The objective of this trial was to evaluate the fermentative characteristics and nutritional quality of sugarcane treated with microbial additives and 10% of soybean crop residue based on sugarcane fresh weight. The variety RB855536 harvested at 16 months of age was used in a completely randomized design with tree repetitions. Addition of soybean crop residue reduced 33% of DM losses and 60% of ammonia-N (% total N) although final silage pH increased. Use of inoculants reduced silage pH only in […]

The objective of this study was to analyze the situation of the beef cattle industry in Brazil after changes in the production/commercialization system with the Mercosul advent. It was closely investigated not only beef cattle production indexes but also amounts of meat produced, consumed, and exported after 1990. Results showed that Brazil has potential to increase meat exportation but that will depend of actions channeled to improve herd sanitary conditions, political issues, and overall production efficiency.

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of different physical forms of soybean on average daily weight gain (ADWG), final body weight (FBW), carcass yield (CY), ruminal pH, and ruminal ammonia concentration on crossbred steers fineshed at pasture. Animals were fed three times per week a supplement containing a mineral mix and one of the following protein sources: ground whole soybean (GWS), whole soybean (WSB) or soybean meal and ground corn (SMGC); steers on control treatment received […]

A grazing trial was carried out to evaluate the effect of two forage masses on the animal yield from natural pasture over-sown with exotic legumes species (white clover – Trifolium repens, red clover – Trifolium pratense and birdsfoottrifoil – Lotus corniculatus). The grazing method consisted of a variable continuous stocking rate over the period from July 2003 to April 2004. The experimental treatments were two forage masses: low forage mass (LFM) (1,021 kg of DM/ha) and high forage mass (HFM) […]

Twenty Jersey calves were used to investigate the effects of different ether extract levels of a commercial milk replacer on body weight, average daily weight gain, height at withers, heart girth, and starter intake from the 8th to the 90th day after birth. It was of particular interest to determine the optimum milk replacer ether extract level. This trial was conducted at EMBRAPA Clima Temperado, CPACT, from October 2000 to May 2001. Animals were assigned, according to their birth date, […]

The effect of genetic drift in populations under selection with different effective sizes was evaluated using data simulated by the GENESYS program. Selection was applied during 20 generations based on Individual selection (IS) using breeding values predicted by classical best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) and BLUP associated with molecular markers (BLUPM). The similarity matrix used in BLUPM was obtained by simulation of 100 micro-satellites markers (simple sequence repeats) using a similarity coefficient corresponding to the mean Euclidean distance for quantitative […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the nutritional quality and fermentation characteristics of sugarcane silages treated with inoculant (Lactobacillus plantarum in doses of 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 x 106 cfu/g NM), 40% sodium hydroxide solution (3% dry matter basis), or 10% of soybean crop residue added according to the sugarcane fresh weight. The variety RB855536 harvested at 11 and 13 months of age was used. The experiment was conducted at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa Animal Science Department, […]

This trial was conducted to study the production and biological efficiency of 48 buffaloes averaging 18 months of age and initial body weight of 330 kg finished in feedlot. Sixteen animals from each of the following breeds were used: Murrah (MUR), Jafarabadi (JAF), and Mediterranean (MED). Within each genetic group, four animals (references) were randomly assigned to initial slaughter in order to determine empty body weight (EBW) and initial carcass. The remaining 12 animals from each genetic group were randomly […]

This work was conducted to determine the energy requirements for broilers using the factorial method. The metabolizable energy (ME) requirements for maintenance (MEm) were determined at 13, 23 and 32ºC (±2 C) by the comparative slaughter technique. ME requirements for weight gain were estimated considering the net efficiency of energy utilization for growth and body energy content. The energy requirements for maintenance were of 159.36, 116.17, and 128.66 kcal/kg0.75/day at 13, 23, and 32ºC, respectively, and quadratic effect of temperature […]

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of wilting and the application of bacterial enzymatic additive (BEA) or buffered propionic acid (BPA) on the fermentation characteristics and chemical composition of Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) silage stored in big square bales wrapped with plastic sheet. The experimental treatments were: five forage dry matter contents (250, 350, 450, 550 and 650 g/kg DM) without BEA (WoA), three forage dry matter contents (250, 350 and 650 g/kg DM) with BEA […]