Technologies management by meat beef production: cow-calf

The technological evolution in the offspring was notorious and efficient in those systems that used the technology available on economically sustainable bases. However, in most cases, there was a need for long learning and validation of the technology until its recognition and applicability. In this way, little was discussed about costs and economic results and, even more, the systemic impact of each technology. Therefore, over the years, the set of techniques available to production has been mastered with certainty, even though their economic results were unknown, which resulted in disbeliefs about certain strategies for breeding livestock. On the other hand, due to the complexity of the relationships between all the variables that involve the offspring, many technologies produced improvements in intermediate production processes. This does not allow the user to recognize an answer in the total production and, therefore, to doubt or question its applicability. Add to this that it creates, as it is an activity of low biological efficiency and profitability, largely limits the more widespread use of technologies, which in a way does not allow a more intense exchange of information between producers

Strategic notes on Brazilian beef cattle

In the new scenario for the Brazilian beef production, the knowledge generation, the integration between the supply chain stakeholders and the information flow focused on the consumer market will be a new institutional and organizational basis for this supply chain. Therefore, this research aims to describe and analyze the structure of the Brazilian beef supply chain and technological innovations in this sector. This supply chain has motivated many studies dedicated to analyzing technologies to increase productivity. These researches have contributed to the advances in this sector, which has extended its borders in the Central and North regions of Brazil and consolidated the more traditional production systems in the South and Southeast regions. In this process, livestock production was treated as an isolated activity in relation to land, which had a value of capital and financial security. However, as the land becomes a scarce and pricy factor of production, livestock will become complementary or integrated with agricultural activity. In this sense, the future model of Brazilian livestock requires an interdisciplinary and cross-sectional view of knowledge to create an integrated production model. This model certainly leads to a reconfiguration, with an increasing land value as background. On the other hand, organizational arrangements also will undergo adjustments of agents that will be better aligned, prioritizing the final consumer. Additionally, understanding the signs of innovation sent to consumers and the information they expect to receive can facilitate the conduct of research for scientific achievement of greater integration in society

Growth of beef heifers from 7 to 11 months of age

The purpose of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of live weight gain on growth parameters of beef heifers rearing on native pasture supplemented during autumn and winter seasons post-weaning (04/21/2004 to 09/16/2004; 148 days). The live weight gain was -1.08; 19.52 e 57.83 kg for treatments MA (Maintenance), BA (Low) and MO (Moderate), respectively. In the same order, the supplement offered was equivalent to 0.54; 0.81 and 1.25% of their live weight. The experimental design was entirely randomized. Initially, the heifers were 7 month old and weighted 171.13 kg. The parameters evaluated were body condition score (5 point scale), hip height, hearth girth and weight:height ratio. At the end of the period, the evaluated parameters differed between treatments, with the exception of hip height parameter between MA and BA. Even if the heifers did not gain live weight the hip height increased. As much lower was the live weight gain, as stronger was the influence on the hip height and heart girth, showing positive linear effect for all treatments. The body condition score did not increase, even for the treatment with higher live weight gain. The linear live weight gain effect on wheight:height ratio was similar between heifers groups

Alianças Mercadológicas Estratégicas e Elementos de Diferenciação na Cadeia da Carne Bovina no Brasil

As alianças mercadológicas surgem como resposta às novas necessidades de mercado e às demandas do consumidor final. No entanto, essas iniciativas ainda apresentam dificuldades de organização e coordenação no âmbito do agronegócio e em especial, no setor da pecuária de corte brasileira. Este estudo busca descrever exemplos de alianças estratégicas deste setor, bem como identificar os elementos de diferenciação que influenciaram em seu desenvolvimento e permanência no mercado. Para tal, foi realizado um estudo dos conceitos de aliança mercadológica sob a ótica das cadeias produtivas do agronegócio, incluindo as principais dificuldades para a implantação das mesmas e um levantamento documental, para apresentar exemplos de alianças existentes no Brasil e elaborar um framework dos elementos que permitiram o êxito das alianças mercadológicas estudadas. Os resultados apontam que a perspectiva regional, a adoção de certificação específica, o pagamento de prêmio e o tamanho do grupo de produtores envolvidos são elementos de diferenciação que pode influenciar no êxito de determinada aliança neste setor

