The objective of the study was to evaluate, for two consecutive years, the weaning age effect on the reproductive performance of 121 Bradford heifers mated at 13/15 months old. Two weaning ages were assessed: at 77 days, early weaning (EW) or at 147 days, conventional weaning (CW). The heifers were born in 2004 (66) and 2005 (55). After weaning, heifers were kept initially on cultivated summer pasture (Pennisetum americanum, L.) and afterward on cultivated winter/spring pasture (Avena strigosa Schreb plus […]

The objective of this study was to identify and to correlate parameters that characterize puberty and estimate the age and weight of Suffolk ewe lambs in Mato Grosso do Sul. This study was carried out with twenty-two Suffolk ewe lambs for 256 days. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein and centrifugated and the plasma were stored at -20°C until analysis of progesterone (P4) concentration by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The morphometric measurements included: head length and width, body length, elbow […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in sire genetic values obtained by a conventional animal model (AM) and by a reaction norms hierarchical model (RNHM) that considers the genotype by environment interaction. A total of 25,500 records was used collected by PROMEBO – beef cattle improvement program of the National Breeders Association “Herd Book Collares” on Devon cattle born from 1980 though 2005. Post weaning gain 345 adjusted (PWG345) was the evaluated trait and the INTERGEN program […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate two grazing intervals (IG) for elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum cv. Cameroon) pasture: one variable, determined by the entry of animals to the paddocks when 95% of active photosynthetic radiation was intercepted by the sward, and fixed 26-day grazing interval. Eight dairy cows were used, averaging 124 days lactation, 516 kg body weight and 17.5 kg daily milk production at the beginning of the trial. The experimental period was 80 days divided […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition, digestibility and in situ degradation of dry matter of the diet consumed by sheep grazing on Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania under three defoliation frequencies, determined by the interception of the photosynthetically active radiation in the canopy (PAR) of 85, 95 and 97% on the first and fourth days of the grazing period. A randomized complete design in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement (three defoliation frequencies and two days […]

This research was conducted to evaluate the effects of burning and additivess (urea, sodium benzoate, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), Propionibacterium acidipropionici + Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus buchneri) on sugar cane silage. A randomized complete design was used, in a 2 × 6 factorial scheme with two sugar cane forages (natural or burned) and six treatments (five additive sources plus a control) with three replications. The gas and effluent losses during the fermentation process and dry matter recovery (DMR) were determined. Greater […]

The effects of the digestible lysine level were assessed in feeds for Nile tilapia fingerlings (Oreochromis niloticus), based on the ideal protein concept. Four hundred and thirty two reverted fingerlings were used, average weight 1.12 ± 0.02 g, in a randomized complete design, consisting of 6 feeds, six replications and twelve fish per experimental unit. The diets consisted of a basal diet with 29.12% crude protein and 3,000 kcal/kg digestible energy, supplemented with synthetic amino acids, resulting in six diets […]

The objective on this study was to assess the effects of gender and concentrate allowance level (0.6 and 1.2 % body weight) on body composition and deposition of the main body tissues and chemical components of the empty body weight in Nellore cattle of different gender (bulls, steers and heifers). Thirty five animals were used, fed individually for 112 days, and then slaughtered. A reference group was slaughtered at the beginning of the trial, with average body weight of 338 […]

The effects of nitrogen levels of protein supplements were evaluated on the concentrations of ammonical nitrogen (N-NH3), volatile fatty acids (VFA’s) concentrations and pH in beef cattle grazing Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. The microbial protein synthesis, ruminal undegradable protein (RUP) and endogenous crude protein (ECP) and their contributions to the pool of metabolizable protein (MP). Four Nelore steer, 395 ± 9 kg, fitted with ruminal cannulas, were used to evaluate ruminal parameters, degradability, ruminal kinetics and microbial synthesis in a […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feed supplementation on the chemical and tissue composition of leg and loin from carcass of Santa Inês lambs, finished on pasture. Twenty-four castrated 3 to 4 month-old Santa Inês lambs were used, initial live body weight (LW) 15.8 kg, distributed in three concentrate supplementation levels (0.0, 1.0 and 1.5% LW). A randomized complete design was used, with three treatments and eight replications (lambs). The leg and loin were dissected […]