The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of three commercial feeds recommended for carnivorous fish on processing yield and fillet composition of surubim (Pseudoplatystoma sp) raised in net cages. The surubim fishes were raised in net cages during one year, when were fed three diets with 43.5, 42.6, and 42.1% crude protein; 6.3, 8.7, and 4.5% ether extract and 5,078, 4,931, and 4,994 kcal of gross energy, respectively. Fishes were allotted to a completely randomized design, with […]

Estimates of genetic and phenotypic parameters for performance traits in paternal broiler lineages selected during 12 generations were obtained through mixed models methodology. Data consisting of body weight (P42), breast length (CPeito), largest (Larg1) and smallest (Larg2) breast widths recorded at 42 days of age in approximately 46,000 birds between 1992 and 2003 provided by CNPSA/EMBRAPA were used to estimate (co)variances by REML. The heritability estimates were moderate, ranging from 0.29 to 0.53. Genetic correlations estimates between P42 and CPeito, […]

This research was carried out to evaluate the performance, total apparent digestibility, efficiency of microbial synthesis, nitrogen balance (NB) of crossbreed Holstein × Zebu heifers fed sugarcane treated or not with calcium oxide (CaO – 1.0%) and different concentrate levels (CL), in feedlot. A total of 24 animals with initial average 177.0 kg BW and 8-12 months old was allotted to a complete randomized design with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, sugarcane in nature and sugarcane treated or not […]

Using biotechnology to increase the growth rates of fish is likely to reduce production costs per unit of food. Among vertebrates, fish appear to occupy a unique position, when growth patterns are considered. With few exceptions, fish species tend to grow indeterminately, implying that size is never fixed. Both hyperplasia and hypertrophy contribute to post-larval muscle growth in fish. Growth hormone (GH) – Insulin-like Growth Factor I (IGF-I) is the most important growth axis in fish. Our experimental model, the […]

Forages are essential for the successful operation of animal production systems. This is more relevant to ruminants which are heavily dependant upon forages for their health and production in a cost-effective and sustainable manner. While forages are an economical source of nutrients for animal production, they also help conserve the soil integrity, water supply and air quality. Although the role of these forages for animal production could vary depending upon the regional preferences for the animal and forage species, climate […]

Oocytes in cattle are formed during embryogenesis and develop within individual follicles in the cortex of the ovary. Dormant primordial follicles become active and undergo progressive development at regular intervals commencing during the late fetal stage and continuing throughout adulthood. Once activated, follicles and oocytes in a cohort either grow to maturation and ovulation or undergo atresia, ultimately depleting the ovaries of germ cells. It takes an estimated 100 days for a follicle and its oocyte to reach the mature […]

Providing feed is a major input cost in beef production, hence improvements in the efficiency of feed utilisation will reduce the cost of production. Residual feed intake (RFI) is a measure of feed efficiency, and is defined as the difference between an animal’s actual feed intake and its expected feed intake based on its size and growth. It is independent of the level of production, and the lower the value the more efficient the animal is. This paper examines the […]

In 1989, the National Research Council (NRC) Subcommittee on Horse Nutrition defined three categories of exercise: light, moderate or intense. In the 6th revised edition of “The Nutrient Requirements of Horses” (NRC, 2007), there are four categories for exercising horses: light exercise, moderate exercise, heavy exercise and very heavy exercise. Light exercise is described as 1 to 3 hours/week of mostly walking and trotting. Many horses kept for recreational riding would be included in the light exercise category. Moderate exercise […]

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the development of 32 primiparous beef heifers Aberdeen Angus and Angus crossbred raised and mating from 13 to the 15 months of age. The experiment had beginning in the pregnancy diagnosis of using ultra-sound technique, realized at 28 days after the ending of the reproductive period. The initial average weight and body condition (BC) was 288 kg LW and 3.2 points, respectively. In this occasion, the beef heifers were uniformly distributed by genetic […]