Climatic Spatial Variability Of A Dairy Freestall Barn [variabilidade Espacial Do Microclima De Um Galpão Utilizado Para Confinamento De Bovinos De Leite]

The knowledge of the spatial variability of climatic attributes and the build of kriging maps can help livestock management in lodged animals. Therefore, the objective of this research was to characterize the spatial variability of the climatic attributes inside a dairy cow free-stall barn using the technique of geostatistics and to verify if the climatic variables are in agreement with the thermal comfort limits of the animals. The climatic attributes - temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, luminosity and temperature and humidity index (THI) were sampled in 152 points, in regular spacing of 2m, as a grid. According the results, the geostatistical analysis made it possible to find areas with different spatial variability for the climatic variables, showing specifically areas inside the dairy barn where the relative humidity, the temperature, the air velocity and the luminosity were above that the comfort limits for animal housing. The acclimatization system didn't homogenize the environment. The THI values remained above the thermal comfort condition, so, the environment of the barn probably didn't provide comfort for the animals.38924982505BAÊTA, F.C., SOUZA, C.F., Ambiência em edificaç ões rurais - conforto animal (1997) Viçosa: UFV, , 246pBUCKLIN, R.A., Methods to relieve heat stress for dairy cows in hot, humid climates (1991) Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 7 (2), pp. 241-247. , St. Joseph, vBUFFINGTON, D.E., Black globehumidity index (BGHI) as comfort equation for dairy cows (1981) Transaction of the ASAE, 24 (3), pp. 711-714. , St. Joseph, vCAMBARDELLA, C.A., Field scale variability of soil properties in Central Iowa soils (1994) Soil Science Society of America Journal, 58 (5), pp. 1501-1511. , Madison, vCOLLIER, R.J., Major advances associated with environmental effects on dairy cattle (2006) Journal of Dairy Science, 89, pp. 1244-1253. , Savoy, vHEAD, H.H. Management of dairy cattle in tropical and subtropical environments. In: CONGRESSO BRASILEIRO DE BIOMETEOROLOGIA, 2., 1995, Jaboticabal. Anais... Jaboticabal: SBBiomet, 1995. p.26-68HUBER, J.T., Alimentação de vacas de alta produção sob condições de estresse térmico (1990) Bovinocultura leiteira, pp. 33-48. , PEIXOTO, A.M. et al, Piracicaba: FEALQIGONO, M.O., JOHNSON, H.D., Physiologic stress index of lactating dairy cows based on diurnal pattern of rectal temperature Summer season (1992) Journal of Dairy Science, 68 (4), pp. 979-985. , Savoy, vISAAKS, E.H., SRIVASTAVA, R.M., (1989) An introduction to applied geoestatistics, , New York: Oxford University, 561pJOHNSON, H., Environmental management of cattle to minimize the stress of climatic change (1980) International Journal of Biometeorology, 24 (1), pp. 65-78. , Oxford, vLITTLE, T.M., HILLS, F.J., (1978) Agricultural experimentation, , New York: John Wiley & Sons, 350pMILES, D.M., Winter broiler litter gases and nitrogen compounds: Temporal and spatial trends (2008) Atmospheric Environment, 42 (14), pp. 3351-3363. , Amsterdam, vNÄÄS, I.A. Biometeorologia e construções rurais em ambiente tropical. In: CONGRESSO BRASILEIRO DE BIOMETEOROLOGIA, 2., 1998, Goiânia. Anais... Goiânia: Sociedade de Biometeorologia, 1998. p.63-73PERISSINOTTO, M., Efeito da utilização de sistemas de climatização nos parâmetros fisiológicos do gado leiteiro (2006) Engenharia Agrícola, 26 (3), pp. 663-671. , Jaboticabal, vROSEMBERG, L.G., Human and animal biometeorology (1983) Microclimate - the biological environment, pp. 425-467. , 2.ed. New York: Wiley-InterscienceSCHLOTZHAVER, S.D., LITTELL, R.C., (1997) SAS: System for elementary statistical analysis, , 2. ed. Cary, 905pSOUZA, S.R.L., Análise das condições ambientais em sistemas de alojamento "freestall" para bovinos de leite. (2004) Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental, 8 (2-3), pp. 299-303. , Campina Grande, vTRANGMAR, B.B., Applications of geostatistics to spatial studies of soil properties (1985) Advances in Agronomy, 38 (1), pp. 45-94. , New York, vVANNI, S.M., (1998) Modelos de regressão: Estatística aplicada, , São Paulo: Legmar Informática & Editora, 177pVIEIRA, S.R., Geoestatística em estudos de variabilidade espacial do solo (2000) Tópicos em ciência do solo, 1, pp. 1-53. , NOVAIS, R.F. et al, Eds, Viçosa: Sociedade Brasileira de Ciência do SoloWARRICK, A.W., NIELSEN, D.R., Spatial variability of soil physical properties in the field (1980) Applications of soil physics, pp. 319-344. , HILLEL, D, Ed, New York: Academi

