The objective of this trial was to evaluate the carcass physical composition and meat quality of crossbred cull cows, from the second (G2- 3/4Charolais (C) Nellore (N) and 3/4NC) and third (G3 – 5/8CN and 5/8NC) generations of Charolais – Nellore rotational crossbreeding, feedlot finished and slaughtered at 465, 507 and 566 kg. At the beginning of the experiment, the average age, weight and body condition were, respectively, 8.5 years, 388.6 kg and 2.35 points. The diet, with 48:52 roughage:concentrate […]

Records of milk and fat yields were used to study the effects of sire x herd and sire x herd-year interactions on genetic values of Brown Swiss breed sires. The (co)variance components were estimated by the restricted maximum likelihood method, by using three models with multitrait. In these models, the genetic group, season of calving and herd-year class were considered as fixed effects, while the animal effects, the permanent environment, the interaction of either sire x herd or sire x […]

Heritability estimates of growth traits are essential informations in animal breeding programs. In this paper, 869 heritability estimates of birth weight, weaning weight, weight at 365 days old and weight at 550 days old, of 186 reports were compiled. The estimates were divided in groups using the Ward method of cluster analysis, and pooled by meta-analysis. It was observed, for all traits, that groups from Nelore breed, majority in Brasil, showed greater pooled heritability estimates than the other groups. The […]

The effects of increasing levels of citrus pulp on fermentation pattern and nutritive value of elephantgrass silage was evaluated. Elephantgrass harvested at 90 days was ensiled with increasing levels of dried citrus pulp: 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15% (fresh matter basis). Silages were produced in 28 plastic experimental silos (4 replicates/treatment) bearing Bunsen valves. Silos were opened 106 days after ensiling, when samples were taken for the analysis of silages organic acids and chemical components. Silage dry […]

Four ruminally and duodenally cannulated Nellore steers were assigned to a 4 x 4 latin square to study the effects of feeding monensin (M) and different sources of fat on the ruminal population of ciliate protozoa and ruminal pH. The experimental diets contained (DM basis) 19% of sugar cane and were supplemented with M [control (CTRL)], M plus calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFA), M plus whole cottonseed (MWCS), or only WCS. Ruminal contents were sampled at 0, 2, 4, […]

The performance of beef heifers in black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) plus ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pasture was evaluated in this trial. The treatments evaluated were: ‘No Supplement’- animals in black oat plus ryegrass pasture; ‘Increasing’ – animals in black oat plus ryegrass pasture, receiving increasing levels of supplement (wheat bran): 0.3; 0.6; 0.9; 1.2 to 1.5% body weight (BW) during the pasture cycle; ‘Fixed’ – animals in black oat plus ryegrass pasture, fed 0.9% BW of supplement during all […]

With the objective to evaluate the effect of feed restriction on fecal mineral content of finishing swine, forty-eight barrows, with initial weight of 41.92 ± 0.27 kg were assigned to a randomized experimental block design. Treatments were: T1=ad libitum feeding; T2=95% T1 feed intake; and T3 = 90% T1 feed intake and 16 replications. Animals were kept during 21 days in adaptation period to the treatments in collective pens and metabolism cages. Urine and fecal collection was performed during two […]

The aims of this research were to determine economic selection indices in order to reach the target objective for a Caracu cattle nucleus. The breeding objective (H) considered a dual purpose breed producing milk and weaning calves. The biological traits affecting income and expenses considered in H were: total milk yield, age at first calving, number of days open, weaning weight, and productive lifetime. Two economic selection indices were calculated. The selection criteria included in Index 1 were first lactation […]

Two experiments were carried out from December/1997 to June/1998. One experiment was performed on hilly area e and the second one on lowland area. These experiments aimed to evaluate the tolerance to flooding and low soil water potential of three commercial Brachiaria species (B. decumbens cv. Basilisk, B. brizantha cv. Marandu e B. mutica) and three acesses (B. brizantha B-11, B. humidicola cv. Tupi and B. dictyoneura). Morphogenetical, productive and plant water status were the variables assessed. In each experiment […]

In order to estimate fecal production and digesta flow of cattle, three assays were carried out using indigestible NDF and ADF as internal markers, applying in vitro and in situ incubation procedures, as well as chromium oxide as an external marker. The experiment was a randomized block design in a factorial arrangement. Indigestible NDF and ADF contents exhibited high variation despite the methodology employed (in vitro or in situ). These results indicate that, eventually, 144-h incubation time does not reproduce […]