Cattle traceability in the Mid-South region of Mato Grosso State: economic, technical and conception aspects

It was aimed to investigate economic aspects of the establishment of traceability in the Mid-South region of MT, Brazil, methods of animal identification, complains, drawbacks and degree of importance given by ranchers. During May to July 2009 were conducted interviews with 13 owners of Rural Establishments Approved in SISBOV (ERAS) and the survey of economic values practiced by three certifying companies and one slaughterhouse from the region. All the farms interviewed utilized earring and bottom. The main difficulties for the establishment of tracking were the frequent changes (46.30%), the understanding of the laws (30.57%), and the choice of the certifier (23.13%). The greatest drawbacks of Cattle and Buffalo Identification and Certification System (SISBOV) were the excessive delay of official audits (53.85%), the instability of differential value (23.10%), loss of identification elements (15.39%) and the delay when requested earring reprinting (7.69%). The importance ascribed was ensuring the credibility and adding value to the Brazilian product (84.61%). The individual value for the tracking process was R$4,34. The difference of tracked animal slaughtered for the European Union was R$ 10,73@-1. The establishment of the tracking system presented economic viability and the variation of the values paid by the tracked meat despite animals aiming exportation.</p

Economic viability of feeding dairy cows on diets containing different levels of soybean oil

The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic viability of feeding dairy cows with diets containing different levels of soybean oil. Cows were fed diets based on tropical forage (Pennisetum purpureum Schum) supplemented with different levels of soybean oil (0.0, 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5% of diet DM). The calculations were made considering the prices of the dietary ingredients and the daily consumption of each dietary treatment. The milk quality-based payment was estimated on the bonus paid for milk fat and protein contents according to two systems used by companies of the dairy sector. The economic benefit was calculated as the difference between the income obtained from milk sale and the cost associated with animal feeding. The MOP scenario analysis (most likely - optimistic - pessimistic) was performed on the basis of the real scenario and variations in milk price and inputs observed in season and off-season periods over the years under study. The diet with 1.5% soybean oil had higher economic benefit when compared with those containing 3.0 and 4.5% soybean oil. All the dietary soybean oil levels would result in bonuses for milk protein content (higher than 3.03 and 3.21). Only the control diet showed a positive economic balance. The bonuses paid for milk protein content were insufficient to cover the additional costs associated with the inclusion of soybean oil in the diets, resulting in negative balances for the treatments with 1.5; 3.0 and 4.5% soybean oil, demonstrating the economic non-viability of supplementing diets of lactating cows with soybean oil

Economic feasibility of adding sunflower oil to elephant grass-based diets of lactating dairy cows

Objetivou-se avaliar a viabilidade econômica da produção de leite de vacas da raça Holandesa, pela inclusão de níveis crescentes de óleo de girassol (0,0; 15; 30 e 45 g/kg na matéria seca) em dietas à base de capim-elefante (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum). Os dados analisados foram obtidos de um experimento com 12 vacas primíparas da raça Holandesa, com 95 ± 25 dias em lactação, produção média de 16,5 ± 2,8 kg/dia de leite, distribuídas em um triplo quadrado latino 4 x 4, conforme a produção de leite, a ordem de lactação e o peso corporal. As dietas foram isoproteicas, fornecidas ad libitum na forma de mistura total (relação volumoso: concentrado de 60:40, base matéria seca). A produção diária de leite foi registrada e a composição analisada quanto à concentração de gordura, proteína e ácidos graxos. A viabilidade econômica foi realizada considerando o preço dos ingredientes fornecidos e o consumo diário da dieta de cada tratamento. O benefício econômico foi obtido pela diferença entre a receita, com a venda do leite, e o custo com alimentação dos animais. O pagamento por qualidade foi estimado pela média de sistemas utilizados por oito empresas do ramo de laticínios, com base na concentração de gordura, proteína e no volume de leite. A dieta sem inclusão de óleo de girassol foi a que proporcionou maior benefício econômico. A inclusão de óleo de girassol nas dietas baseadas em capim-elefante não foi viável economicamente, devido aos gastos com este ingrediente.We aimed to evaluate the economic feasibility of adding increasing levels of sunflower oil (0.0, 15, 30, and 45 g/kg of dry matter) to elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum) based diets of milkproducing Holstein cows. Data were obtained and analyzed for 12 primiparous Holstein cows that produced on average 16.5 ± 2.8 kg of milk/day, at 95 ± 25 days of lactation. Cows were distributed by milk production, order of lactation, and body weight in a 4 × 4 triple Latin square. Isoproteic diets were provided ad libitum in the form of a forage:concentrate ratio of 60:40, on a dry matter basis. Daily milk production was recorded and milk was analyzed for fat, protein, and fatty acids contents. An economic feasibility study was performed considering the price of the supplied ingredients and the daily intake of each diet. The economic benefit was derived by the determining the difference between income from the sale of milk and the cost of animal feed. The quality-based payment was estimated by averaging the systems used by eight dairy companies, based on fat and protein contents and milk volume. The sunflower oil-free diet provided the greatest economic benefit. Adding sunflower oil to elephant grassbased diets was not economically viable because of its associated costs