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RESUMO: O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a estrutura do dossel e o desempenho de ovinos durante a estação seca em resposta ao manejo adotado nas águas em pastos de capim-massai. Os tratamentos consistiram do arranjo fatorial 2 x 2, duas metas de interceptação de luz (90% e 95%) e duas alturas de pós-pastejo (15 e 25 cm). Os manejos foram realizados no período chuvoso enquanto que no período seco o pasto foi manejado sob lotação contínua. No pasto foi avaliada a altura do dossel, massa de forragem, massa de lâmina foliar, massa de colmo, massa de material morto, relação lâmina foliar:colmo, os teores de proteína bruta, fibra em detergente neutro, fibra em detergente ácido, lignina em detergente ácido dos componentes morfológicos. Foram utilizados 16 ovinos com peso corporal inicial de 19 ± 4,7 kg, e avaliado o ganho de peso médio diário, o ganho de peso por hectare e a taxa de lotação. As interações entre as fontes de variações não foram significativas para nenhuma das variáveis. As alturas de pós-pastejo modificaram as massas de forragem total e de material morto na época de seca, quando manejados nas águas a 25 cm foram observados os maiores valores de 2912,5 e 1840,9 kg/ha de matéria seca, respectivamente. Não houve efeito dos manejos adotados no período das águas na composição química das lâminas foliares no período seco. Não foram observadas efeito dos manejos adotados no período das águas sobre o desempenho animal no período seco. Os pastos manejados com altura de pós-pastejo de 25 cm na época das águas, independente das metas de pré-pastejo, 90% ou 95% de interceptação de luz, mantém a estrutura mais adequada ao pastejo durante a época seca. Os manejos adotados na época das águas não interferiram no desempenho e produtividade dos animais.Palavras-chave: composição química, ganho de peso, Panicum maximum, taxa de lotação. FORAGE STRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE OF SHEEP RAISED ON MASSAI GRASS DURING THE DRY SEASON IN RESPONSE TO WET SEASON MANAGEMENTABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the canopy structure and performance of sheep raised on massai grass during the dry season in response to the management adopted during the wet season. The treatments consisted of two targets of light interception (90 and 95%) and two post-grazing heights (15 and 25 cm) in a 2 x 2 factorial scheme. Pastures were managed during the wet season, while continuous stocking was used during the dry season. The following pasture characteristics were evaluated: canopy height, forage mass, leaf blade, stem and dead matter mass, leaf blade:stem ratio, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin content, and dead matter of morphological components. Sixteen sheep with an initial body weight of 19 ± 4.7 kg were used and average daily gain, weight gain per hectare and stocking rate were evaluated. The interactions between sources of variation were not significant for any of the variables. Post-grazing heights modified total forage and dead matter mass in the dry season, with

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of pasture height at pre-grazing of Massai grass on the quality of available forage, forage intake and the performance of lambs raised for meat production. The treatments consisted of four pre-grazing canopy heights (35, 40, 45 and 50 cm). Pastures were managed by the intermittent stocking method and 32 sheep were used. Dry matter intake (DMI) was estimated by Lipe® indicator. Green forage allowance was not affected by pre-grazing heights. There was no effect of heights on the chemical composition of the stem or the leaf blades, except for crude protein content of leaf blades, which showed an inverse linear effect. Grazing time had a quadratic response in function of canopy height. The minimum point was at 42.6 cm, with 502.9 min/day. DMI increased linearly with increasing pasture height. Average daily weight gain (ADG) and stocking rate (SR) responded linearly to pregrazing heights. Weight gain per hectare was not affected by height as a result of the compensation between SR and ADG. The increase from 35 to 50 cm in Massai grass canopy height reduces its nutritional value and individual performance and increases DMI of sheep intended for meat production.

Objetivou-se com esse trabalho avaliar a produtividade do girassol (Helianthus annuus L.) submetido à adubação nitrogenada e fosfatada em Cambissolo. A cultivar usada foi a EMBRAPA 122, plantada em espaçamento 0,90 x 0,30 m. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 4x4 com quatro repetições, combinando quatro doses de N e de P2O5 (0, 25, 50 e 100 kg/ha). A altura da planta e o diâmetro do capítulo não foram afetados pelas doses de N, porém tiveram resposta linear e positiva as doses P2O5. Não foi verificado efeito das doses de N e de P2O5 sob o diâmetro do caule com valor médio de 18,58 mm. A produção de grãos por área respondeu de maneira linear e positiva as dose de N e P2O5, sendo o fósforo fator de maior importância, pois com o uso de 100 kg/ha de N a produtividade aumentou em 31%, enquanto que com essa dose de P2O5 a produtividade aumentou 58%, em comparação ao tratamento sem os fertilizantes. Na cultura do girassol deve ser aplicado 100 kg/ha de nitrogênio e de fósforo para obter maior produtividade. A adubação fosfatada promove maior resposta que a nitrogenada, devendo esta ser priorizada quando houver impossibilidade de realizar as duas.

