Milk yield of primiparous and multiparous Hereford cows grazing native pastures was studied using 144 lactations from four different years (1995, 1998, 2000, 2001). Estimates of milk yield were obtained every 21-day interval from birth to weaning (189 d) by the weigh-suckle-weigh technique. Effects of year, calving order, pregnancy, calf sex, and sire breed were studied. Multiparous cows (8.27+0.26 kg/d) yielded more milk than primiparous cows (5.81+0.25 kg/d) at peak of lactation (42 d). Total milk yield also was higher […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate correlations between ultrasonography measurements and carcass traits of 115 steers (Nellore, ½ Angus-Nellore, ½ Simmental-Nellore, and Canchim) averaging 329 kg of initial body weight and two different finishing frame sizes (small and large). After 120 days in a feedlot, body weight, rib eye area (RA), and fat thickness (FT) were measured by ultrasound. Following slaughter, carcass RA and FT measurements and weights of hindquarter, forequarter, and commercial cuts were all taken; body […]

This study was conducted to evaluate the use of ultrasound measurements to predict carcass composition of 115 steers (Nellore, ½ Angus x Nellore, ½ Simental x Nellore, and Canchim) with different frame sizes (small and large) and average initial body weight of 329 kg. After 120 days in a feedlot, animals were weighed followed by ultrasound measurements of rib eye area (RA) and fat thickness (FT). Animals were slaughtered and measurements of carcass RA and FT, weights of hindquarter, forequarter, […]

A model fitted to grazing females Nellore during the rearing periods of the Cerrado Region of Central Brazil was simulated and validated in this study. Body weight gain (BWG) was determined during three years as follows: 1) first dry season after weaning on Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst) Stapf., 2) rainfall season and 3) second dry season both on Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzânia and averaged 0.020, 0.550, and 0.172 kg, respectively. In the second rainfall season during the rearing period heifers […]

Twenty Jersey calves were used to investigate the effects of different ether extract levels of a commercial milk replacer on body weight, average daily weight gain, height at withers, heart girth, and starter intake from the 8th to the 90th day after birth. It was of particular interest to determine the optimum milk replacer ether extract level. This trial was conducted at EMBRAPA Clima Temperado, CPACT, from October 2000 to May 2001. Animals were assigned, according to their birth date, […]

The objective of this trial was to investigate the effects of different dietary crude protein levels (10.5, 12, 13.5, and 15%) on ruminal pH, ruminal concentration of ammonia nitrogen, ruminal passage rate, nitrogen balance, and microbial protein synthesis in Holstein x Zebu steers. Diets contained 65% of Tifton 85 bermudagrass hay and 35% of concentrate. Four castrated steers averaging 487.3 kg of initial body weight and fitted with ruminal and abomasal cannulas were randomly assigned to a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Each […]

Twelve Holstein-Zebu lactating dairy cows were used to study the effects of different carbohydrate sources and soybean oil on dry matter intake, milk yield, and milk composition. The following carbohydrate sources were used: corn (CO), wheat bran (WB) or citric pulp (CP) with 0 or 2.25% of soybean oil. No significant interactions between soybean oil and carbohydrate sources were observed in this trial. Both dry matter intake (18.4 kg/day) and milk yield (23.5 kg/day) did not differ among carbohydrate sources […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of dietary monensin and soybean oil on milk fatty acid (FA) profile in the 5th and 15th week of lactation of dairy cows. Sixteen multiparous crossbred dairy cows averaging 30 days in milk were assigned to a completely randomized block design in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement (presence or absence of monensin and soybean oil). The following diets were used: control not supplemented with monensin or soybean oil (CT), […]

The objective of this trial was to study the nutritional divergence of sugarcane genotypes for feeding ruminants. The following sugarcane genotypes were evaluated: RB72454, RB835486, SP80-1842, IAC86-2480, RB977512, RB867515, RB935566, RB925345, RB977625, SP79-1011, SP80-1816, SP81-3250, and SP91-1049 all harvested at 11 months of age. The discriminatory variables were: neutral detergent fiber (NDF), hemicellulose, lignin, NDF to soluble carbohydrate ratio, NDF undegradable fraction, and rates of NDF and DM degradation. Application of the cluster analyses according to the Tocher approach, using […]

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of pre and postnatal feed restriction on growth and production of Santa Inês lambs from weaning to slaughter. Forty-eight lambs were assigned to three treatments as follows: lambs with prenatal feed restriction (PRER), lambs with postnatal feed restriction (POSTR), and lambs with no feed restriction (Control). Average daily feed intake (as fed basis) of lambs on POSTR treatment (624 g/d) was significantly lower (P<0.05) than that of lambs on control (757 g/d) […]