André Thaler Neto

Herbage intake and milk yield of dairy cows grazing Italian ryegrass at two herbage allowances.

Avaliou-se o efeito de duas ofertas de forragem (25 e 40 kg MS/vaca.dia) sobre o consumo de forragem e a producao de leite em vacas pastejando azevem-anual. Utilizou-se o metodo rotacionado, em delineamento experimental de dupla reversao, com tres periodos de 12 dias e dez vacas da raca Holandesa no terco medio de lactacao. O consumo de forragem foi estimado pela producao fecal e pela digestibilidade da forragem ingerida e a producao de leite foi medida diariamente. A biomassa e a altura do dossel antes do pastejo nao diferiram entre as ofertas de forragem. A altura pos-pastejo foi maior na oferta de forragem de 40 kg MS/vaca.dia, o que determinou desaparecimento de forragem equivalente a 49,0% nessa oferta de forragem e a 69,0% na oferta de 25 kg MS/vaca.dia. O consumo individual de materia seca (MS) da forragem foi 11,9 e 16,6 kg/dia e a producao de leite, 18,4 e 21,1 kg/dia nas ofertas de 25 e 40 kg MS/vaca.dia, respectivamente. Vacas leiteiras em pastagem de azevem com alta oferta de forragem podem ingerir mais de 16,0 kg de MS e produzir mais de 20 kg de leite/dia. A producao de leite reduz aproximadamente 0,2 kg a cada kg de diminuicao na MS de forragem oferecida.The effect of two herbage allowances (25 and 40 kg dry matter/cow.day) were assessed on the herbage intake and milk yield of dairy cows grazing Italian ryegrass. A rotational grazing system was used, according to a Change Over procedure with three 12-day periods and ten Holstein cows in mid-lactation. Individual herbage intake was estimated from fecal output and the digestibility of the selected herbage and the milk yield was measured daily. Pre-grazing sward height and herbage mass at ground level did not differ between treatments. Post-grazing sward height was higher 40 kg dry matter/cow.day and the pasture disappearance rate from the initial sward was 49.0% and 69.0%, respectively. The individual dry matter intake of the herbage was 11.9 and 16.6 kg kg/day and the milk yield was 18.4 and. 21.1 kg/day at the allowances 25 and 40 kg dry matter/cow.day, respectively. Dairy cows grazing Italian ryegrass pasture, with a high forage allowance, can eat more than 16.0 kg DM/day and produce more than 20 kg milk/day. The milk yield decreased around 0.2 kg per kg of reduction

Perfil de propriedades leiteiras de Santa Catarina em relação à Instrução Normativa 51

Santa Catarina is the fifth largest milk producer in Brazil, and milk production is an important source of income for farmers. For the continuity of this reality, it is important that farmers be suited to the milk quality standards set by Normative Instruction 51/2002 (IN 51). With the objective to identify the profile of dairy farms and to verify the perception of farmers on milk quality requirements set by IN 51, a diagnostic research was carried out through the application of a structured questionnaire to 166 dairy farmers in the regions of Meio-oeste and Alto Vale do Itajai, in the period among April to September 2006. The farms presented mostly, profile compatible with familiar agriculture, selling an average of 97.6kg of milk/day, with an average of 13.6 cows in lactation per farm. Farmers had a low education level and age over 40 years. Milk was one of two main economical activities in 88.0% of farms. Considerable portion of the farmers still performs manual milking (33.7%) in conventional stall (94%) and kept the milk in bulk tank (56.6%). Less than 30% of the farmers knew the IN 51, and among these, the majority believes that the IN 51 will have high impact on their farms, which is not related to the level of milk production. In the opinion of the farmers, to adapt to IN 51, they need to acquire equipments, but in their opinion it is not necessary, to emphasizes on hygiene and milking control of mastitis.

Farelo de glúten de milho para vacas leiteiras em pastos de azevém anual

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of undegradable protein supplementation to dairy cows grazing Italian ryegrass. Twelve Holstein cows in the mid lactation were used and treatments were 0 (zero) and a mixture (60:40) of ground corn + corn gluten meal (4.0kg cow day-1) evaluated along three periods of fifteen days. Cows were distributed in four groups (two per treatment) and assigned to Italian ryegrass plots submitted to intermittent grazing with a herbage allowance of 24kg of DM cow day-1. Pre-grazing herbage mass (2325kg of DM ha-1) and sward surface height (15.8cm) were similar on plots and crude protein and NDF of ingested forage were 18.9 and 53,0%, respectively. Supplementation did not affect herbage DM intake (mean=8.5kg cow day-1) but, both, total DM intake and metabolisable energy increased 3.0kg and 42MJ cow day-1, respectively. Supplementation increased milk production (4.0 kg.cow.day-1) but did not change protein and fat milk content (32.8 and 29.2g kg-1). At low herbage allowance, supplementation with corn ground meal (22% of crude protein) increase milk production on proportion of 1:1 and studies should be done at conditions of non- limitant herbage allowance.

