Zootechnical performance of Dorper x Santa Inês lambs raised in different production systems

O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar o desempenho zootécnico de cordeiros mestiços Dorper x Santa Inês terminados em sistemas de pastejo sobre pastagem de Megathyrsus maximus cultivar Aruana, com e sem sombreamento, e em confinamento. Utilizaram-se 24 cordeiros não castrados em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com os três seguintes tratamentos, com oito repetições cada um: pastagem de 'Aruana' sem sombreamento + suplemento; pastagem de 'Aruana' com sombreamento + suplemento; e confinamento, com dieta contendo feno de azevém e concentrado na proporção de 20:80. Os tratamentos não influenciaram a idade dos cordeiros até ao abate, o peso ao nascer, a compacidade da perna, o rendimento verdadeiro e o rendimento dos cortes principais, exceto o da ponta do peito + flanco que foi menor na pastagem com sombreamento. Entretanto, o ganho médio diário, o escore de condição corporal, o peso vivo ao abate, o índice de compacidade da carcaça, os pesos da carcaça fria e do corpo vazio, e o rendimento de carcaça fria diferiram entre os tratamentos, com valores superiores no confinamento. A terminação em confinamento aumenta o desempenho zootécnico de ovinos Dorper x Santa Inês e favorece a menor idade ao abate, bem como o maior peso dos principais cortes comerciais, mas não o seu rendimento.The objective of this work was to compare the zootechnical performance of Dorper x Santa Inês crossbred lambs finished in grazing systems on Megathyrsus maximus Aruana cultivar pasture, with and without shading, and in a feedlot. Twenty-four non-castrated lambs were used in a completely randomized experimental design, with the three following treatments with eight replicates each: 'Aruana' pasture without shading + supplement; 'Aruana' pasture with shading + supplement; and feedlot, with diet containing ryegrass hay and concentrate at a 20:80 ratio. The treatments did not influence lamb age at slaughter, birth weight, leg compactness, true yield, and main cut yield, except that of breast tip + flank that was lower for the pasture with shading. However, average daily gain, body condition score, live weight at slaughter, carcass compactness index, cold carcass and empty body weights, and cold carcass yield differed between treatments, showing higher values in the feedlot. Termination in the feedlot increases the zootechnical performance of Dorper x Santa Inês sheep and favors a lower age at slaughter, as well as a greater weight of the main commercial cuts, but not their yield

Supplementation with lipid sources in diets for Jersey cows in the first third of lactation

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da adição de grãos integrais das oleaginosas linhaça, girassol e soja na dieta de vacas Jersey, no primeiro terço da lactação, sobre as seguintes características: consumo, digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes, produção de leite e suas variáveis, leite com correção energética, eficiência alimentar, balanço energético, perfil de ácidos graxos do leite e perfil metabólico sanguíneo. Oito vacas Jersey multíparas foram utilizadas em delineamento duplo quadrado latino. Os tratamentos foram as dietas experimentais com as oleaginosas, e sais de cálcio de ácidos graxos foram utilizados como o controle. A digestibilidade da proteína foi menor para a soja, enquanto a do extrato etéreo foi maior no controle, sem diferir entre as oleaginosas. Não houve diferença entre as oleaginosas para produção de leite, produção de leite corrigida para gordura, conteúdo nutricional do leite, eficiência alimentar, balanço energético e perfil metabólico sanguíneo. Os teores de ácidos graxos monoinsaturados no leite aumentaram com uso do girassol. Níveis mais altos de ácido linoleico conjugado cis-9 trans-11 no leite foram observados no controle. A adição das oleaginosas integrais avaliadas na dieta de vacas Jersey, no primeiro terço da lactação, não afeta as variáveis de produção de leite, a eficiência alimentar, o balanço energético e o perfil metabólico sanguíneo, mas altera o perfil de ácidos graxos.The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the addition of whole-crude oilseeds of linseed, sunflower, and soybean to the diet of Jersey cows, in the first third of lactation, on the following characteristics: intake, apparent nutrient digestibility, milk production and its variables, energy-corrected milk, feed efficiency, energy balance, milk fatty acid profile, and blood metabolic profile. Eight multiparous Jersey cows were used in a double Latin square design. The treatments were the experimental diets with the oilseeds, and calcium salts of fatty acids were used as the control. Protein digestibility was lower for soybean, whereas that of ether extract was higher in the control, not differing between the evaluated oilseeds. There was no difference between oilseeds for milk production, milk production corrected for fat, milk nutritional content, feed efficiency, energy balance, and blood metabolic profile. The levels of milk monounsaturated fatty acids increased with the use of sunflower. Higher levels of cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in milk were observed in the control. The addition of the evaluated whole-crude oilseeds to the diet of Jersey cows in the first third of lactation does not affect milk production variables, feed efficiency, energy balance, and blood biochemical profile, but alters the fatty acid profile

