This study was carried out to evaluate the productivity and quality of either Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. cv. Basilisk and Hyparrhenia rufa (Ness) Stapf. grasses fertilized with nitrogen (N) or mixed with stylosanthes (Stylosanthes guianensis (Aubl.) Swartz cv. Mineirão), introduced into a degraded pasture. Both grasses were evaluated, as well as four doses of nitrogen (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg/ha) and two treatments that consisted of mixing B. decumbens and S. guianensis as well as H. rufa and S. guianensis. […]

The experiment aimed to determine the herbage mass and to evaluate the botanical and chemical composition of a stockpiled Buffelgrass pasture during the dry season. Visual estimates were accomplished for determination of the botanical composition. Samples were cut for forage availability determination. The data were processed by the BOTANAL program. Three esophagus fistulated animals were used to evaluate the quality and botanical composition of the selected diet. On the pasture a total of 10 families, 19 genus and 19 species […]

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the fermentation characteristics, Listeria sp. and molds occurrence on Tifton 85 silage no wilted, wilted for one and two hours and no wilted with or without citrus pulp (5.0 % of fresh forage). The samplings were taken at the opening of the silos (80 days after ensiling), 15, and 30 days after air exposition to evaluated dry matter (DM) content, chemical changes (pH, ammonia N, organic acids) and Listeria sp., and molds occurrence. […]

This work aimed to evaluate animal production and pasture variables with a management of levels of 350 and 600 kg/ha of green leaf lamina biomass (GLLB). Treatments were consisted of total forage mass of 617 and 1139 kg/ha of DM, respectively, lower than recommended levels for maximum animal performance. No differences were observed on total forage and green leaf blade daily accumulation rates, on total forage production, daily live weight gain, stocking rate and gain per area, which was near […]

The objective of this work was to evaluate the distribution of assimilates produced by the top and bottom leaves of the main tiller in plants of Monbaçagrass (Panicum maximum), in two stages of plant development, and three harvest times after plant exposure to 14CO2 (three, eight and twenty four hours). The experimental treatments were arranged in a 2X2X3 factorial combination. The experimental design utilized was completely randomized. The exposure time to 14CO2 was 20 minutes. Each plant was separated into […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the genotype x environment interaction for body weight at weaning (WW) and 12 months of age (W12), average daily gain from weaning to 12 months of age (ADG), and performance based on a principal components index (PC) involving these three traits, in a Canchim (5/8 Charolais + 3/8 Zebu) herd. The environment was the season (semester) of birth, and two methods were used to evaluate the genotype x environment interaction: Method 1 […]

Breeding values were predicted for test day milk yields of Caracu cows, using univariate model (TDMO) and random regression model (RRM). The ranks were based on traditional 305-day milk yield breeding values (PTA305). For RRM, breeding values were predicted for individual test-day milk yield and for sum of all test-days (RRM305). Spearman correlation were estimated among predicted breeding values from different methodos (TDMO and RRM) and the coincidence of rank of 10% best sires were verified. Genetic lactation curves of […]

The effect of hCG administration on reproductive performance of Alpine goats during the natural breeding season was evaluated. Thirty-two nulliparous and 124 lactating goats, after estrus identification and breeding, were randomly assigned according to the categories to two treatments. In T1 (n=75) and T2 (n=81) the animals received 1 mL of saline solution or 250 IU of hCG intramuscularly, respectively, five days after breeding. Pregnancy was detected and confirmed on days 35 and 70 after breeding by transabdominal ultrasonography (3.5 […]

Heritability and genetic correlations coefficients in different levels of milk production and fat were evaluated in this study. A data set of 8,887 milk and fat records from 5,875 Holstein cows, sired by 1,125 bulls from 1984 to 2001 were used. Data were stratified in three levels according to the herd milk production, low (<6000 kg), medium (>6000 a <7500 kg) and high (>7500 kg). The (co)variance components were estimated by Restricted Maximum Likelihood Method including in an animal model […]

Two digestibility trials were carried out, to study the nutritional value of four types of pearl millet (BN2, Comum, Iapar and Iapar-Repasse), grounded through 3, 2, and 1 mm screen. The digestibility coefficient (DC) of gross energy (GEDC) and gross energy metabolization coefficient (GEMC) relative to 3 mm screen were: 63.09 and 61.20% (Comum); 71.57 and 69.66% (Iapar) and 67.39 and 65.60% (BN2). The GEDC and GEMC of COMUM were lower than IAPAR and both were similar to BN2. The […]