The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical and chemical characteristics of chicken meat from two lines (Paraíso Pedrês or Label Rouge and Pescoço Pelado), raised in a semi-extensive system, and slaughtered at 65, 75, 85 and 95 days of age. The variables assessed in the breast and leg of experimental animals were moisture, protein, fat, ashes, objective colour (CIEL*a*b* system), final pH and cooking loss. The breast of Paraíso Pedrês females showed a higher fat content (0.86%) […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of genetic polymorphism of kappa-casein, breed and seasonality on the physicochemical characteristics, composition and stability of milk in commercial dairy herds. A total of 879 milk and blood samples were collected from 603 Holstein and 276 Girolando cows, obtained during rainy and dry seasons. Milk samples were analyzed to determine the physicochemical characteristics, composition and ethanol stability, while blood samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction to identify the kappa-casein […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and carcass traits of young bulls, finished in a feedlot and fed diets with sugarcane (Var. SP 80-1816) and two concentrate levels (40 or 60 % of the DM). Fifteen Nellore bullocks, with approximately 330 kg and 18 months old, and 15 Canchim bullocks (5/8 Charolês ×3/8 Nellore), with approximately 300 kg and 15 months old, were used. The animals were housed in individual pens for a period of 126 […]

The effects were assessed of supplying supplementary roughage on intake, milk yield and milk physical and chemical composition in F1 (Boer ×Saanen) goats. Eighteen females were placed in three stalls, and received as ad libitum supplement sorghum silage, corn silage and mulberry hay (MHT), with daily control of dry matter intake. The average daily production per week was calculated by gathering the milk data in three post-parturition periods: 1 (34-40 days/7 days); 2 [(64-70 days/7 days) + (91-97 days)/7 days)]/2 […]

The objective of this study was to characterize the the microclimatic profile of broiler chicken transport trucks under commercial conditions, in the winter by continuous monitoring of environmental variables (temperature and relative air humidity) and deaths on arrival (DOA’s). Three loads were monitored, from farm to slaughterhouse, considering factors such as distance (short, medium and long) and periods of the day (morning, afternoon and night). To obtain the environmental variables profile in the trucks during the journey, data loggers were […]

Eighty six young bulls were used, divided into four genetic groups: Nellore (n=20), Canchim (n=17), ½ Canchim ×Nellore (NC) (n=25) and ¾ Canchim ×Nellore (TQ) (n=24). The animals were weighed every 28 days to evaluate the average daily gain (kg/day), dry matter intake (kg/day) and feed conversion. When the animals reached slaughter weight (450 kg) and fat thickness greater than 4 mm, were slaughtered to evaluate the rib eye area (cm2), subcutaneous fat thickness (mm), marbling, shear force, ether extract […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feed supplementation on the chemical and tissue composition of leg and loin from carcass of Santa Inês lambs, finished on pasture. Twenty-four castrated 3 to 4 month-old Santa Inês lambs were used, initial live body weight (LW) 15.8 kg, distributed in three concentrate supplementation levels (0.0, 1.0 and 1.5% LW). A randomized complete design was used, with three treatments and eight replications (lambs). The leg and loin were dissected […]

The effect was assessed of pre-mating supplementary feeding on the reproductive performance of 13-15 month old beef heifers. Eighty-nine heifers were used with a mean age of 12 months and mean body weight (BW) of 242 kg from three herds Aberdeen Angus heifers from the Santa Cecilia and Capitao Rodrigo ranches and crossbred Aberdeen Angus heifers) in a feeding system of only grazing pasture or supplemented heifers on pasture with milled corn grain. The supplement was offered daily at the […]

The objective of the present study was to assess the effective thermal conductivity of the hair coat (kef, mW.m-1.K-1) of Holstein cows in a tropical environment, as related to conduction and radiation in the absence of free convection. The average kef was 49.72 mW.m-1.K-1, about twice the conductivity of the air (26 mW.m-1.K-1) and much less than that of the hair fibres (260 mW.m-1.K-1). The low kef values were attributed mainly to the small cross area of individual hairs, ρef/ρf […]

The study verified the influence of different nutritional levels of the dams, before parturition, the weaning age of the lambs and the finishing system on lamb muscle fiber morphology and meat quality. Ile-de-France × Bergamacia crossbred dams grazing on natural grassland were divided into two groups: 1) nutritional supplement 30 days before the parturition (SUPL), and 2) no nutritional supplement (NS). These groups were further subdivided by weaning age of the lambs, which corresponded to either 45 or 60 days. […]