Four effects related to the establishment of breeding season in production systems were analysed using a bioeconomic simulation model arise from implantation of breeding season in production systems. The effects were: decrease calf’s mortality rate (10 to 4%) (effect A); reduction of bulls:cows relation from 1:25 to 1:33 (effect B); increase reproduction of cows (65 to 75%) (effect C); and reduction of herdsman number (effect D). With these effects were five scenery. The rate increase of present net value and […]

Fifteen years of data from a flock of Bergamasca sheep weighed every two weeks was analyzed using non-linear methods to determine parameters of three growth curves (Brody , Richards and Logistic). The curve parameters were analyzed using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) procedures GLM and CORR to determine factors which influenced them and correlations between the parameters and weights at determined ages. Fixed effects in the model included lambing number, sex of lamb, type of birth and month and age of […]

Beef tenderness is influenced by the activity of the calpain proteolytic system during postmortem aging. Calcium propionate increases blood calcium concentration enough to active these calcium-dependent proteases, and improve beef tenderness The objectives were to evaluate calcium propionate orally supply in quali-quantitative carcass characteristics of beef cattle. In this study, 24 steers (3/4 Simenthal+1/4Nellore) received 0 or 630 g calcium propionate orally, 12 hours before slaughter. After slaughter, tenderness (shear force), cooking losses (1, 8 and 15 days of aging […]

Live weight at the beginning of the finishing period (IFW), average daily gain (ADG), slaughter weight (SW), cold carcass weight (CCW), carcass dressing percentage (DP), subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) and slaughter age in days (SA) of 32 castrated males Braford, previously weaned at 100 (EW) or 180 days (CW) and slaughtered at 13-14 months old, were evaluated. From CW (03/06/01) until the beginning of finishing period (08/09/01), when passed to an improved pasture of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.), the calves […]

The objective of this work was to obtain equations to estimate hot carcass weight (PCQ) and dressing percentage (RC) from ultrasound measurements (US) of 48 young bulls of the Brangus and Nellore breeds, fed diets with 20, 40, 60 or 80% of concentrate. Ultrasonic measurements made with a PieMedical Scanner 200 Vet equipment, with linear array transducer of 178 mm coupled with standoff guide, were ribeye area (AOLU), backfat thickness (EGSU) between 12ª and 13ª ribs and the fat thickness […]

The objective of this work was to estimate the correlations among measurements taken in vivo with ultrasound equipment with some carcass characteristics measured after slaughter. Twenty two Nellore steers, with average shrunk body weight of 279 kg and 24 months of age, were fed by 98 days with high concentrate diets. The shrunk body weight, the ribeye area (AOLU) and the fat thickness (EGSU) over the Longissimus dorsi muscle between 12ª and 13ª ribs, were measured at 28 days intervals. […]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of roasted whole soybean (RWS) in the concentrate composition to be employed to supplement feeding of Holstein cows on coastcross-1 pasture. Twelve early-lactating cows were utilized, divided into two groups as follows: A) the ones fed standard concentrate (control) containing soybean meal (23.5% CP and 80% TDN) and B) the ones fed RWS-enriched concentrate (19.5% CP and 86% TDN). In two treatments, daily feeding was of 9 […]

This work had as objective to evaluate the chemical composition alteration in the nitrogen and carbohydrate fractions, to estimate the digestion rate of fiber carbohydrates (FC) and non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC), to determine the in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and to estimate the TDN of sorghum silage with different panicle proportions (0, 20 , 40, 60, 80 and 100%). The contents of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), ash, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), nitrogen fractions: NPN, B1+B2, […]

The objective of the present experiment was to evaluate the effect of three different dietary levels of cation-anion balance (DCAB) (+122.1; -8.8; and -110.4 mEq/kg DM) offered for four weeks to groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively, on the plasma levels of ionized calcium (iCa) and total calcium (tCa), the incidence of subclinic hypocalcemia and the urine pH. Twenty-one Holstein cows were assigned to a split plot in time design with seven replications; DCAB was effects in the main plot, […]

Ruminal fermentation parameters of diets containing high moisture sorghum silage in replacement of high moisture corn silage were studied in 12 dry cows (584 kg of BW). A completely randomized design was used with three treatments: high moisture sorghum silage replacing high moisture corn silage at levels of 0, 50, and 100%. Diets contained high moisture corn or sorghum silages, extruded soybean, urea, oat hay (Avena sativa sp.), mineral supplement and monensin. The trial extended for 21 days, the last […]