Elevation drives taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic β-diversity of phyllostomid bats in the Amazon biome

Aim: We evaluated the relative importance of geographical and environment variables for taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional β-diversity of phyllostomid bats along the entire Amazon biome and specifically in the lowlands. Location: Amazon biome. Taxon: Chiroptera. Methods: We carried out a bibliographic review and compiled a wide and unprecedented database of 106 phyllostomid bat species at 102 sites throughout the Amazon biome. For all possible pairs of sites in both datasets, we estimated the Jaccard pairwise dissimilarity, that is, β-diversity, considering its three dimensions—taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional—for its two components—turnover (substitution of species) and differences in species richness. The association between dissimilarity measurements and geographical and environment variables was assessed using multiple regressions on distance matrices (MRM). Results: We found that turnover and differences in species richness had similar contributions to the taxonomic β-diversity. However, for phylogenetic and functional β-diversity, lineages and functions richness differences contribute slightly more than turnover for total β-diversity. In the lowlands, species, lineages and functions richness differences were slightly higher than turnover for all diversity dimensions. When accounting for all the sites, elevation was the main predictor of phyllostomid bats' taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional turnover. For lowland sites, ecoregions was the main (but relatively weak) predictor associated with all β-diversity dimensions. Main conclusions: Analysis of filtering sites according to elevation revealed that species in the Amazonian lowlands are taxonomically and phylogenetically different from species in the Andes, and present taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional redundancy between assemblages. When accounting for the whole range of distribution of bats, results showed the predominant effect of elevation over other geographical and environmental predictors. This indicates that the diversity of good dispersers such as bats is more affected by specialisation along environment and climatic gradients than by geographical barriers throughout the Amazon biomeBat Conservation International; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior; National Geographic Society; Neotropical Grassland Conservancy; Rufford Foundatio

Medidas comportamentais e fisiológicas: correlação e relevância para avaliação do bem-estar de bovinos de corte

Este trabalho investigou a correlação entre o escore de balança e distância de fuga com os indicadores fisiológicos de estresse e sua relevância para avaliações de bem-estar de bovinos de corte. Comparou-se pesquisa de glicemia plasmática por exame laboratorial com pesquisa em sangue capilar medida por glicosímetro portátil para testar/validar metodologia para bovinos. Foram estudados 36 bovinos distribuídos em dois tratamentos, onde cada animal foi considerado uma unidade experimental. Os grupos foram formados aleatoriamente com 18 bovinos cada, sendo esses avaliados por 490 dias. Foi realizada análise descritiva (média, desvio padrão e coeficiente de variação), análise de medidas repetidas no tempo e estudo de correlação de Pearson seguido de teste de aleatorização. O efeito dos tratamentos foi mensurado pelos indicadores distância de fuga, escore composto de balança, glicemia plasmática, glicemia capilar e cortisol sanguíneo, avaliados em repetições no tempo. Os resultados demonstraram que escore composto de balança e a distância de fuga são medidas moderadamente (0.57414) associadas enquanto escore composto de balança, glicose capilar (0.63870), glicose plasmática (0.63386) e cortisol (0.62329) estão altamente correlacionadas. Escore composto de balança, glicose e cortisol são indicadores confiáveis para determinação do grau de bem-estar dos animais. O glicosímetro portátil demonstrou precisão na determinação dos níveis glicêmicos em bovinos

Nutritional evaluation of ryegrass silage (Lolium multiflorum, LAM.) in different dehydration times of fresh biomass at different growth stages

This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional quality of ryegrass silage at different times of pre-dehydration and different growth stages, as well as determine its degradability and ruminal degradation curve. For silage, it were applied 6 different treatments at different times of forage growth: on Vegetative: T0: cut and silage; T1: cut and ensiled after 4 hours of drying; T2: cut and ensiled after 7 hours of drying. On Pre-flowering: T0: cut and silage; T1: cut and ensiled after 4 hours of drying. On flowering: T0: cut and silage. The experimental design was completely randomized with 6 treatments and 4 repetitions. It were evaluated, chemical composition, in vitro digestibility and in situ degradability, besides the ruminal degradation curve. Dehydration aid at moisture loss of fodder, with losses of nitrogen on vegetative. The digestibility of ryegrass silage was influenced by both dehydration times and age of plant. The use of silage on vegetative has advantages for chemical quality and ruminal degradability. It also enables the realization of more biomass crop due to regrowth capacity, which does not occur in other growth stages.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPESO presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a qualidade nutricional da silagem de azevém confeccionada em diferentes tempos de desidratação e em diferentes estádios fenológicos, como também determinar sua degradabilidade e curva de degradação ruminal. Para a confecção da silagem, foram aplicados 6 tratamentos distintos em diferentes momentos de desenvolvimento da forrageira: vegetativo: cortar e ensilar; cortar e ensilar após 4 hs de secagem; cortar e ensilar após 7 hs de secagem. Pré-florescimento: cortar e ensilar; cortar e ensilar após 4 hs de secagem; Florescimento: cortar e ensilar. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, com 6 tratamentos e 4 repetições. Foram avaliados, composição química, digestibilidade in vitro e in situ, além da curva de degradabilidade ruminal. A desidratação auxiliou na perda de umidade da forragem, com perda de nitrogênio no vegetativo. A digestibilidade da massa ensilada de azevém foi influenciada, tanto pelos tempos de desidratação, quanto pela idade da planta. O uso da ensilagem no vegetativo apresenta vantagens quanto à qualidade química e degradabilidade ruminal. Ainda possibilita a realização de mais colheitas de material devido a capacidade de rebrota, o que não ocorre em outros estádios fenológicos

