The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for body weights at weaning (PD), 12 months old (P12) and adult age (PAD), culling age (TPR, days in herd), number (ND10) and kilograms (QD10) of calves weaned up to ten years of age, total number (NDT) and total kilograms (QDT) of calves weaned during herd life, and kilograms of calves weaned per year in herd (QTPR) of Canchim (5/8 Charolais + 3/8 Zebu) females from one herd. Data consisted […]

Twenty-four lactating dairy cows were assigned to a completely randomized block design to compare the effects of isoenergetic diets but different crude protein (CP) levels: P100- 100%, P133- 133% or P166- 166% of the NRC (1989) requirements on the concentrations of urea nitrogen in plasma (PUN) and milk (MUN). Increasing levels of CP were obtained by adding urea to the diet. Feeds, milk, and blood were all collected weekly from 30 days before to 60 days after parturition. Milk yield […]

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of nitrogen fertilization upon the morphogenetical and structural characteristics of Brachiaria decumbens under grazing. Four nitrogen rates (75, 150, 225 and 300 kg/ha.yr) were applied before the beginning of the experimental evaluations, which were performed during the Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring seasons. The randomized complete block design was used with two replications. Linear increases were observed for the leaf elongation rate, final leaf length, leaf area index, stem and leaf […]

In this study, individuals of setariagrass (Setaria anceps Stapf.), limpograss (Hemarthria altissima [Poir] Stapf. & Hubbard), nilograss (Acroceras macrum Stapf.) and angola grass (Brachiaria purpurascens [Raddi] Henr.) were submitted to moderate drought. The characteristics of chlorophyll a fluorescence (inicial fluorescence, Fo; maximum fluorescence, Fm; photochemistry efficiency, Fv/F­m; photochemical quenching, qP; non-photochemical quenching, qN and relative electron transport rate, ETR) were investigated in an experiment carried out in greenhouse, using plastic pots. The experimental treatments were allocated in a randomized complete […]

The energy and protein requirements for gain of Brangus and Nellore bulls were estimated using the comparative slaughter technique, in which the empty body as well as the gain composition were estimated through the 9th -10th -11th rib cut. Twenty-eight animals from each breed were used in this research. At the beginning of the trial four animals from each breed were slaughtered to determine the initial body composition while the remaining bulls had free access to diets containing 20, 40, […]

The objective of this trial was to study the in vitro effects of monensin and propolis on ruminal fermentation of amino acids. Ruminal fluid was collected from a steer grazing tropical pasture and after addition of casein hydrolysate was used in the incubations. Treatments consisted of: control-C; monensin-M; and propolis-P. In the first phase of the study, inocula were transferred daily into new tubes until day 10; on the 11th day of incubation, tubes from each of the treatments were […]

Milk yield of primiparous and multiparous Hereford cows grazing native pastures was studied using 144 lactations from four different years (1995, 1998, 2000, 2001). Estimates of milk yield were obtained every 21-day interval from birth to weaning (189 d) by the weigh-suckle-weigh technique. Effects of year, calving order, pregnancy, calf sex, and sire breed were studied. Multiparous cows (8.27+0.26 kg/d) yielded more milk than primiparous cows (5.81+0.25 kg/d) at peak of lactation (42 d). Total milk yield also was higher […]

A performance trial was carried out to evaluate the nutritional and economical analyses of feeding increasing dietary levels of pearl millet for growing and finishing pigs. Forty crossbreed pigs averaging initial body weight of 25.1 ± 2.1 kg were assigned to four treatments as a randomized blocks design with five replicates and two pigs (one barrow and one gilt) per experimental unit. The treatments contained the followign levels of pearl millet: 0, 25, 50 and 75%. No effects on daily […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the chemical composition and fungal microbiota of different proportions of elephantgrass and mesquite pod silages: 100:0, 67:33, 34:66, and 0:100, respectively. A complete randomized design with four replications per treatment was used. The material was ensiled in PVC silos and remained sealed during a 120-days period. After opening the silos, silage samples were collected followed by fungi isolation and identification and determination of the chemical composition of the silages. Addition of mesquite […]

Twelve Holstein-Zebu lactating dairy cows were used to study the effects of different carbohydrate sources and soybean oil on dry matter intake, milk yield, and milk composition. The following carbohydrate sources were used: corn (CO), wheat bran (WB) or citric pulp (CP) with 0 or 2.25% of soybean oil. No significant interactions between soybean oil and carbohydrate sources were observed in this trial. Both dry matter intake (18.4 kg/day) and milk yield (23.5 kg/day) did not differ among carbohydrate sources […]