Characteristics of the dairy goat primary sector at the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

A survey was done based on 19 goat shepherds at counties of Centre-highlands, Northern and North-western regions of the Rio de Janeiro State and at the county of Pedra Dourada, Zona da Mata region, State of Minas Gerais. We aimed to characterise the primary sector of the goat milk production chain settled at those regions. Therefore, questionnaires were applied in order to depict profiles of the shepherds, their families, the role of the wife in the activity, the resources available, dependence on income generated by the activity, and how producers administrate their business. Farms were distributed in five strata according to the following daily milk production averages and standard deviations: 8.8 ± 0.9, 15.7 ± 3.9, 22.6 ± 2.7, 34.4 ± 3.4, and 183.8 ± 54.2 L/d. Approximately 42% of the interviewed producers conducted their activities according to a household production model and the income earned was exclusively from the dairy goat husbandry. Sons and daughters performed an important role in the business (27.80%), but most of them (62.73%) worked out at non farm activities. The percentage of wives that worked directly in the activity (@47%) indicated that it could contribute to gender equity in the rural environment. Most of the production systems (63.16%) presented positive gross margins. We have noticed, however, that shepherds perceived only the business gross margin and that the most accurate registries taken were those related to revenues. In general, producers of the higher strata were favoured by their larger production scale, but asymptotic behaviours for costs and amounts invested in animals, equipments and buildings were observed. These characteristics should be considered when policies related to the dairy goat primary sector have to be planned

Avaliação biométrica e nutrientes das culturas de milho, milheto e sorgo

The objective of this work was to evaluate the biometric measurements and nutrient contents of the corn, sorghum, and pearl millet crops from 30 days after sowing up to ensiling time. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design, in which the three crops were evaluated with eight replicates. Stem height and diameter and leaf length and width were measured to determine plant growth. In addition, samples were collected to evaluate plant chemical composition. For the characterization of nutrient accumulation and biometric evaluation, linear and nonlinear models were used. Dry matter accumulation did not differ between corn and sorghum, but decreased in pearl millet from the fiftieth day up to ensiling. Crude protein, ashes, and neutral detergent fiber tend to reduce over time. The biometric variables do not differ between corn, pearl millet, and sorghum from 30 days after sowing until ensiling time.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as medidas biométricas e o conteúdo de nutrientes das culturas de milho, sorgo e milheto desde 30 dias após a semeadura até o momento da ensilagem. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, tendo-se avaliado as três culturas, com oito repetições. A altura e o diâmetro do caule e a largura e o comprimento das folhas foram medidos para determinar o crescimento das plantas. Além disso, foram coletadas amostras para avaliar a composição química das plantas. Para a caracterização do acúmulo de nutrientes e a avaliação biométrica, foram utilizados modelos lineares e não lineares. O acúmulo de matéria seca não diferiu entre o milho e o sorgo, mas diminuiu no milheto do quinquagésimo dia até a ensilagem. Proteína bruta, cinzas e fibras em detergente neutro tendem a diminuir com o tempo. As variáveis biométricas não diferem entre o milho, o milheto e o sorgo desde 30 dias após a semeadura até o momento da ensilagem

Kinetics of digestion of low-quality forage grazed by beef cattle fed supplements containing increasing levels of rumen undegradable protein

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the degradation kinetics and microbial efficiency of beef cattle grazing on low-quality forage and receiving supplements with different levels of rumen undegradable protein (RUP). The animals grazed on palisade grass pasture solely or this pasture and supplement containing 40 or 60 g of RUP per 100 g of crude protein (CP). The degradation profiles of neutral detergent fiber, fiber carbohydrates, and neutral detergent insoluble protein were interpreted kinetically by using a decreasing logistic model. Treatments (no supplement, or RUP at 40 or 60 g−1 100 g CP) did not affect rumen fill; however, the increase in the indigestible fiber carbohydrate fraction that occurred at the expense of the digestible fiber carbohydrate fraction resulted in a greater rumen fill effect. The palisade grass showed a significant proportion of its nitrogen in the form of slowly degradable protein as neutral detergent insoluble protein, which amounted to 26 g per 100 g CP. Supplementation with 40 g of RUP per 100 g CP decresead the indigestible fraction of the low-quality forage. However, the absence of a rumen-fill effect demonstrates that the additional supply of nutrients contributes greatly to increasing growth efficiency and use of the available energy from the forage by the ruminal microorganisms

Evaluation of the availability of mass of forage: morphological responses and chemical composition of Tanzania grass subjected to two pasture-management strategies

The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphogenetic traits and chemical composition of Tanzania grass using a fixed rest period or according to light interception at 95%. The treatments consisted of evaluations of two Tanzania-grass pasture-management strategies: (1) LI95 - animals entered the paddocks when the pasture reached 95% of light interception (LI), with three days of paddock occupation; and (2) FR - the pasture was managed with a defoliation interval (DI) of 30 days, and three days of paddock occupation. The experimental area consisted of 4 ha, with 22 paddocks per treatments. Ten recently-calved cows were used per treatment in year 1, and eight cows were used per treatment in year 2. Sward height, forage mass, and morphological components and their chemical composition were evaluated. The management strategies used on the Tanzania grass pasture did not affect pasture mass or height in the pre- and post-grazing conditions, or the proportion of stems. However, the proportion of leaves was greater in the paddocks with 95% light interception. The crude protein content was higher in the paddocks with 95% light interception; the other nutrients were not affected. In conclusion, management adopting 95% light interception does not influence morphogenetic traits. Nevertheless, it promotes an increase in the crude protein content of grasses

Milk production of crossbred holstein × zebu on different pasture-management strategies

The objective of this study was to evaluate nutrient intake and digestibility, yield and components of milk from Holstein × Zebu cows on Tanzania grass pastures using a fixed-rest period or 95% light interception. The treatments consisted of evaluations of two Tanzania-grass pasture-management strategies: LI95 - when the pasture reached 95% light interception (LI), with 3 paddock-occupation days; and FR - the pasture was managed with a 30-days defoliation interval (DI) and 3 paddock-occupation days. Ten recently calved cows per treatment in year 1 and eight cows per treatment in year 2 were used, i.e. five cows per replicate in year 2 and four cows per replicate in year 2. Intake and digestibility of pasture nutrients, milk yield and milk composition were evaluated. The management strategies imposed on the Tanzania-grass pasture did not affect nutrient intake or digestibility. Milk yield and milk components were not affected by the management strategies, but milk yield per area unit was affected by the use of 95% light interception. The management strategy applying 95% light interception implies greater efficiency in the use of area, which translates to a higher milk yield per unit area, and thus it can be recommended to increase milk yield per area