Relationship between chemical components, bacterial adherence and in vitro fermentation of tropical forage legumes

Inclusion of forage legumes in diet may improve tropical ruminant systems productivity and sustainability. However, it is not well stablished which chemical components more impact their nutritional value. The relationship between chemical composition and in vitro fermentation of tropical forage legume was evaluated with the objective of obtaining indicators of their nutritional value. Samples of Crotalaria spectabilis, Cajanus cajan, Macrotyloma axillare, Mucuna aterrina, Stylosantis sp. and Canavalia ensiformis, cut from plants at growth age between 47 to 110 days, were analysed. Total gas production showed negative correlation (P<0.05) with total N (R=-0.51), acid detergent fibre (ADF, R=-0.62) and acid detergent lignin (ADL, R=-0.65), and positive correlation with non-fibre carbohydrates (NFC, R=0.70). Gas production rate was negatively related (P<0.05) to NDF (R=-0.73), ADF (R=-0.62) and ADL (R=-0.74). Ammonia concentration in the incubation medium was positively related (P<0.05) to total (R=0.74) and soluble (R=0.56) N, and negatively related to NFC (R=-0.81). The level of bacterial adhesion on residue of incubation was negatively related (P<0.05) to cell wall components, mainly to ADL (R=-0.57). The inclusion of polyehtylene glycol increased both gas volume and gas production rate whereas decreased ammonia concentration (P<0.05). In conclusion, even at low concentrations tannins impact the in vitro fermentation of tropical legumes. However, among the analyzed chemical components, the ADL was the best indicator of the nutritional value of the tropical forage legumes

Yolk and eggshell colour: are these the parameters that influence egg purchasing? A systematic review

Factors such as price, egg availability, lifestyle and origin influence egg purchases. The eggshell and yolk colour can also influence consumer decisions at the time of purchase. Therefore, the objective of the study is to identify whether the physical characteristics of eggs, such as the colour of the yolk and shell, influence the purchase decision through a systematic review using the PRISMA guidelines. After the selection, 17 studies (from 1963 to 2021) were compiled. The United States presented the largest number of studies on the topic among the countries. The number of article observations ranged from 197 to 7845 respondents, and it was possible to verify that most of the respondents were women. Most respondents showed preference for brown eggs and the medium yellow colour was the most cited answer as preferred by consumers. Although eggs are one of the most consumed foods of animal origin in the world, there is still a lack of knowledge on the part of consumers about the factors that influence the characteristics of eggs, demonstrating that inaccurate information can affect preferences and consumption habits.</p

Evaluation of mathematical models to describe gas production kinetics of some tropical and temperate forages

Our objective was to identify the best fit mathematical models for in vitro gas production kinetics using rumen fluid and forage plants commonly used in ruminant feed to obtain better estimates of parameters that describe the rumen fermentation. Four mathematical models were tested, two unicompartmental (M1 = first order, M2 = Gompertz) and two bicompartmental (M3 = M1 + M2; M4 = M2 + M2). Two temperate grasses were evaluated, as well as four tropical grasses and three temperate forage legumes. The fit of the models was verified by the corrected Akaike information criterion (AICcr ) and the difference among AICcr values (Δr ), likelihood probability (Wr ), and relative likelihood (ERr ). Temperate forages reached maximum gas production between 48 and 72 h. In the tropical forages, it occurred only after 72 h. In profiles in which M3 was the best choice, the values of parameters Vf 1 were higher than those of Vf 2 , and k1 values were higher than k2 values. The only exception was for Tifton 85 profile, whose Vf 2 value was higher than Vf 1 . The model M3 has a better fit for tropical forages with higher fiber content and lower levels of nonfibrous carbohydrates and crude protein. The model M1 has a better fit for forage with higher nonfibrous carbohydrate contents and low lignin conten