Procedural Priorities of the Pork Loin Supply Chain

The pork meat production industry is facing new challenges as a consequence of consumers’ expectations regarding the quality and safety of food products. For the present study, experts and consumers in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil were interviewed to identify the attributes of pork loin that need to be improved. Consumers have particular concerns about the juiciness, fibrousness, and portion size of the meat, the diversity of cuts and safety and animal welfare. The supply chain was also analyzed in order to verify the procedural priorities that need to be improved in order to meet the demands of consumers. Experts were interviewed using the quality function deployment methodology. The findings of the study indicate that, improvements must be made in the production sector in terms of animal handling and transportation. In the processing sector, improvements are required regarding slaughter control of PSE and DFD, the development of new packaging, and product fractionation. The requirements in the distribution sector relate to information campaigns for consumers to diffuse the nutritional characteristics of pork loin and in the product safety through sanitary inspection

Estimativa de custos de três sistemas alimentares para a recria de novilhas acasaladas aos 18 meses de idade

A idade ao acasalamento da novilha está relacionada com a eficiência econômica da produção de bovinos. A determinação de sistemas alimentares para a recria é fundamental para que as novilhas apresentem elevada taxa de prenhez. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar e avaliar os custos de alternativas alimentares na recria de novilhas de corte destinadas ao acasalamento aos 18 meses de idade. Foram avaliados sistemas alimentares que atendessem o ganho de peso em cada fase da recria utilizando o campo natural e suplementos alimentares para determinar o custo final do sistema. Para tanto foram definidos os seguintes pressupostos: peso ao desmame – 160 kg; ganho do desmame ao início do acasalamento – 140 kg; peso ao início do acasalamento – 300 kg (raça britânica, 65% do peso adulto). Os tratamentos foram denominados conforme o ganho de peso diário médio (GDM) no primeiro (INV), segundo (PRI) e terceiro (VER) período, respectivamente: BAM – Baixo (0,000 kg/d), Alto (1,111 kg/d) e Moderado (0,500 kg/d); MMA – Moderado (0,120 kg/d), Moderado (0,800 kg/d) e Alto (0,500 kg/d); ABB – Alto (0,373 kg/d), Baixo (0,600 kg/d) e Baixo (0,300 kg/d). O sistema de recria ABB apresentou o menor custo (R$96,19/cab), seguido pelo MMA (R$ 114,60/cab) e pelo BAM (R$ 134,40/cab). A utilização de diferentes sistemas alimentares apresenta implicações econômicas na recria de fêmeas. Novilhas destinadas ao acasalamento aos 18 meses no outono necessitam de suplementação alimentar durante pelo menos um dos três períodos de recria. A suplementação visando obter altas taxas de ganho de peso durante o primeiro período de recria (inverno) apresentou menor custo em relação a ganhos elevados no segundo e terceiro períodos (primavera e verão, respectivamente)

Orientação para mercado externo do café brasileiro

This paper aims to verify whether the Regional Orientation Index (ROI) can assist in decision making for export marketorientation for Brazilian coffee, to export the searching products from the major importers. The Decision Making Theory was adoptedand through the descriptive and quantitative method, the ROI is calculated in order to determine if Brazilian coffee exports are beingaddressed to the main importers. The data source of Brazilian green coffee used is the ALICEWEB base, linked to the Department ofCommerce (SECEX) of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MDIC) for the period studied from 2000 to 2009 in US dollars (USD). Weobserved that coffee exports have been less directed towards countries like Canada, Netherlands, France, Italy, Belgium and Spain,with emphasis on decline of the ROI in Slovenia. The results also show that the Brazilian green coffee have been exported for Sweden,Finland, Japan, Germany, USA. The ROI shows increasing values for these regions, noting that over 40% of coffee imports arerepresented by Germany and USA, which are important markets for Brazil to follow when directing their exports. The originality ofthis study is to assist the decision makers through the ROI methodology for export market orientation for Brazilian coffee, accordingto the behavior and development of exports. This approach along with other economic indicators may indicate possibilities related tothe implementation of trade policies in order to redirect products to specific markets.Objetivou-se, neste artigo, verificar se o Índice de Orientação Regional (IOR) pode auxiliar na tomada de decisão naorientação para o mercado externo do café brasileiro. Com a abordagem da Teoria da Tomada da Decisão, por meio do métodoquantitativo e descritivo, é calculado o IOR para verificar se as exportações brasileiras de café estão sendo destinadas aos principaisimportadores. Os dados das exportações brasileiras de café verde utilizados são da Base AliceWeb, vinculada à Secretaria de ComércioExterior (SECEX) do Ministério da Indústria e Comércio Exterior (MDIC) no período de 2000 a 2009. As exportações de café sãocada vez menos direcionadas para Canadá, Países Baixos, França, Itália, Bélgica e Espanha, com maior destaque para o decréscimo doIOR da Eslovênia. Os resultados demonstram que as exportações brasileiras de café verde direcionam-se cada vez mais para a Suécia,Finlândia, Japão, Alemanha, EUA, considerando que o IOR apresenta valores crescentes para tais regiões, ressaltando que a Alemanhae os EUA – importantes mercados para que o Brasil siga orientando suas exportações – representam mais de 40% das importações decafé. A originalidade do estudo reside na utilização da metodologia IOR para auxiliar o tomador de decisão na orientação para o mercadoexterno, conhecendo-se a tendência dos principais concorrentes do produto. Tal abordagem, somada a outros indicadores econômicospode possibilitar a implementação de políticas comerciais, no sentido de redirecionar os produtos para mercados que apresentemmaior dinamismo em suas importações

