This work aimed to study the annual variation of temperature of the coat surface and other traits of coat in Holstein cows managed in a tropical environment by separately considering black coat and white coat. It was measured the coat thickness (mm) characteristic, hair length (mm), hair number (hair/cm2) and coat surface temperature on 191 crossbred cows with 7/8 and 31/32 Holstein composition distributed in 3 herds in a semi-arid environment. Less dense coats with shorter, flattened hair occurred predominantly […]

This paper aims at exploring what is covered by « adapting to last » with a farming systems approach. Long term dynamics can be analysed as adaptive cycles, the system being permanently exposed to disturbances and shocks. Mobilizing the concept of resilience, we analyse the factors that differentiate the principles for long term action the livestock farmers have, principles which give consistency to the family – farms trajectories. With the concept of operational flexibilty, we qualify the sources of flexibility […]

This work was aimed to compare the production and animal selectivity of elephant grass cultivars in the cold conditions, of Southern Brasil (Lages, Santa Catarina). Twelve cultivars of elephantgrass were used (Mineiro X-23A, Mineiro, Taiwan A-144, CAC-262, Mole da Volta Grande, Teresópolis, Vrukwona, Merckeron Pinda, Turrialba, Porto Rico, Taiwan A-148 and Cameroon), established on 17.5 m2 plots in a randomized block design, with three replicates. Each plot consisted of seven lines with 0,50 m interval, using the tree central lines […]

The traits of the haircoat (haircoat thickness, average hair lenght with respect skin surface, number of hair per unit area, hair mass density, hair angle and average hair diameter) were estimated in 973 Holstein cattle in the period between November 2000 and April of 2001. These traits were measured in an area 20cm below the dorsal line in the center of the thorax, for the black as for the white haircoat. Hair samplings were performed with adapted pliers. The method […]

The objectives of this research were to evaluate the influence of rearing systems (intensive or semi-intensive) on the performance (body weight and feed efficiency), chicken physiological condition under heat stress (rectal temperature, respiratory frequency and hematocrit) and behavioural parameters (frequency in the pasture areas) of broilers lines. To evaluate broiler’s performance and physiological condition on the ages of 45, 55, 65 and 75 days one experiment was carried out in boxes with 4,5 m2 of inside area and 35 m2 […]

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the forage potential of new selected clones of elephantgrass. The evaluation was conducted at the Dairy Cattle Research Centre – EMBRAPA, Coronel Pacheco, Minas Gerais, for two consecutive years. Twenty selected clones obtained by the elephantgrass breeding program were evaluated, and two traditional cultivars Cameroon and Taiwan A -146 were used as control. The experimental procedure was a randomized block design with four replicates. The fertilization for both establishment and maintenance was […]