In the present work, the chemical composition changes and dry matter (DM) digestibility of three cultivars (Empasc-307-Testo, Empasc-309-Areia and Roxo) of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.), were measured through a growing period of 126 days. The production and quality of tropical forage grasses were determined, in part, by the growing period. The plants showed greater height and dry matter accumulation, increasing the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and lignin concentrations and substantially reducing DM and NDF digestibility levels, with longer growing […]

The objective of this work was to study the effect of the substitution of cottonseed meal by canola meal on weight gain, feed intake, feed:gain ratio and dressing percentage of the feedlot Nellore heifers. Thirty Nellore heifers averaging initial of 225 kg LW and 20 months of age were randomly allotted to two treatments (cottonseed meal – COM or canola meal – CAM as protein sources) with 15 animals for each treatment. The experiment was carried out in three periods […]

O objetivo deste experimento foi estudar o desempenho de borregos suplementados com dois níveis de feno de leucena (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) de Wit), durante a estação seca, em comparação com animais mantidos em pastagem exclusiva de capim-buffel (Cenchrus ciliaris, L) ou em pastagem consorciada de capim-buffel com guandu (Cajanus cajan). Durante a estação das águas, foi determinado ainda o desempenho dos animais que foram mantidos em pastagem comum de capim-buffel, sem suplementação. Os seguintes tratamentos foram testados durante a estação […]

ABSTRACT – The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of postmortem calcium chloride (CaCl2) injection and aging time on tenderness and cooking losses of Longissimus dorsi muscle from Bos indicus and Bos taurus animals selected for weight gain. Sixty-four young bulls (16 Caracu, 16 Guzera, 16 Nellore Control and 16 Nellore Selection) were used. Twenty four hours after slaughter a sample from Longissimus dorsi muscle, taken between the 6th and 9th lumbar vertebrae was removed and divided […]

The objective of this work was to evaluate the feeding behavior, dry matter intake, and performance in goats fed hays of ramie (Boehemeria nivea G.), soybean (Neonotonia wightii) and elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum., cv. napier), offered to allow an excess of 30 or 60%, above the intake measured in the previous day. Thirty-six goats were allotted to a completely randomized design with six treatments in a factorial arrangement of 3 x 2 (hay and level of offer). The mean […]

This work was carried out to evaluate the effect of the season of the year, from March/96 to March/97, on the rectal temperature (RT) and breathing rate (RR) of rams from Bergamacia, Corriedale and Hampshire Down (Hd) breeds, with three-four years of age. Twenty-four rams, nine Bergamacia (Be) eight Corriedale (Co) and seven Hampshire Down (Hd), were used. The month of the year had a significant effect on RT for Hd breed. The observed rectal temperatures was higher in the […]

The objective of this work was to verify the effect of the supply LT 516 strain of Lactobacillusacidophilus, adjoining to the milk, on dairy calves performance from birth to 56 days of age. Thirty-six newborn calves were allotted to a randomized blocks grouped by sex, breed and birth weight. The daily supply of a concentrate with viable cell (1,9 x 1010 UFC/anim) of Lactobacillusacidophilus (LT 516), from birth to 56 days of age (Treatment 1); the daily supply of the […]

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of difference dehydration temperatures of the brewer grain on chemical composition and ruminal degradation of dry matter and crude protein. The samples of the brewer grain were oven dried at the temperature of 50.2 (BC50), 100.5 (BC100), 134.1 (BC135) and 173.7ºC (BC174), and a control treatment, with the sample cold dehydrated, by a liophylization process (BCL). The ruminal degradation kinetics was estimated by the in situ technique with samples in […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the season of the year on the spermprogressive motility (PM), vigor, volume of semen and sperm concentration of rams from the Bergamacia, Corriedale and Hampshire Down (Hd) breeds, with three-four years of age, from March/96 to March/97. Twenty-four rams nine Bergamacia (Be), eight Corriedale (Co) and seven Hampshire Down (Hd) were used. The semen collection and the climatic variables: wind speed (ws), air temperature (Ta), globe temperature (GT) and […]

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of different levels of broiler litter (15 and 30%), associated or not to a supplement based on bovine lyophilized ruminal microbiota (0 and 10 g/anim.day), in Holstein/Zebu steers feeding. Four steers fistulated in the rumen and abomasum were allotted to a 4 x 4 latin square in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement (level of broiler litter x with or without ruminal microbiota), full fed individually. The ruminal microorganisms composition, efficiency […]