ABSTRACT. This study was realized to evaluate the effect of concentrate supplementation and time scales of evaluation on behavioral and physiological responses of pregnant ewes on grazing system. The experimental design was a randomized 2 x 2 x 3 factorial arrangement (two breeds: Morada and Santa Inês; two concentrate supplementation levels: 0.5 and 1.5% of body weight; and three time scales of evaluation: 10, 20 and 30 minutes) with six replicates per treatment. The physiological parameters were influenced by period of the day and breeds, with higher values in the afternoon to Santa Inês ewes. Also, influence of concentrate supplementation was found between the breeds with greater values in Santa Inês ewes. But, it did not alter the physiological parameters among animals of the same genetic group. The grazing activity was influenced (p < 0.05) by the scales of observation intervals. Interval of 10 minutes was the most effective methodology to assess accurately the behavior of these animals due to higher number of the registries, offering higher data reliability. Morada Nova breed exhibited less time grazing (p < 0.05) on the 10-minute scale compared to 20 and 30 minutes, which were similar (p > 0.05) for such a feature. Thus, the pregnant ewes exhibited high adaptive capability with observations of 10 minutes for better description of grazing activity in Morada Nova.
Assessing feed intake is a valuable tool for herd management decisions. The use of markers is one of the most widely used techniques for estimating dry matter intake (DMI) in ruminants. Thus, internal markers (IM) were evaluated to predict DMI and digestibility (DMD) in ewes supplemented on a pasture during pre‐ (75, 105 and 135 days of gestation) and postpartum periods (30 and 60 days of lactation). The animals were kept on a pasture, and they were put into individual stalls to receive their supplementation. Twelve ewes were distributed in a completely randomized design: (a) Two supplementation levels (SL; 5 and 15 g/kg body weight, BW) and three IM (indigestible neutral detergent fiber, iNDF; indigestible acid detergent fiber, iADF; and rumen‐undegradable dry matter; RUDM) were used and analyzed as mixed models. (b) The DMI and DMD, which were estimated by the best marker, were analyzed as repeated measures using the mixed procedure in SAS. Fecal output was estimated using an external marker (LIPE®; isolated, purified and enriched lignin). The DMI and DMD estimated by RUDM were greater and better than iADF and iNDF, which were similar. The effects of SL and physiological stages for DMI and DMD were evaluated by the values obtained from RUDM. As expected, regardless of the physiological stage, DMI and DMD were greater in the animals that received 15 g/kg BW. Considering the physiological stage, the animals fed 15 g/kg BW had greater DMI and DMD at 75 days of gestation and 30 days of lactation and the least DMI was observed at 135 days of gestation and 60 days of lactation. In conclusion, RUDM provides the best estimates for DMI and DMD, which were greater in animals receiving 15 g/kg BW of concentrate at the beginning of gestation and lactation.
The PERSEU aims to join the Information Technology and Physical Therapy at the fight against the RSI. At the first stage of the project, a survey and an evaluation of the clinical state related to RSI was done using the professors and students from UFCG. At the next stage, the RSI prevention tool was planned according to the results of the previous stage, the mains functionalities identified were implemented, and, currently, the software is in conclusion stage. The main contribution of the project consists in the development of a computational tool which aims to provide a prophylaxis to RSI, characterizing itself for been a strongly interdisciplinary research.
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