Suplementação energética para vacas leiteiras pastejando azevém com alta oferta de forragem

The effect of a energy supplement (corn grain) on the herbage intake and milk yield of lactating dairy cows grazing italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) was evaluated. The treatments were 2 and 4 kg of ground corn/cow.day. Eight Holstein cows in the second third of their lactation were divided in two groups in switch back procedure. The expected herbage allowance was 35 kg/cow.day in rotational grazing system. Individual herbage intake was estimated from output fecal and the digestibility of the selected herbage. The characteristics of the pre-grazing herbage and post-grazing characteristics did not change between paddocks. The herbage OM digestibility was 76.1 ± 2.77 %. The herbage OM intake (13.5 ± 1.89 kg/day), daily milk yield (22.5 ± 0.92 kg/day), milk fat content (32.4 ± 2.55 g/kg) and milk protein content (28.5 ± 0.82 g/kg) did not differ with the supplementation levels. Dairy cows with a milk production potential of 22.5 kg/day, after milk production peak, grazing annual italian ryegrass pasture with high forage offer, did not respond to more than 2 kg of ground corn grain.

Vitrificação de oócitos e embriões bovinos produzidos in vitro e expostos à citocalasina B

In this study, the influence of cytochalasin B on the survival and development after vitrification of oocytes and in vitro produced (IVP) bovine blastocysts was evaluated. In the Experiment I, 956 oocytes were matured for 22h and were immediately vitrified (Vitri treatment) or exposed for 15-20 minutes, to 7.5µg/ml (CB7.5Vitri treatment) or 45µg/ml (CB45Vitri treatment) cytochalasin B solutions, before vitrification. After 30 seconds of exposure to SV1 [400µl TCM-Hepes with 10% fetal serum (SF), 50µl ethylene glycol (EG) and 50µl DMSO], and 20 seconds to SV2 (300µl trehalose 1,0M + 20% SF, 100µl EG and 100µl DMSO) solutions, the oocytes were vitrified in Open Pulled Straws (OPS). The rewarming was performed at 37-38oC in two steps of 5 minutes each, into 0.3 and 0.15M trehalose solutions, respectively. There was no difference (P>0.05) in the cleavage and embryo rates between Vitri, Cito7.5Vitri and Cito45Vitri treatments, which were inferior to control group (P 0.05), which were lower than those observed in the Control group (P<0.05). The results show that, independently of dose studied (7.5 or 45mg/ml), cytochalasin B has not a beneficial effect to the vitrification of oocytes and IVP bovine blastocysts.

Impacto dos fatores de produção e bem-estar animal sobre a frequência de ordenha robotizada

The objective of this work was to evaluate the impact of production factors on milking frequency and the latter’s effect on animal welfare in robotic milking. The experiment was performed with Holstein Friesian cows housed in free-stall barns. To assess the impact of production factors, body condition score, milk yield, and concentrate intake were determined. To determine the effects of the milking frequency on welfare, the locomotion and teat-end scores and serum cortisol level were evaluated. Three experimental groups were formed according to the daily average milking frequency: 1.0 to 1.9, 2.1 to 2.9, and above 3.0 milkings per day. The decrease in milking frequency during lactation was related to the reduction in concentrate intake and milk yield. The increase in milking frequency was related to the reduction in the milk flow and the increase in milking duration. Milking frequency was affected by concentrate intake, locomotion problems, milk yield, and lactation stage. The cortisol level and teat-end conditions were not affected by milking frequency. Milking frequency impacts milk flow, duration of milking, and milk composition; however, there is no effect on the indicators of animal welfare.

Qualidade da água de granjas de postura comercial da região Sul de Santa Catarina em relação ao Ofício Circular Conjunto DFIP/DSA nº 1/2008

The aim of this study was to evaluate the water quality of laying hen farms in the South of Santa Catarina and contextualize them with the report DFIP/DSA 1/2008. Water samples were collected in February, 2012, from 31 farms located in the cities of Sao Ludgero, Orleans, Grao Para and Braco Norte. The chemical and microbiological parameters were set out in Attachment II, in the report DFIP/DSA 1/2008. Thus, the following were analyzed: chloride, hardness, nitrate, sulfate, pH and total dissolved solids (TDS) and Escherichia coli regarding the bacteriological analysis. The suitable samples were quantified for the report DFIP/DSA 1/2008 and water quality was evaluated according to the font type and number of birds in production by analysis of variance. The results indicated that water presented suitability to SDT, chloride and sulfate. Inadequacy was found in pH (in 26% of samples), hardness (6.5%), nitrate (54.8%) and the presence of Escherichia coli (46.2%). The analysis according to the number of birds and font type showed no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05). It was observed that 93.5% of the samples did not fit in at least one criterion. It is concluded that the waters from farms in the southern region of SC are not fully in accordance with the report DFIP/DSA 1/2008, presenting problems with regard to pH, hardness, nitrate and E. coli; the water quality is independent of the number of birds in production and type of source that supplies the farm.

Fatores que afetam a produção de leite e o período de lactação em um rebanho das raças Flamenga e Holandesa no Planalto Catarinense

Data on milk yield in 305 days of lactation and lactation period of 217 lactations of 104 Flemish and Holstein cows from the Experimental Station of Lages, Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuaria e Extensao Rural de Santa Catarina (EPAGRI) were analysed. Means, standard errors and coefficients of variation from milk yield in 305 days of lactation and lactation period were 4.179.48 ± 89.65kg and 22.33% and. 305.17 ± 4.91 days and 15.16%, respectively. Performances of the Flemish cows were poorer than the Holstein cows in 24.5% for milk yield ( 4763 vs. 3959kg) and in 8% for lactation period (317.9 vs. 292.4 days). Calving season affected only the lactation period. Lactations started in summer were longer than those started in spring. Calving age showed a quadratic effect on milk yield. The age of the top production were 69 and 96 months for Holstein and Flemish cows. Year of parturition did not affect milk yield and lactation period.