No abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between production performance and feeding behavior of steers reared on pasture during the rainy-dry transition period. Twenty-two ½ Holstein-Zebu crossbred steers at an average age of 10 months and with an average initial body weight of 234.5 ± 16.0 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with two types of supplementation and eleven replications. Pearson's linear correlation analysis was performed between behavioral variables and weight gain and feed conversion. Correlation coefficients were tested by the t test. The time expended feeding at the trough was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with average daily gain (ADG) and with the number of periods of permanence at the trough. Bite rate and the number of bites per day were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with ADG and negatively (P < 0.05) with feed conversion, unlike the number of bites per swallow, which was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with ADG. There was a positive correlation (P < 0.05) between feed efficiency in dry matter and neutral detergent fiber and ADG. Feeding behavior characteristics have little association with the production performance of cattle on pasture receiving mineral or energy-protein supplementation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of increasing concentrate supplementation levels on the intake, nutrient digestibility, and performance of crossbred steers during the dry period of the year. The experiment was developed on Princesa do Mateiro farm, in the municipality of Ribeirão do Largo, located in the southwest region of Bahia State, Brazil. Forty uncastrated male crossbred (½ Holstein-Zebu) steers with an average body weight (BW) of 232.55 ± 24.97 kg were distributed into four treatments in a completely randomized design with ten replicates. The animals were managed in an experimental area formed by Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, in an intermittent grazing system. Treatments consisted of the following supplementation levels: 0.2% BW, with 60% crude protein (CP); 0.3% BW, with 40% CP; 0.4% BW, with 30% CP; and 0.5% BW, with 24% CP. The intakes of forage dry matter in kg/day and %BW and neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (NDFap) in %BW decreased linearly, whereas the intake of non-fibrous carbohydrates corrected for ash and protein in kg/day and average daily gain increased linearly. Therefore, the use of supplementation at 0.5% BW (24% crude protein) to provide gains of up to 0.500 kg/day is recommended for grazing steers during the post-weaning period in the dry season of the year.

ResumoObjetivou-se, com este estudo, avaliar a composição química do pasto de capim marandu consorciado com amendoim forrageiro ou adubado com N e as características das carcaças de bovinos de corte. A pastagem foi manejada sob pastejo rotacionado com lotação contínua, e carga animal variável, utilizando-se 16 novilhos da raça nelore. Na avaliação de produção de matéria seca verde total, foram observadas significâncias estatísticas entre os tratamentos e períodos avaliados, sendo que o tratamento com o consórcio apresentou uma maior média. A variável proteína bruta (PB) apresentou significância entre os tratamentos e períodos avaliados. Os teores de nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) e fibras em detergente neutro (FDN) não apresentaram efeito significativo na avaliação da gramínea. Os períodos que apresentaram os menores ganhos médios diários (GMD) foram o quarto e sexto períodos. Para os teores de PB, NDT e FDN da leguminosa, o terceiro período foi o que apresentou as menores médias. Para as variáveis GMD, número de animais por dia (NAD), GPV, a estatística apresentou significância para a interação, sendo que o primeiro período do tratamento com o consórcio apresentou as maiores médias. No tratamento da adubação, as maiores taxas de lotação foram conseguidas nas estações onde ocorreram as adubações químicas. Foi observada significância estatística para a variável conformação na classificação das carcaças. O consórcio do amendoim forrageiro cv. Belmonte pode ser utilizado em substituição à adubação, com 120kg/N/ha, pois garante o mesmo ganho de peso por animal, sem alterar as características comerciais das carcaças.

Correlation between nutrient digestibility and ingestive behavior in Crossbred steers reCreated at pastures dias, d.l.s.

No abstract

RESUMO SUMMARYThis study aimed to characterize the dairy producers in Territory of Itapetinga region using a semi-structured questionnaire. Seventeen dairy producers were interviewed and stratified into: small (up to 50kg milk/day), medium (51 to 200kg of milk/day) and large (more than 200kg of

SUMMARYThe aim of this work was to study the correlation between intake and deposition of fatty acids in the Longissimus muscle of Nellore steers supplemented at pasture. The fieldwork was implanted in an area of 52 ha, formed of Brachiaria brizantha. Forty Nellore steers with initial average weight of 373.7 ± 14.9 kg and 26 months of age were used. The animals were distributed into four treatments: Control= T00 (supply only mineral salt), T03= Supply of concentrate in the amount of 0.3 % of Body Weight; T06= Supply of concentrate in the amount of 0.6 % of Live Weight , T09= Supply of concentrate in the amount of 0.9 % of live weight. Samples of concentrates and forages were collected for fatty acids analysis. The experiment lasted for 98 days. After this period the animals were slaughtered. Longissimus samples were vacuum packed and frozen for analysis of fatty acid composition. The results were statistically analyzed by estimating Pearson linear correlation coefficients. The results showed that there are correlations between the fatty acids consumed and fatty acids deposited in the muscle. RESUMOObjetivou-se estudar a correlação entre consumo e deposição de ácidos graxos no músculo Longissimus de novilhos nelore suplementados em pastagens. O trabalho de campo foi implantado numa área de 52 ha, formada de Brachiaria brizantha. Foram utilizados 40 novilhos da raça Nelore com peso inicial médio de 373,7 ± 14,9 kg e 26 meses de idade, distribuídos em quatro tratamentos: Controle= T00 (fornecimento apenas de sal mineral), T03= fornecimento de 0,3% concentrado em função do peso vivo; T06= fornecimento de 0,6 % concentrado em função do peso vivo; T09= fornecimento de 0,9 % concentrado em função do peso vivo. Amostras dos concentrados e da forragem foram coletadas para análise da composição de ácidos graxos. O período experimental foi de 98 dias. Após este período, os animais foram abatidos. Os resultados foram analisados por correlação linear de Pearson e teste t. Constatou-se que existem correlações entre os ácidos graxos consumidos e depositados no músculo.