increased (P<0.01) the intake and digestibility of ether extract and decreased the non-fiber carbohydrates; however, there were no influences on the intakes of DM, CP, NDF and total digestible nutrients (TDN). The digestibilities of DM, CP and NDF were not influenced by licuri cake addition. There was a decrease trend on TDN digestibility (P=0.08). Licuri cake replacing ground corn and soybean meal in concentrate did not affect the intake; fecal, urinary and mammary excretions; N balance; and triglycerides concentrations. However, the blood urea nitrogen (P=0.04) concentration decreased with the licuri cakes inclusion in cow supplementation. There was an increasing trend for serum creatinine (P=0.07). Licuri cake inclusion did not affect body condition score, production, yield, protein, lactose, total solids and solid non-fat contents of milk and Minas frescal cheese. There was a linear decrease in average daily weight gain (g/day). The milk fat concentration and cheese fat production (P<0.1) presented a linear increase with partial replacement of ground corn and soybean meal with licuri cakes. The addition of licuri cake did not alter the time spent feeding, ruminating or idling. There was an increasing trend in NDF feeding efficiency (P=0.09). The replacing of ground corn and soybean meal with licuri cake up to 600 g/kg decreased the concentrate cost by US$0.45/cow per day. Licuri cake replacing corn and soybeans (400 g/kg) in concentrate promoted a profit of US$0.07/animal per day. Licuri cake is indicated to concentrate the supplementation of dairy cows with average productions of 10 kg/day at levels up to 400 g/kg in the concentrate supplement because it provides an additional profit of US$0.07/animal per day and increased milk and Minas frescal cheese fat without negative effects on productive parameters.