A method was used to account for heterogeneous phenotypic variance for milk yield across herds and over time based on variance for each herd-year class in genetic evaluation of Minas Gerais State Holstein. Phenotypic variances increased twice as within subclass averages increased from 4,000 to 10,000 kg and also with increases in subclass size. Data were standardized to a common variance and the breeding values obtained before and after adjustment were compared. Small variations of Predicted Transmitting Abilities (PTAs) and […]

Carcass characteristics of 463 steers, born during 1984 to 1996, from two breeding systems: straightbreds (S) and F1 crossbreds were studied. The S breeding system included the 188 Charolais (C) and 125 Nellore (N) steers and the F1 included 72 1/2 C 1/2 N and 78 1/2 N 1/2 C steers. F1 steers were superior than the purebreds in carcass fat percentage, muscle / bone relation, muscle + fat / bone relation and marbling score, being heterosis levels of 3.33, […]

One experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance and carcass yield of two strains of male broilers fed the diets with different profiles of amino acids from 43 to 56 days of age. Data of performance (weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion), carcass yield (dressing, breast, wing, legs, head, back percentage, abdominal fat) and edible bowels (gizzard, liver and heart) were collected. The experimental design involved eight treatments in a factorial 2×4 (two strains – Hubbard and HI-Yield and […]

Four hundred Avian Farms male broiler chicks from 1 to 21 days of age, with average weight of 35 ± 0.15 g, were kept under high temperature environment, where the air temperature was maintained in 29.1oC, the relative humidity in 59.7 ± 3.16%, the black globe temperature in 28.9 ± 0.42oC and the black globe humidity index (BGHI) in 77.4 ± 0.59. A completely randomized design, with five treatments (1.04; 1.10; 1.16; 1.22 and 1.28% of total dietary lysine level), […]

This study was run to evaluate the effect of inclusion of an enzymatic cocktail, containing proteases, amilases and cellulases (Vegpro) in broiler diets. The cocktail was added with the ration of 1 kg per 200 kg of soybean meal. Two thousand and forty female Ross chicks were distributed in eight treatments with seven replicates each. A split-plot experimental design was used. Treatments consisted of T1 ¾ control (no enzyme added), T2 ¾ diet five percent lower in energy, protein and […]

In order to study the effects of L- glutamic acid (L-Glu) levels on contents of collagenous (CP), non collagenous (NCP) total proteins (TP) and minerals in femur and tibia of male broiler chicks, one experiment was conducted with day-old broiler chicks, male Hubbard, reared in electrically heated batteries with raised wire mesh floors and fed purified amino acid diets and water ad libitum for a 14 days period. The basal diet contained all essential L-amino acids, minerals and vitamins at […]

The carcass physical composition, meat quality and cholesterol content in the Longissimus dorsi muscle of 24 Red Angus steers finished in feedlot with different weights were evaluated. Steers average age and weight at the beginning of the feedlot were, respectively, eight months and 189 kg. The number of days on feed was 114, 144, 173 and 213 days to reach the slaughter weight (PA) of 340, 373, 400.6 or 433.6 kg. The carcass composition was affected by the slaugther weight, […]

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the performance of calves fed liquid diets based on integral milk or fermented colostrum, with or without addition of soybean oil, with or without zeranol application, as growth promoter. The calves development was evaluated from 15 to 60 days of age and the studied variables were: body weight (BW), withers height (WH) and heart girth circumference (HGC) at 60th day; solid feed intake (SFI); and weight gain (WG), withers increment (WI) and […]

Body composition of 42 crossbreed bulls ¼ B. indicus x ¾ B. taurus of either Continental (Guelbvieh) or British (Shorthorn) paternal breed and Caracu x Nelore cows (9 months old and initial empty body weight of 243 kg), were evaluated. Six animals were slaughtered after the adaptation period to obtain the initial body composition. The other 36 animals were fed diets formulated with 9, 15 and 21% of sugar cane bagasse in natura (BIN) and concentrated. There were no significant […]

The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of ¾ European x ¼ Zebu crossbred bulls of British or Continental paternal breed, fed high concentrate diets containing 9, 15 or 21% of the dry matter (DM) with sugarcane bagasse (BIN) in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement. Thirty-six crossbred bulls, 9 months old and 257 kg of shrink body weight were fed, two per pen, for 139 days. There was no difference in shrink body weight gain between […]