Short Communication: Performance of steers fed on pasture receiving different seeding rates of vetch in an integrated crop-livestock system

Aim of study: To evaluate the performance of beef calves fed black oat and Italian ryegrass pasture seeded with several different seeding rates (SR) of common vetch in a crop-livestock integrated system.Area of study: The experiment was carried out in Dois Vizinhos city, Paraná, Brazil.Material and methods: An area of 8.3 ha was used, which was divided into 11 paddocks, 0.75 ha each. Nellore calves (n = 22), 7 ± 2 months old and with initial body weight of 134 ± 27 kg were used for the tests. The experimental design was completely randomised. Vetch (Vicia sativa L., ‘Amethyst’) SR treatments included 0, 15, 30, and 45 kg ha-1, in a mixture with black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb. ‘IPR 61’ and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pastures.Main results: There was no effect of SR on pasture productivity parameters. The increase in vetch seed in the seed mixture resulted in an increase in crude protein and neutral detergent fibre, but decreased in vitro digestibility of vetch. However, these changes did not affect the nutritional value of the pasture. Vetch SR of 30 kg ha-1 or higher allowed greater share of the legume in the pasture, thereby enhancing greater individual animal performanceResearch highlights: Vetch SR of 30 kg ha-1 or higher allowed greater share of the legume in the pasture, thereby enhancing greater individual animal performance

Ideal slaughter weight of Jersey bulls for meat production

With the growth of dairy farming in Brazil the chances of the use of the males for meat production increase. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the best slaughter weight of Jersey bulls, aiming at the optimization of the use of these whole animals for meat production, evaluating the performance characteristics of the animals, carcass characteristics and slaughtered meat. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with three slaughter weights (360, 390 and 420 kg), with six replicates. The experiment was conducted at the Agronomic Institute of Paraná (IAPAR) of Pato Branco from May 2017 to September 2018. Eighteen newborns of the Jersey breed were used. The animals were submitted to a single lactation system, which consisted of four liters of milk, supplied twice a day for 51 days. The diet provided after breastfeeding consisted of 15% of oat hay, 68% whole corn grain and 17% soybean meal. There was a period of adaptation to the facilities and the management system employed, with duration of 15 days. The animals were weighed at the beginning and end of the experimental period, as well as every 28 days, for monitoring the ponderal development. After slaughter the animals were submitted to carcass evaluations. Absolute dry matter intake (CMS), mean daily weight gain (GMD) and feed conversion were not affected by the slaughter weight of the animals (P> 0.05). The thickness of the subcutaneous fat decreased from the animals slaughtered with 392 to those of 422 kg, causing the animals to present less requirement for gain, compensating the fall of the dry matter consumption relative to 100 kg of live weight. The warm carcass weight and cold carcass weight increased linearly with the increase in slaughter weight of the animals.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Com o crescimento da exploração leiteira no Brasil aumentam-se as chances do aproveitamento dos machos para produção de carne. Assim o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o melhor peso de abate de tourinhos Jersey, visando a otimização da utilização desses animais inteiros para a produção de carne, avaliando as características de desempenho dos animais, características da carcaça e da carne dos animais abatidos. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado contendo três pesos de abate (360, 390 e 420 kg), com seis repetições. O experimento foi conduzido no Instituto Agronômico do Paraná (IAPAR) de Pato Branco, no período de maio de 2017 a setembro de 2018. Foram utilizados 18 animais recém nascidos da raça Jersey. Os animais foram submetidos a um único sistema de aleitamento, que consistiu de quatro litros de leite, fornecidos duas vezes ao dia durante 51 dias. A dieta fornecida pós aleitamento foi constituída por 15% de feno de aveia, 68% grão de milho inteiro e 17% farelo de soja. Houve um período de adaptação às instalações e ao sistema de manejo empregado, com duração 15 dias. Os animais foram pesados no início e final do período experimental, assim como a cada 28 dias, para acompanhamento do desenvolvimento ponderal. Após abate os animais foram submetidos às avaliações de carcaça. O consumo absoluto de matéria seca (CMS), o ganho de peso médio diário (GMD) e a conversão alimentar não foram afetados pelo peso de abate dos animais (P>0,05). A espessura de gordura subcutânea decresceu dos animais abatidos com 392 para os de 422 kg, fazendo com que os animais apresentassem menor exigência para ganho, compensando a queda do consumo de matéria seca relativo a 100 kg de peso vivo. O peso de carcaça quente e peso de carcaça fria aumentaram linearmente com o aumento do peso de abate dos animais

Quantitative carcass traits of Holstein calves, finished in different systems and slaughter weights

O objetivo deste experimento foi avaliar as características da carcaça de bezerros holandeses terminados em confinamento ou em pastagem com suplementação e abatidos com diferentes pesos de abate. Os animais confinados foram alimentados com volumoso e concentrado comercial, na proporção de 40:60, sendo a silagem de milho utilizada como volumoso. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 2x4 (dois sistemas de terminação x quatro pesos de abate). Os animais foram abatidos à medida que atingiam os pesos de abate pré-determinados (140, 180, 220 e 260kg). O sistema de acabamento não teve influência sobre o peso e rendimento de carcaça quente e fria e as perdas de carcaça, mas os animais confinados apresentaram maior espessura de gordura. Animais confinados apresentaram melhor conformação, comparados com os terminados em pastagem. À medida que aumentou o peso de abate, houve crescimento linear para peso de carcaça quente e fria, rendimento de carcaça quente e fria, conformação, medidas métricas e peso dos cortes comerciais da carcaça. O percentual do corte traseiro decresceu com o aumento do peso de abate, enquanto que a espessura de gordura apresentou resposta quadrática. Os sistemas de abate apresentaram rendimento de carcaça semelhante. As características da carcaça melhoram com o aumento do peso de abate, mas, em percentagem, são semelhante

Slaughter body weights of Jersey young bulls finished on feedlot

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of slaughter body weight (SW) on the performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of Jersey bulls in feedlots from weaning to slaughter. Eighteen Jersey bulls (125.7±15.9 kg; 5±0.6 months old) were used in the study. The treatments corresponded to three slaughter-weights: L360 – light weight, SW of 360 kg, M390 – medium weight, SW of 390 kg, and H420 – heavy weight, SW of 420 kg (n = 6/treatment); the animals were slaughtered at 368, 392, and 422 kg, respectively. The average daily gain was not influenced by SW. The M390 and H420 groups remained in feedlot, on average, 6 and 51 d longer, respectively, to reach a similar SW in relation to the L360 group. The increase in SW did not influence dry matter intake. However, the L360 group exhibited greater dry matter intake relative to body weight compared with the other two groups (29 vs. 26 g/kg). The increase in SW resulted in heavier and longer carcasses, with higher hot carcass yields. However, animals with greater SW had lower fat thickness. In addition, the increase in SW led to greater pistol cut, bone, and muscle weight for the carcasses. Although the meat color of Jersey bulls was darker in the H420 group, the meat was considered softer and more palatable by the consumer panel compared with the meat from the L360 group. The L360 group exhibited less fluid loss during thawing and cooking. Shear force measured by Warner Blatzer Shear was lower for H420. Animals slaughtered in the L390 group had an intermediate carcass weight, similar carcass yield, better cover fat and meat quality (color and shear) than animals slaughtered in the H420. Combining these factors with a shorter feedlot time compared with that of heavier animals, the SW of feedlot Jersey bulls is recommended at 390 k