Additives on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics of rice straw

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of mineral and protein-energy (MPES), exogenous fibrolytic enzyme supplements (ES), combination of MPES + ES, and straw without supplement (WS) on digestibility, fermentation kinetic parameters, cumulative gas production, methane, CO2 production, and volatile fatty acid concentration of rice straw of low and high nutritional value, estimated by in vitro techniques. The experimental design was randomized and factorial 2 × 4: two straws (low and high nutritional value) incubated with four supplements (MPES, ES, MPES + ES, and WS) and their interactions. Four experimental periods were used, totaling four replications per treatment over time. Data were analyzed by PROC MIXED of SAS. The in vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibilities of the rice straw with high nutritional value was improved by MPES, while the combination of MPES + ES supplements inhibited the digestibility of this straw. Dietary carbohydrate and nitrogen increased through MPES and MPES + ES supplements resulted in an increase in NH3-N concentration and a decrease in CO2 production due to the microbial mass formation. However, this increase was not enough to improve organic matter degradability parameters, cummulative gas production, gas production kinetics, and acetate:propionate ratio and reduce methane emissions. The straw with high nutritional value showed greater content of nitrogen fraction a, effective degradability, cummulative gas production, and methane and CO2 productions comparing with low-nutritional value straw. The use of MPES and MPES + ES supplements can be used as strategy to mitigate CO2 in ruminant production systems that use rice straw

Histogramas de parição e o desempenho reprodutivo de vacas de corte

A distribuição dos partos em vacas de corte, durante a estação de parição, está relacionada com o desempenho reprodutivo final do rebanho de cria, sendo um dos principais fatores a influenciar na rentabilidade do sistema de produção no sul do Brasil. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do histograma de parição (HP) sobre a taxa de prenhez (TP) de 1.314 vacas de corte primíparas e 4.519 multíparas Hereford e cruzas Hereford-Nelore, no período de 1997 a 2004, numa criação comercial, utilizando o programa estatístico SPSS. Houve efeito significativo (

Live weight gain in the rearing and reproductive performance of yearling beef heifers mated

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da intensidade do ganho de peso no período de recria, dos 13 aos 18 meses de idade, sobre a taxa de prenhez de novilhas de corte acasaladas com o sobreano durante o outono. Os tratamentos foram constituídos de 30 novilhas com peso médio de 208 kg, submetidas a ganho médio de 0,595 kg dia-1 (G600), 41 novilhas com peso médio de 197 kg submetidas a ganho médio de 0,656 kg dia-1 (G700) e 58 novilhas com peso médio de 181 kg submetidas a ganho médio de 0,723 kg dia-1 (G800). Foram avaliados os efeitos dos tratamentos sobre peso, escore de trato reprodutivo e taxa de prenhez. As taxas de prenhez foram 30,0% 47,8% e 50,0% para os grupos G600, G700 e G800, respectivamente, não existindo diferença significativa entre os grupos. Os grupos G700 e G800, submetidos à maior taxa de ganho de peso, apresentaram maiores valores de escore de trato reprodutivo em relação ao G600 no início da estação de monta. Novilhas com escores mais elevados apresentaram tendência a maior taxa de prenhez. A taxa de prenhez esteve associada à intensidade de ganho de peso na recria independentemente das variações de peso no acasalamento.The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of growth rate during rearing period, from 13 to 18 months, on pregnancy rate of beef heifers mated at yearling during autumn. Treatments consisted of 30 heifers weighing on average 208 kg submitted to average growth rate of 0.595 kg day-1 (G600), 41 heifers averaging 197 kg with average growth rate of 0.656 kg day-1 (G700) and 58 heifers with 181 kg with average growth rate of 0.723 kg day-1 (G800). Treatment effects were determined on body weight, reproductive tract score and pregnancy rate. Pregnancy rate was 30.0% 47.8% and 50.0%, respectively, for G600, G700 and G800, without significant differences among groups. Treatments G700 and G800, with large growth rates, showed higher values of reproductive tract score than G600 at the start of the mating period. Heifers with higher scores had a tendency to present higher pregnancy rates. Pregnancy rates were related to growth rate during postweaning independently of weight variations at mating