The present work was developed in order to determine the protein and energy apparent digestibility coefficients of the principal ingredients used in the pintado juvenile diets. Six hundred juveniles with initial weight and total length means of 9.80 ± 1.48 g and 13.00 ± 1.00 cm, respectively, were used. The modified Guelph system was appraised to collect feces. All the twelve test diets were constituted of 69.50% of the reference diet, 0.50% of chromium oxide used as inert marker, and […]

The experiment was carried out at the experimental station of EMBRAPA/National Dairy Research, at Coronel Pacheco, in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais, to evaluate the qualitative aspects of nutrient recycling through the feces of grazing bovines. A 110 square meter plot was located in a previous established pasture of Brachiaria decumbens. The feces patches produced by the three animals remained in the area per 10 weeks and covered 0.8% of the surface. It was possible to observe […]

A trial was carried out in green-house to estimate morphogenic traits and growth indices of Mombaçagrass development. Three growths were considered: the seminal, establishment growth (G1) and the regrowths following a clipping taken on the 16th (G2) and 37th (G3) days of the seminal growth. The variables assessed were the growth indices: relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), leaf area ratio (LAR), and the rates of leaf appearance, elongation, expansion and senescence. Accordingly, harvests were taken at the […]

The objectives of this experiment were to determine dry matter intake (DMI), apparent digestibility of dry matter (ADMD), organic matter (ADOM), neutral detergent fiber (ADNDF), in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) and protein and carbohydrate fractions of Bermuda grass hay harvested at 21, 42, 63 and 84 days. The experimental design used to estimate the feed intake and the apparent digestibility was a 4 x 4 Latin square and to evaluate age effect was used regression analysis. Dry matter intake (DMI) […]

Morphogenetic and structural variables were obtained from measurements performed on marked tillers and were quantified during August to October 1999 in a ryegrass pasture grazed by sheep under continuous stocking and variable stocking rate in order to maintain the sward at four different heights (5, 10, 15 and 20 cm). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replicates. Fifty marked tillers per experimental unit were assessed and distributed along transects lines. Sward measurements were performed in two […]

This work was carried out to evaluate the productive potencial and chemical composition of five grasses (Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cv. Pioneiro, P. purpureum Schum cv. Mott; Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Mombaça, P. maximum Jacq cv. Tanzânia, e Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst) Stapf. cv. Marandu). The cuts were performed at 35 days of intervals and 40 cm above ground. Pioneiro showed higher DM yield (7.35 t DM/ha/35 days) when compared to the Dwarf Elephantgrass (5.28 t DM/ha/35 days) and Tanzânia grass (5.23 […]

One experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of five levels of coffee hulls (0, 8.7, 17.4, 26.1, and 34.8 kg/100 kg of fresh forage) on the bromatologic composition and IVDMD of elephantgrass silage. Fifteen plastic silos measuring .25 of diameter x .75 of height were used. In the ensiling process the forage received a pressure of 550 kg/m³. The results showed that the percentage of dry matter increased linearly with increasing of coffee hulls. It was estimated an increasing […]

Cluster analysis principles were used to allot bulls to be used as Multiple Service sires (MS). Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) on pre- and postweaning traits were used to calculate distances between bulls. EPDs were standardized and weighed to form a final selection index. The criteria to form lots was based on minimizing the sum of all standardized distances for all possible pairs of bulls. The program was tested on a set of 158 top bulls from a Nelore herd. A […]

The traits of the haircoat (haircoat thickness, average hair lenght with respect skin surface, number of hair per unit area, hair mass density, hair angle and average hair diameter) were estimated in 973 Holstein cattle in the period between November 2000 and April of 2001. These traits were measured in an area 20cm below the dorsal line in the center of the thorax, for the black as for the white haircoat. Hair samplings were performed with adapted pliers. The method […]

The objetive of this experiment was to evaluate a system of thermal artificial condition for gestation sow housing, at Ponte Nova-MG. A total of 95 Cambourough 22® sows from the second parturition were assigned to two treatments. Forty-six sows of treatment one were submitted, during the first 35 days of gestation, to a system of controlled thermal artificial condition (fans and aspersion) which were automatically turned on according to the air temperature (VFN). In treatment two, during the same period […]