Total Fatty Acids in Murrah Buffaloes Milk on Commercial Farms in Brazil

The objective of this trial was to document the total fatty acids in Murrah buffaloes milk on commercial farms in Brazil. Data from forty lactating Murrah-crossbred buffaloes were collected on five commercial farms located at Sarapui and Pilar do Sul, Sao Paulo-Brazil. A field survey was done from April to November 2002. In four farms, buffaloes were fed with wet brewers grains (primary concentrate). Only one farm (Farm 4) offered pasture and corn silage. Monthly milk samples were collected and stored at -20ºC until analyzed for fatty acid composition. The fatty acids with the highest percentage in total milk fat were C16:0; C18:1c9; C18:0 and C14:0. The average content observed in C16:0 varied from 25.4 to 32.5%. Farm 4 (pasture plus corn silage) showed a higher C16:0 value (32.5%). C18:1c9 varied from 20.6 to 25.1%, C14:0 varied from 5.9 to 8.9 % and CLA content (C18:2c9t11) varied from 1.0 to 1.8%. Farm 3 presented higher average of C18:1c9 (25.1%) and C18:2c9t11 (1.8%), and lower average of C14:0 (6.0%). Likewise, unsaturated fatty acids, C18:1c9 and C18:2c9t11 were higher on Farm 3. Probably, these results can be due to high CLA intakes derived from wet brewers grain and pasture. Long chain fatty acids varied from 34.2% (Farm 4) to 48.8% (Farm 3). In general, diets based on pasture and corn silage increased the levels of medium chain fatty acids in Murrah buffaloes milk

Activity of Δ9-desaturase enzyme in mammary gland of lactating buffaloes

The objective of this research was to measure the activity of Δ9-desaturase enzyme in lactating buffaloes. Data from forty lactating Murrah-crossbred buffaloes were collected on five commercial farms located at Sarapui and Pilar do Sul, Sao Paulo-Brazil. A field survey was done from April to November 2002. In four farms, buffaloes were fed with wet brewers grains (primary concentrate). Only one farm (Farm 4) offered pasture and corn silage. Monthly milk samples were collected and stored at -20ºC until analyzed for fatty acid composition. The Δ9-desaturase activity was measured using an indirect method (myristoleic and myristic acids ration - C14:1c9 /C14:0). The higher C14:1c9 /C14:0 rate was verified on Farm 4 (0.092).The C14:1c9 /C14:0 ratio were 0.064 to Farm 1; 0.065 to Farm 2; 0.062 to Farm 3 and 0.065 to Farm 5. The C17:1/C17:0, C18:1c9 /C18:0 and C18:2c9t11/C18:1t11 ratios were also affected. The Farm 4 showed higher value for all ratios. Therefore, in lactating buffaloes grazing pasture the Δ9-desaturase activity could be enhanced

Benefits of automated acclimatization during the pre-milking phase of lactating girolando cows Benefícios da climatização automatizada na pré-ordenha de vacas girolando em lactação

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the automated acclimatization effects during pre-milking of cows on thermal conditioning, physiology, milk production and cost-benefit of the automated adiabatic evaporative cooling system (AECS). The treatments 20; 30; 40 min and control consisted of exposure time of pre-milking cows to the automated AECS. Sixteen cows were used with an average daily milk yield of 19 kg, distributed in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. The Tukey's test (P<0.05) was used to compare the means. The environmental variables, dry bulb temperature (DBT, ºC) and relative humidity (RH, %), were recorded every minute, which allowed the determination of the system efficiency through the Temperature and Humidity Index (THI). The respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT) and temperature of the coat (TC) were measured before and after the acclimatization. The 40 min treatment kept the environmental variables and the comfort indexes within recommended limits. The physiological variables (RR, RT and TC) were lower in the 40 min treatment and reflected positively on milk production, which increased 3.66% compared to the control treatment. The system was profitable, having a 43 days return on investment and a monthly revenue increase of R$1,992.67.<br>Objetivou-se com esta pesquisa avaliar os efeitos da climatização na pré-ordenha sobre o acondicionamento térmico, fisiologia, produção de leite e relação custo/benefício do sistema de resfriamento adiabático evaporativo (SRAE) automatizado. Os tratamentos adotados foram os tempos de exposição dos animais ao SRAE no curral de espera, 20; 30; 40 min e o tratamento-controle. Utilizaram-se 16 vacas com produção de 19 kg de leite dia-1, adotando-se delineamento em quadrado latino 4 x 4 e comparação entre as médias pelo teste de Tukey (P<0,05). Foram registradas as variáveis ambientais temperatura de bulbo seco (Tbs) e umidade relativa (UR) a cada minuto, o que permitiu determinar a eficiência do sistema por meio do índice de temperatura e umidade (ITU). A frequência respiratória (FR), temperatura retal (TR) e temperatura de pelame (TP) foram medidas antes e depois da climatização. O tratamento 40 min permitiu manter as variáveis ambientais e os índices de conforto entre os limites recomendados. As variáveis fisiológicas (FR, TR e TP) mostraram valores inferiores no tratamento 40 min, com aumento de 3,66$ 1.992,67 com tempo de retorno do capital de 43 dias