SILAGEM DE GRÃO ÚMIDO OU GRÃO SECO DE SORGO COMO FONTE ENERGÉTICA PARA BEZERRAS DE DOIS GRUPOS GENÉTICOS

Avaliaram-se o desempenho e o desenvolvimento corporal de bezerras Charolês (CH) e 5/8Nelore 3/8Charolês (5/8NC), alimentadas em confinamento com silagem de grão úmido ou seco de sorgo. A relação volumoso (silagem de milho):concentrado foi de 60:40 na matéria seca (MS). A média do peso e da idade inicial das bezerras foi de 96,9±8,5 kg e cinco meses. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 2 x 2 (tipos de conservação de grãos de sorgo x grupos genéticos). Não ocorreu interação significativa entre tipo de conservação do grão de sorgo e grupo genético, para as variáveis estudadas. Não se verificou diferença (P>0,05) quanto aos consumos diário de MS (CMS) de 3,83 e 3,84 kg MS/dia, energia digestível (CED) de 14,59, 14,92 Mcal/dia, para grão úmido e seco, respectivamente. O ganho médio diário de peso (GMD) foi de 0,80 e 0,83 kg, o peso final (PF) de 165 e 165,5 kg e a conversão alimentar (CA) de 4,78 e 4,63 para grão úmido e seco (P>0,05), respectivamente. Os parâmetros de crescimento das bezerras quanto ao tipo de conservação dos grãos de sorgo não diferiram. O ganho em estado corporal (GEC) foi superior (P0,05) quanto ao CMS, CED, GMD, CA e PF. As bezerras 5/8NC comparadas às CH apresentaram estado corporal final superior (

Effect of weight and body condition score from pregnant cows on the carcass characteristics of their progeny: Meta-analysis

El objetivo del meta análisis fue evaluar los efectos de la variación del peso de vacas de carne durante el 2º y/o 3º trimestre de gestación en algunos parámetros de la canal de la progenie. La ganancia de peso de la vaca durante este período gestacional se calculó para estandarizar los tratamientos: pérdida moderada (PM= vacas que perdieron de 0 a 5 % de peso) y ganancia moderada (GM= vacas que ganaron de 0 a 5 % de peso). El tamaño del efecto para todos los parámetros se calculó como la diferencia de medias (DM) con un intervalo de confianza del 95 % y la heterogeneidad se determinó utilizando la prueba Q y el estadístico I2. Se realizó un meta análisis de efectos aleatorios para cada indicador por separado como grupo de control medio y experimental. La variación del peso de la vaca durante la variación de tiempo estudiada no influyó en las características de la canal de la progenie (P>0.05). Aunque se observó una tendencia hacia un mayor peso de la canal caliente (P=0.15) y del grosor de la grasa subcutánea (P=0.10) en terneros de vacas GM en relación con terneros de vacas PM. Sin embargo, el meta análisis demostró que las pequeñas variaciones en el peso de la vaca durante la mitad final de la gestación no afectan las características de la canal de la progenie.The objective of the meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of beef cows weight variation during the 2nd and / or 3rd trimester pregnancy on some parameters of the progeny carcass. The cow weight gain during this gestational period was calculated to standardize the treatments: moderate loss (ML= cows that lost 0 to 5 % of weight) and moderate gain (MG= cows that gained 0 to 5 % of weight). The effect size for all parameters was calculated as medium difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval and heterogeneity determined using the Q test and the I2 statistic. A random effects meta-analysis was performed for each indicator separately as the medium control and experimental groups. The cow’s weight variation during the studied time variation did not influence the progeny carcass characteristics (P>0.05). Although, a trend towards greater hot carcass weight (P=0.15) and thickness of subcutaneous fat (P=0.10) was observed in calves from MG cows in relation to calves from ML cows. However, the meta-analysis demonstrated that small variations in cow weight during the final half of pregnancy do not affect progeny carcass characteristics

