A mathematical model based on Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) was developed and adapted in order to evaluate beef cattle rations at tropical climate conditions. The presented system differs from CNCPS in the modeling of insoluble particles’ digestion and passage kinetics, which enabled the estimation of fiber mass in rumen and its effects on animal performance. The equations used to estimate metabolizable protein and net energy requirements for gain, net energy requirement for maintenance and total efficiency of […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the in situ degradation profiles of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of different forages using nylon (50 µm), F57 (Ankom®) and non-woven textile (NWT – 100 g/m2) bags. Eight forage samples were used: sugarcane, corn silage, elephant grass cut at 50 and 250 days of regrowth, corn straw, signal grass hay, coast cross hay, and fresh alfalfa. Samples were incubated for 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, […]

The objective of the present research was to evaluate performance, digestibility and consumption of cattle receiving diets based on in natura or hydrolyzed sugar cane, with two concentrations of calcium hydroxide. Eighteen Nelore steers with approximately 390 kg of body weight were distributed in a randomized block design, based on live weight. Animals received complete diets containing 70% roughage (sugar cane in natura, and hydrolyzed treated with calcium hydroxide at 0.5% or 0.9%), and 30% concentrate. Diets were formulated to […]

In order to evaluate the effect of the different percentages of zebu blood in the genotype of crossbred steers on carcass traits, a meta-analysis was carried out, using 30 studies conducted in Brazil that have been published since the year 2000. The parameters evaluated were hot carcass weight (221 estimates), cold carcass weight (232), hot carcass (236) and cold carcass yield (223), subcutaneous fat thickness (238) and the percentages of saw cut (233), forequarter (234) and sidecut (246 estimates). Initially, […]

This study aimed to investigate the influence of calf genetic group on the performance of Nellore lactating cows. The variables studied included milk ingestion, pasture intake, calf weight gain and cow body weight. A total of 13 Nellore calves and 8 crossbred Simental × Nellore calves were used, all born from Nellore mothers. During the experimental period of 210 days, calves were weighted at birth and at 30-day intervals, whereas cows were weighed every 14 days. Milk intake was estimated […]

The effect of different intervals between observations on the estimation of the eating behavior of dairy heifers and lactating cows was evaluated. Twenty Holstein-zebu crossbred dairy heifers were distributed in a completely randomized design, with four levels and five repetitions, fed isonitrogenous diets containing 71% sugar cane and 29% concentrate. Also, 16 dairy crossbred cows were distributed in a completely randomized design, with four levels and four repetitions. They received isonitrogenous diets, containing 85% sugar cane and 1% concentrate. For […]

This study was carried out to estimate efficiencies of the utilization of metabolizable energy for maintenance (km) and weight gain (kg) and to evaluate the Small Ruminant Nutrition System (SRNS) model in predicting dry matter intake and average daily gain of growing Santa Ines sheep. Twenty-four non-castrated Santa Ines sheep, at 50 days of age and with average body weight of 13.00 ± 0.56 kg, respectively, were used. After a 10-day adaptation period, four animals were slaughtered to be used […]

The objective was to evaluate the effect of four levels of ground corn supply on nutritional parameters, microbial synthesis efficiency and growing performance of beef heifers, at the rainy season. For such, 28 crossbred yearling heifers, with initial age of 16-17 months and initial weight of 255 ± 31.0 kg were distributed into five paddoks of B. decumbens, of 2.0 ha each, with average potentially digestible DM availability of 2,377.0 kg/ha. For each one of the lots, one of the […]

This study evaluated intake and apparent digestibility of the nutrients in the diet of Morada Nova sheep that received diets containing increasing levels of juazeiro hay in substitution of Tifton 85 bermudagrass hay (0, 33, 67 and 100%). Sixteen non castrated male sheep, weighing an average of 26.75 kg, were used, placed in individual metabolic cages and distributed in a completely randomized block design with four treatments and four replications. Intakes of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, […]

The present study aimed to assess the effect of supplementation on the performance of F1 (Boer × females of no defined breed) goats finished in native pasture. The experiment was conducted at the Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Patos Campus, Paraíba, Brazil, with twenty-four 120-day-old non-castrated F1 (Boer × NDB) male goats, with a 15.52 kg live weight (LW). Animals were distributed in four levels of supplementation (0.0; 0.5; 1.0; 1.5% of body) and six replicates. In order to perform […]