Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the reduction of crude protein (CP) in diets supplemented with synthetic amino acids for piglets of 15 to 30 kg. In the performance assay (Exp I), 60 piglets with initial weight of 15.34±0.87 kg and final weight of 30.08±1.59 kg were distributed in a randomized block design with six replicates, five treatments and two animals per experimental unit. The treatments consisted of five diets in which the CP was reduced by 1.5 percentage […]

The objective of this study was to characterize the sorghum farming and ensiling systems in the Cariri region of Paraíba State (Brazil), and to identify different groups of producers based on productive characteristics using frequency distributions, and principal component and cluster analyses. A total of 100 milk producers in the Caturité and Boqueirão municipalities in the dairy region of Cariri, Paraíba, were selected to fill out a questionnaire comprised of 32 questions to collect data on both qualitative and quantitative […]

The objective was to evaluate the use of woody legumes (Albizia lebbeck, Cratylia argentea, Dipteryx Allata (Baru), a Leucaena hybrid (L. leucocephala + L. diversifolia), and Leucaena leucocephalacv. Cunningham) and herbaceous legumes (Arachis pintoi) intercropped with Panicum maximum cv. Massai, simultaneously implanted in a maize crop. The study made use of a randomized block experimental design with four replications. Assessments of biomass accumulation and forage nutritional value were made after the maize harvest, between June 2008 and October 2010. It […]

The objective of this study was to analyze the behavior of three genetic groups of confined goats by image monitoring using nine unneutered goats of the Azul, Graúna and Moxotó genotypes. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement (genetic groups × periods – morning, afternoon and night), with three replications. Animals were monitored by video cameras placed at the ceiling of each stall for 10 days. There were interaction factors in the frequency of […]

Twenty weaned male hair lambs with average body live weight of 19.20 kg±2.18 kg (SD) were used to evaluate the effect of zeranol on growth, composition and carcass yield. The animals were distributed into a completely randomized design with two treatments: no anabolics (control); and treatment with zeranol, using a subcutaneous dose of 10 mg/50 kg body live weight. Lambs received a diet with 15 g/100 g of crude protein and 2.8 Mcal of metabolizable energy/kg dry matter for 84 […]

The objective was to evaluate elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) pastures, under the agroecological and conventional systems, as forage mass and stocking rate. In the agroecological system, the elephant grass was established in rows spaced by 3.0 m from each other. During the cool season ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was established between these rows, which allowed the development of spontaneous growth species during the warm season. In the conventional system the elephant grass was established singularly in rows spaced 1.4 […]

The changes in the concentration of trans-vaccenic (C18:1t-11) and rumenic (C18:2c-9,t-11) acids in the milk from cows grazing on Pennisetum clandestinum, fed a supplement containing palm oil, rice bran or whole cottonseed were evaluated. Three supplements were assessed: one control supplement containing palm oil (C), with a low concentration of linoleic acid mainly from palm oil, and two supplements containing rice bran (RB) or whole cottonseed (CS) as the main source of linoleic acid. Six Holstein cows (4.2±1.7 years of […]

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the use of babassu mesocarp meal (BMM) and corn in different physical forms on the feeding behavior of crossbred young bulls of a dairy breed. Twenty-four crossbred (Nellore vs. Holstein) steers (307.35 kg) were fed four experimental diets containing two levels of inclusion of the babassu mesocarp meal (0 and 412.4 g/kg) and corn in two physical forms (kernels or ground) for 98 days. Data was collected on […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cleaning and decontamination procedures in liquid nitrogen tanks. We evaluated 151 canisters and 133 bottoms from 133 nitrogen tanks of companies or farms for the presence of bacteria and fungi. Samples were collected from the canisters and the bottom of tanks containing liquid nitrogen. Tanks were divided into Group 1 (G1): tanks decontaminated with 2% glutaraldehyde – Glutaron® II (n = 16 canisters in 8 tanks); Group 2 (G2): […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the processing of millet grain provided at two supplementation frequencies for grazing beef cattle during the dry season on nutritional parameters. Five rumen-cannulated crossbred steers, with 24 to 26 months of age and average body weight of 428.6±26.06 kg, were assigned to a Latin square design (5 × 5) in a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement, as follows: two forms of millet grain (whole grains – or ground; WG – […]