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 trial was to evaluate the effects of different physical forms of soybean on average daily weight gain (ADWG), final body weight (FBW), carcass yield (CY), ruminal pH, and ruminal ammonia concentration on crossbred steers fineshed at pasture. Animals were fed three times per week a supplement containing a mineral mix and one of the following protein sources: ground whole soybean (GWS), whole soybean (WSB) or soybean meal and ground corn (SMGC); steers on control treatment received […]

The objective of this trial was to study the effects of recombinant bovine somatotropin on milk yield and composition, blood metabolites and hormonal profile in lactating goats. Twenty-four Toggenburg goats were assigned to one of two treatments as follows: T1 (n=12) received injection of 250 mg of r-bST, every 14 days (four injections), and T2 (n=12) received injections of saline solution (control). No significant differences on milk yield and composition (fat, protein, and dry extract) were observed comparing r-bST-treated goats […]

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of high moisture corn and high moisture sorghum versus corn and sorghum grains on intake and production of feedlot lambs. Confinement lasted 77 days and was divided in two periods as follows: in the first 35 days elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) was used in a forage:concentrate ratio of 50:50 while Brachiaria-grass (Brachiaria brizantha) hay was used in a forage:concentrate of 30:70 in the remaining 42 days. Animals were blocked by weight […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate carcass traits of 56 bulls from three genetics groups averaging 18 months of age and receiving two feeding levels. Twelve bulls were slaughtered in the beginning of the study and used as reference animals. The remaining 16 genetically improved Nellore, 12 ordinary Nellore, and 16 genetically improved Caracu averaging 404, 345, and 434 kg of initial body weight, respectively, were randomly assigned to a completely randomized designed with a 2 x 3 […]

The trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding increasing levels (0, 10, 20 and 30%) of fish residues silage on the chemical composition of this silage with 30% wheat meal and on the performance of tilapia Nile fingerlings. Nile tilapia filleting residues were handle chopped, grounded and heated during 15 minutes at 105°C. After this procedure, it was added 30% wheat meal relative to residue total weight. The material was stored in plastic silos with 20 liters capacity […]

This work was conducted to determine the energy requirements for broilers using the factorial method. The metabolizable energy (ME) requirements for maintenance (MEm) were determined at 13, 23 and 32ºC (±2 C) by the comparative slaughter technique. ME requirements for weight gain were estimated considering the net efficiency of energy utilization for growth and body energy content. The energy requirements for maintenance were of 159.36, 116.17, and 128.66 kcal/kg0.75/day at 13, 23, and 32ºC, respectively, and quadratic effect of temperature […]

The effects of feeding different calcium levels and limestone particle sizes on body and morphometric development of the digestive tract in replacement pullets were evaluated in this trial. One thousand and four hundred Lohmann LSL replacement pullets were assigned to a complete randomized design with a 5 x 2 factorial (calcium levels and limestone particle size) and five replicates of 28 and 18 birds/plot, respectively, for the periods from 3 to 7 and from 8 to 12 weeks old. The […]

Two trials were carried out to evaluate the moisture sorghum silage (HMSS) with high or low tannin content as ingredient in broiler chicken diets. In the digestibility trial, ninety 20-d chicks were assigned to a completely randomized design with three treatments and six replications, and five chicks per experimental unit. Coefficients of metabolizable dry matter (MDM), metabolizable protein (MP), metabolizable starch (MS), metabolizable organic matter (MOM) and metabolizable energy (ME) of HMSS with high tannin, as-fed basis (66.22%DM), were as […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the chemical composition and fungal microbiota of different proportions of elephantgrass and mesquite pod silages: 100:0, 67:33, 34:66, and 0:100, respectively. A complete randomized design with four replications per treatment was used. The material was ensiled in PVC silos and remained sealed during a 120-days period. After opening the silos, silage samples were collected followed by fungi isolation and identification and determination of the chemical composition of the silages. Addition of mesquite […]