The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of diets with different neutral detergent fiber levels derived from the forage (NDFf), on ruminal parameters (pH and ammonia) in dairy goats. Five non-lactating goats were used, with fistulae in the rumen. The animals were arranged in a 5 × 5 Latin square using the NDFf levels (19, 27, 35, 42 and 18%), as independent variables. The increase in the NDFf levels of the rations reduced linearly the coefficients of […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of gender and production system on the carcass characteristics of Blanca Serrana Andaluza goats. Thirty-one animals were used, 12 males and 19 females, distributed in intensive (15 animals) and extensive (16 animals) production systems. No difference was observed in performance, carcass weight and body score between the gender or production system but the hot and cold carcass yields were greater for the animals finished in a feedlot. The carcass measurements […]

The effects were assessed of substituting half the total diet protein in solid form (soybean meal) with liquid form (soybean milk) at solid:liquid ratios of: 100.0:0% L; 87.5:12.5% L; 75.0:25.0% L. Twenty-four Holstein breed 60-d male calf steers were assigned to a randomized block design, with three concentrate (80%) diets and 20% coast-cross (Cynodon dactylon) hay, balanced for nitrogen and energy. In the diets with liquid parts, the intention was to keep the functional reflex of the esophageal groove throughout […]

The objective of this research was to evaluate the dry matter intake (DMI) and nutrient consumption in Nellore and Red Norte steer finished in a feedlot and compare the actual and predicted values by NRC (2000), CNCPS 5.0 and BR-CORTE systems. Forty-one animals, 19 Nellore and 22 Red Norte steers, with initial live weight of 361 ± 31 kg and 367 ± 30 kg, respectively, were used. The experiment lasted 84 days, with 28 days for adaptation and 56 experimental […]

A simulation model was developed and validated with the objective of evaluating and predicting the productive performance of steers with different weights and initial ages kept on Panicum sp. or Brachiaria sp. cultivated pastures in tropical and subtropical regions. The model established the direct relationships between two main components (animal and fodder plant) and two indirect components (climate and soil). The animal component included: intake of forage dry matter, supplement intake, stocking rate, initial weight and age of the animals, […]

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the intake, apparent digestibility and the milk yield of goats fed elephant grass silages containing industrial by-products. Eight Saanen breed goats were used, distributed in two 4 × 4 Latin squares, with four 14-day periods (ten days of adaptation and four days for data collection). The treatments were: elephant grass silage + concentrate; elephant grass silage containing 15% cassava meal + concentrate; elephant grass silage containing 15% coffee hulls + concentrate; elephant grass […]

This paper shows the Bayesian approach as an alternative to the classical analysis of nonlinear models for ruminal degradation data. The data set was obtained from a Latin square experimental design, established for testing the ruminal degradation of dry matter, crude protein and fiber in neutral detergent of three silages: elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum) with bacterial inoculant or enzyme-bacterial inoculant and corn silage (Zea mays L.). The incubation times were 0, 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 […]

The objective of this study was to assess the variation in the pH, ruminal ammonia, nitrogen compound balance (BN) and microbial synthesis (Nmic) of 12 Holstein cows distributed in three 4 × 4 Latin squares, fed diets containing soybeans in different forms: only soybean meal (SM – control diet), raw soybeans (RS), toasted soybeans (RST) and soybean meal plus 5% urea (SMU), using corn silage as bulk. The microbial protein synthesis was estimated using the purine derivatives in the urine […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of storage temperature and sample age on the total bacterial count (TBC) of milk samples preserved with azidiol to verify whether a single sample could be used to perform regulatory milk analysis under the Normative Instruction 51 (IN-51). Three hundred and twenty milk aliquots were used collected from an expansion tank to assess three storage temperatures (0 ºC – frozen: 7 ºC – refrigerated, and 24 ºC – room temperature), […]

The objective was to determine in vivo and carcass measurements of culled ewes slaughtered at different physiological stages and the possible correlations between the objective measurements (in vivo and in the carcass) and the body weight at slaughter and cold carcass weight. Twenty-one Santa Inês ewes were used, placed in the following treatments: EL = ewes which remained in lactation for 60 days with their respective lambs and slaughtered one day after weaning the lambs; EWL = ewes which remained […]