One hundred sixty-two animals were used during a 2-year period to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound measurements to estimate carcass subcutaneous fat thickness (CFAT) and area of Longissimus muscle located between the 12th and 13th ribs (CLMA). Twenty-four hours before slaughter animals were ultrasonically measured to determine subcutaneous fat thickness (UFAT) and area of Longissimus muscle (ULMA). The correlation coefficients between ultrasound measurements and CFAT and CLMA were 0.95 and 0.97, respectively. Differences between ultrasonic and carcass measurements were expressed […]

The objective of this trial was to investigate correlations among the California Mastitis Test, somatic cells count (SCC), and milk yield. Milk samples were collected from thirty-eight Murrah buffalo cows in the years of 2002 and 2003. Milking management included cleaning teats with individual paper towel followed by attachment of the milk units in cows that were milked once daily. The CMT was done immediately after teat cleaning and collected milk samples were sent to the laboratory for determination of […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of calving order (CO) and body condition score (BCS), scale 1(thin) to 5 (fat), on reproductive performance of 468 Nellore cows (391 multiparous and 77 primiparous) grazing Brachiaria decumbens Stapf at Brazilian Central West (Cerrados region) during four breeding seasons (from 11/1 to 1/31 of the following year). Calving order quadratically affected pregnancy rate (PR) in this trial; PR of CO1 cows was 69% while that of cows from CO5 […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the animal performance, carcass characteristics and meat tenderness of 36 crossbred steers averaging 14 months old and 320 kg body weight. The animals were fed high concentrate-based diets: control – without additional fat (CO); diet with 5% calcium salt of fatty acids (AG); and diet with 21% whole cottonseed (CA). Dry matter intake of AG treatment was lower (P=0,05) than CA, that differ from CO diet. No significant differences of treatments on […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the carcass quantitative characteristics of two categories: steers and young steers, from two genetic groups, 5/8Charolais (CH) 3/8Nelore (NE) and 5/8NE 3/8CH, and to evaluate the relation among studied variables. The animals were fedlot finished until reaching 430 kg of body weight. Steers were slaughtered averaging 22.8 months old and young steers 15.2 months old. The diet, roughage:concentrate ratio of 60:40 (dry matter basis), contained 10.25% crude protein and 3.18 Mcal of […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the components of non integrate body components of carcass of two categories, steers (slaughtered at 22.8 months old) and young steers (slaughtered at 15.2 months old), from two genetic groups, 5/8 Charolais (CH) 3/8 Nellore (NE) and 5/8NE 3/8CH, and to evaluate the relationship among the variables studied. The animals were fedlot finished until reaching 430 kg. The diet, roughage:concentrate ratio of 60:40 (dry matter basis), contained 10.25% crude protein and 3.18 […]

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) is one of the most studied vegetables, due to its use as sources of edible oil and protein for human and animal feeding. The presence of trypsin inhibitors in soy grain restrict its utilization and requires heating to improve the nutritional quality. However, excessive heating may reduce the protein quality. Soybean cultivar BR-36 containing normal content of trypsin inhibitors and soybean cultivars (BRM 95 5297 and BRM 95 5262) with low content of trypsin inhibitors […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the carcass physical composition and meat qualitative characteristics of males of two categories, steers (slaughtered at 22.8 months old) and young steers (slaughtered at 15.2 months old), from two genetic groups, 5/8 Charolais (CH) 3/8 Nellore (NE) and 5/8NE 3/8CH, and to evaluate the relationship among the variables studied. The animals were fedlot finished until reaching 430 kg. The diet, roughage:concentrate ratio of 60:40 (dry matter basis), contained 10.25% crude protein and […]

This trial was conducted to study the effects of replacing corn with increasing levels of cassava starch by-products on carcass and meat characteritics for fedlot young bulls. Percentages of substitution were 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100, in dry matter basis. Forty crossbred bulls (½ and ¾ Bos taurus x Bos índicus), averaging 21 months old and 363 kg of initial body weight and 570 kg of final body weight were assigned to a block design with eight replicates by […]

The objective of this trial was to study the effects of replacing milk with whole milk or fermented colostrum, supplemented or not with soy oil and with or without growth promoter (Zeranol) on performance of 40 F1 Holstein x Gir calves averaging 36 kg. Weight gain, thoracic circumference, withers height and milk or fermented colostrums intake, and concentrated ration intake were the variables investigated from age 15 to 60 days. No significant difference on feed intake was observed when whole […]