ASPECTOS AGRONÔMICOS E PRODUTIVOS DOS HÍBRIDOS DE GIRASSOL (Helianthus annus L.) HELIO 251 E HELIO 360

Objetivou-se com este estudo quantificar a produção e a participação de aquênios, folhas, colmo e capítulo, bem como a produção de matéria verde e seca de dois híbridos de girassol para produção de silagem. Foram utilizados dois híbridos de girassol: Helio 251 (H251) e Helio 360 (H360), implantados em resteva de aveia. A avaliação produtiva da cultura realizou-se pela contagem de 12 pontos de cinco metros lineares/ha de cada híbrido e a composição das plantas foi realizada com cinco amostras. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado e as médias analisadas pelo teste Tukey. O H251 apresentou maior quantidade de plantas/m linear e por hectare (3,99 contra 3,12 plantas/m; 49.953,95 contra 38.342,10 plantas/ha, respectivamente, para H251 e H360). Os capítulos do H360 foram mais pesados, quando expressos em matéria verde (MV) (303,79 g/planta) e seca (MS) (56,88 g/planta), consequentemente, apresentando maior peso de aquênio (151,09 e 100,12 g/planta, para MV e MS), quando comparado com o H251. O híbrido H360 apresentou maior peso de colmo, quando expresso em MV (120,95 contra 61,27 g/planta) e MS (48,58 contra 29,01 g/planta). Os maiores pesos de capítulo, aquênios e caule apresentados pelo H360 resultaram em plantas mais pesadas, além de superioridade na produção de MS/ha. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: aquênio; capítulo; colmo; folha; matéria seca; matéria verde

PARÂMETROS COMPORTAMENTAIS DE VACAS DE DESCARTE EM PASTAGENS DE MILHETO OU CAPIM SUDÃO

The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavioral parameters and strategies of displacement and feeding of cull cows grazing millet or sudan grass. The treatments consisted of: pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke) or sudan grass (Sorghum bicolor cv. Sudanense). Both treatments were submitted to continuous grazing of cull cows over 63 experimental days subdivided into three periods. Using 20 Charolais x Nellore cull cows, at the average age of 8 years and average weight of 445 kg. The animals were divided into 10 paddocks, five paddocks used for each treatment comprising two cows. The behavioral assessments were carried out for 24 hours straight. The experimental design was completely randomized with two treatments and three periods. The grazing time of cows showed interaction (P = 0.0035) between treatment and period, and the shortest time for the activity in the first period on pearl millet (504 minutes) compared to the second period of that same treatment (587 minutes) and the third period on sudan grass pastures (535 minutes). The times of rumination and idling were similar between treatments; however, the idling time decreased and rumination increased with time periods. The forage species did not affect the variables related to the strategies of displacement and feeding. With the advancement of cycle pastures the number of steps per minute, stations per minute and per day decreased while the bite rate and the number of bites per day increased. The behavioral parameters of cull cows grazing sudan grass or millet are similar; however, the advancement of the vegetative cycle of these species provides changes in the behavioral pattern of the animals

SILAGE OF HIGH MOISTURE GRAIN AND DRY GRAIN OF SORGHUM AS ENERGETIC SOURCE FOR FEMALE CALVES FROM TWO GENETIC GROUPS SILAGEM DE GRÃO ÚMIDO OU GRÃO SECO DE SORGO COMO FONTE ENERGÉTICA PARA BEZERRAS DE DOIS GRUPOS GENÉTICOS