This study was undertaken to examine biometric measurements during the growth phase of male and female Santa Inês sheep reared in Brachiaria brizantha pastures in northeastern Brazil. The experiment involved 24 castrated males and 24 females at an initial age of 90 days, with an average body weight of 19.04 ± 0.96 kg. Treatments consisted of the effect of four cultivars (Marandu, Xaraés, Piatã and Paiaguás) and two sexes. Six animals were used per treatment, in a randomized-block experimental design. The following characteristics were evaluated: abdominal circumference (AC), body condition score (BCS), body length (BL), body weight (BW), body capacity 1 (BC 1 ), body capacity 2 (BC 2 ), chest width (CW), heart girth (HG), leg circumference (LC), leg length (LL), rump height (RH), rump width (RW) and withers height (WH). Data were subjected to descriptive analysis, Pearson’s correlation, ANOVA and Tukey’s, Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. Univariate and multiple regressions were applied to estimate BW with a maximum error level of 5%. Significant differences were observed for the biometric measurements between sexes and cultivars (p<0.05). Body weight was highly correlated (>70%) with AC, WH, CG, RW, BC 1 and BC 2 . The male sheep grazed on cultivars Piatã showed the best values for BW (40.43 kg), HG, RW, WH, LL, LC (102.46; 20.8; 65.23; 60.44; 42.54 cm respectively) and BC 1 (4.25 kg/cm). Females grazed on cultivar Marandu had higher values for RW, CW, LL (17.26; 20.1; 75.98 cm respectively), BC 1 (6.03 kg/cm) and BC 2 (0.422 kg/cm). The equations that best estimated live weight were BC 1 and HG. In male and female Santa Inês sheep, biometric parameters grow differently depending on the cultivar where they are grazed during the growth phase. Cultivars Marandu and Piatã are the most recommended for sheep production, as they provided the best performance and body development in those animals.

ABSTRACT:The objective of this study was to evaluate the biometry and carcass characteristics of finished Santa Inês crossbred sheep grazed on tropical grass pastures during the dry season. The study was carried out at the Grupo de Estudos em Forragicultura (GEFOR/UFRN), in Macaíba -RN, Brazil. Four forage treatments were evaluated: Brachiaria brizantha cvs. Marandu e Piatã, Panicum maximum cvs. Aruana e Massai. The 2.88 ha-area used was divided in two blocks of 1.44 ha; each one was composed of four plots corresponding to each cultivar, and each plot was subdivided into six paddocks with an area of 0.06 ha. The pastures were managed under intermittent stocking with seven days of occupation and 35 days of rest, with variable stocking rate. No significant difference was observed in the biometric measurements evaluated in the animals, except for chest width in which animals kept in Marandu pastures obtained higher values than those in the Aruana cultivar. The lowest values of average daily gain, final weight and weight at slaughter values were observed in the animals kept in Aruana cultivars. Cut weights of the shoulder, the loins, short legs/shanks and ribs were higher in the animals kept in Marandu grass and lower in those kept in the Aruana grass; however, no differences were observed for the yield of the cuts and for the biometric measurements of the carcass. The evaluated pasture cultivars did not modify the finished sheep carcasses, however, the lower forage mass from Aruana grass pastures in the dry season affected animal performance and the sheep carcass composition.

This study aimed to evaluate the fermentation profile and nutritional quality of silages composed of cactus pear and maniçoba. Two experiments were performed: the first evaluated the fermentation characteristics, chemical composition and determined the organic acids in cactus pear silages with the inclusion of five levels of maniçoba (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) in six opening times (1, 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days). The second experiment determined the nutrient intake, digestibility, water balance and nitrogen balance in Canindé goats fed diets based on cactus pear silage with the inclusion of four levels of maniçoba (25, 50, 75 and 100%), with six animals per treatment. The increase in maniçoba levels in cactus pear silage provided a linear increase in the butyric acid, dry matter (DM), ether extract, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, water intake via drinking fountain and metabolic water, and reduced the pH, lactic acid, acetic acid, mineral matter, total carbohydrates, non-fibrous carbohydrates, water intake via food, total water intake, water excreted in the faeces, water excreted in the urine, total water excretion and water balance. Quadratic behaviour was observed for N-NH3, DM recovery and propionic acid, with an increase in maniçoba levels in cactus pear silages. Regarding the different opening times, there was a significant effect in pH, N-NH3, acetic acid, lactic acid and butyric acid (P < 0.050). The inclusion of maniçoba in cactus pear silage improved the fermentation characteristics and nutritional quality to be used in diets for goats.