The performance and development of Charolais (CH) and 5/8Nellore 3/8Charolais (5/8NC) female calves, feedlot fed with silage of high moisture grain or dry grain of sorghum, were evaluated. The roughage (corn silage):concentrate ratio was 60:40, dry matter (DM) basis. Calves average initial weight and age was 96.9±8.5kg and five months. The experimental design was complete randomized, with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement (types of sorghum grains conservation x genetic groups). No significant interaction was observed between type of sorghum grain conservation and genetic group, for the variables studied. No difference (P>.05) was observed between high moisture and dry grain for daily intake of DM (DMI) 3.83 and 3.84 kg DM/day, and digestible energy (DEI) 14.59 and 14.92 Mcal/day, respectively. Average daily weight gain (ADW) .80 and .83 kg, final weight (FW) 165.0 and 166.5 kg, and feed conversion (FC) 4.78 and 4.63, were similar for high moisture and dry grain sorghum, respectively. Calves growth parameters according to sorghum grains conservation did not differ (P>.05). The gain of body condition (GBC) was higher (P<.05) for the treatment of high moisture grain (.33 points) in comparison to dry grain (.22 points). No difference (P>.05) was observed between genetic groups for DMI, DEI, ADW, FC and FW. The 5/8NC compared to the CH calves showed higher (P<.05) final body condition score (3.1 vs 3.0 points), initial (91.12 vs 83.62 cm) and final withers height (102.62 vs 94.84 cm) and initial (99.37 vs 89.69 cm) and final rump height (108.87 vs 101.37 cm). The CH calves had higher (P<.05) thoracic perimeter (24.94 vs 20.56 cm).<div><br /></div><div>KEY WORDS: Average daily weight gain, crossbreeding, rump height, withers height, thoracic perimeter.</div><div><br /></div> <div>Avaliaram-se o desempenho e o desenvolvimento corporal de bezerras Charolês (CH) e 5/8Nelore 3/8Charolês (5/8NC), alimentadas em confinamento com silagem de grão úmido ou seco de sorgo. A relação volumoso (silagem de milho):concentrado foi de 60:40 na matéria seca (MS). A média do peso e da idade inicial das bezerras foi de 96,9±8,5 kg e cinco meses. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 2 x 2 (tipos de conservação de grãos de sorgo x grupos genéticos). Não ocorreu interação significativa entre tipo de conservação do grão de sorgo e grupo genético, para as variáveis estudadas. Não se verificou diferença (P>0,05) quanto aos consumos diário de MS (CMS) de 3,83 e 3,84 kg MS/dia, energia digestível (CED) de 14,59, 14,92 Mcal/dia, para grão úmido e seco, respectivamente. O ganho médio diário de peso (GMD) foi de 0,80 e 0,83 kg, o peso final (PF) de 165 e 165,5 kg e a conversão alimentar (CA) de 4,78 e 4,63 para grão úmido e seco (P>0,05), respectivamente. Os parâmetros de crescimento das bezerras quanto ao tipo de conservação dos grãos de sorgo não diferiram. O ganho em estado corporal (GEC) foi superior (P<0,05) para o grão úmido (0,33 pontos) em comparação ao grão seco (0,22 pontos). Para os grupos genéticos estudados não se verificou diferença (P>0,05) quanto ao CMS, CED, GMD, CA e PF. As bezerras 5/8NC comparadas às CH apresentaram estado corporal final superior (P<0,05) (3,1 contra 3,0 pontos), assim como altura inicial (91,12 contra 83,62 cm) e final (102,62 contra 94,87 cm) de cernelha, altura inicial (99,37 contra 89,69 cm) e final (108,87 contra 101,37 cm) de garupa. As bezerras CH apresentaram maior (P<0,05) perímetro torácico 24,94 contra 20,56 cm das 5/8NC.</div><div><br /></div><div>PALAVRAS-CHAVES: Altura de garupa, cernelha, cruzamento, ganho médio diário, perímetro torácico.</div><div><br /></div&gt

CARACTERÍSTICAS PRODUTIVAS DE PASTAGENS DE MILHETO OU CAPIM SUDÃO SUBMETIDAS AO PASTEJO CONTÍNUO DE VACAS PARA ABATE

This study aimed to evaluate the productive parameters of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. BR) and Sudan grass (Sorghum bicolor cv. Sudanense) pastures, under continuous grazing by cows destined to slaughter. We used 22 crossbred Charolais and Nellore cows, kept under continuous grazing on Sudan grass or pearl millet pastures, over 63 experimental days, divided into three periods (21 days each). The experimental design was completely randomized with two treatments and three periods, with five replicates (area). The productive parameters of the pastures were similar when treatments were compared (P < 0.05). The growing cycle of pastures did not affect forage mass (1617.47 and 1606.93 kg of dry matter (DM)/ha) and forage offer (9.42 and 8.29 kg of DM/100 kg BW) on pearl millet or Sudan grass pastures. However, the average rate of accumulation of dry matter and crude protein showed higher values ​​on the first 21 days of pasture use (130.77 kg DM/ha and 17.04 g/kg DM), followed by reductions in the last two periods, and the averages of the second period (65.53 kg DM/ha and 12.96 g/kg DM) were higher than those of the third experimental period (36.13 kg DM/ha and 10.01 g/kg DM). The values ​​for neutral detergent fiber were similar in the two earlier periods (48.81, 49.01g/kg DM), followed by an increase in the last 21 days of pasture use (56.54 g/kg DM). The stocking rate in kg/ha of BW showed an interaction between treatment and period, however, the mean values ​​were similar between treatments (1741.1 kg/ha of the BW for pearl millet and 1881.7 kg/ha of BW for Sudan grass). The average daily live weight gain did not differ between treatments (1.04 for pearl millet and 0.96 for Sudan). The average daily gain per area (4.18, 4.55 kg/ha of BW) was similar on the first 42 days of pasture use and higher than on the last 21 experimental days (2.39 kg / ha of BW). Pearl millet or Sudan grass pastures are equivalent with respect to the production characteristics under continuous grazing by culling cows

Performance of finishing steers fed different sources of carbohydrates

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of carbohydrate sources (corn, soybean hulls or wheat bran) in the diet on performance of feedlot steers in the finishing phase. Twenty-four Charolais × Nellore crossbred steers, aged 22 months and initial weight of 335.0±10.9 kg were used in the experiment. Diets contained 40% sorghum silage and 60% concentrate. The intakes of dry matter (DM; 10.68, 10.16 and 10.34 kg/day) and crude protein (1.66, 1.70 and 1.72 kg/day) were not affected by diets with corn, soybean hulls or wheat bran, respectively. The intakes of neutral and acid detergent fiber were higher for soybean hulls, but the diet containing corn provided higher intake of non-fibrous carbohydrates, total digestible nutrients and digestible energy. Weight gain was higher and better feed conversion for animals fed corn (1.57 kg/day, 6.85 kg DM/kg gain) or soybean hulls (1.58 kg/day and 6.61 kg DM/kg gain) compared with steers receiving wheat bran (1.29 kg/day and 8.14 kg DM/kg gain) in the diet. There was no significant effect of carbohydrate sources on the final body score (3.78 points), energy conversion (28.25 Mcal digestible energy/kg gain), hot carcass yield (57.63 kg/100 kg BW) and fat thickness (3.1 mm). From an economic point of view, soybean hulls can be an alternative source of carbohydrate to corn in diets of finishing steers with 60% concentrate

Behavior pattern of beef heifers supplemented with different energy sources on oat and ryegrass pasture

The objective of this study was to evaluate behavior patterns of heifers grazing on black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), fed supplementation with brown rice meal and/or protected fat. A total of 28 Charolais × Nellore crossbred heifers at average initial age of 18 months and with initial live weight of 274.9±4.97 kg were used in the experiment. Animals were kept in oat + ryegrass pastures and distributed in the following treatments: no supplementation; Megalac (MEG): protected fat supplementation; supplementation with brown rice meal (BRM); and supplementation with BRM + MEG. The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake of pasture either in kg or in percentage of live weight was not changed by supply of supplement, but increased linearly (0.045 kg per day) over grazing periods. Supplementation with BRM and BRM + MEG reduced grazing time, 49.63%, in relation to non-supplemented animals and animals supplemented with MEG, 63.13%. Feeding seasons per minute increased over the experimental period with reduction in time spent in each feeding station. The number of bites per feeding station decreased linearly, with a variation of 34.48% in the late grazing period. Heifers supplemented with BRM and BRM + MEG require less time for grazing and increase their idle time, with no modification in displacement patterns within the paddocks and pasture ingestion. Grazing and idle time does not change in the distinct periods of pasture use, but rumination time increases with days of pasture use and with increase in NDF intake

Production parameters and forage loss of oat and rye grass pastures managed with beef heifers fed diets with energy supplementation

Production parameters of intercropped pastures of oat and rye grass managed with beef heifers supplemented with brown rice meal and/or protected fat were evaluated. Twenty-eight Charolais × Nellore crossbred heifers at initial average age of 18 months and initial average live weight of 274.9 kg were utilized in the experiment. Animals were kept on oat + rye grass pastures and distributed in the following treatments: no-supplementation (NS): heifers kept only in pastures; Megalac (MEG): supplementation with protected fat; brown rice meal (BRM): supplementation with BRM; BRM + MEG: supplementation with BRM plus protected fat. The greater participation of oat leaf was from July 5th to August 10th, 2009 and of rye grass, from August 30th to September 26th, 2009. The crude protein content increased until the 55th day (225.1 g/kg). Pasture total digestible nutrients presented a cubic behavior, with an average of 722.0 g/kg. The highest supply of leaf blades, 5.17 kg of dry matter/100 kg of live weight, was found in the second period. Pasture intake increased throughout the periods. Forage mass and support capacity of the animal did not differ between treatments, presenting means of 1245.02 kg of dry matter/ha and 882 kg of live weight/ha, respectively. Stoking rate, forage loss and pasture intake were not affected by the treatments. Supplementation of beef heifers with rice meal and/or protected fat did not change production parameters of oat + rye grass pastures or pasture intake. Increase in daily accumulation rate of dry matter and supporting capacity of the animals increases forage losses