José Américo Soares Garcia

Fatores ambientais e parâmetros genéticos para características produtivas e reprodutivas em um rebanho nelore no estado do Mato Grosso do Sul

The objective of the present work was to investigate the effects of some genetic and environmental factors on production (weaning weight WW; eighteen month weight W18) and reproduction (scrotal perimeter at 18 months SP18; calving interval CI; age at first calving AFC; True fertility TF, calving date CD) traits in a Nellore cattle herd in the Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. The observations were analysed using the least squares methodology, and the statistical models included the fixed effects: year (YB) and month (MB) of calving, interaction YB*MB, sex (S) of animal (except for W18, SP18 and AFC) and calving number. Significant effects were found for all factors studied on WW, and animals born in August (179 kg) and December (156 kg) had highest and lowest WW respectively. The male calves (174 kg) were heavier at weaning than females (162 kg), a difference of 7.4% in favour of males. No tendency was observed in terms of mean values over the years for this trait. W18 was influenced only by birth year, with a mean value of 281.0 kg. Only calving number did not influence Scrotal perimeter (SP18), which had a mean value of 26.8 cm. The mean CI was 465 days, and all effects were significant, except for calf sex. TF was significantly influenced by all effects studied, and had a mean value of 144 kg. Age at first calving was high (1.279 days or 41.93 months) and influenced by month and year of calving. In terms of calving date, month and year were significant effects, as was the interaction between these effects but sex and calving number did not affect this trait. Based on estimates of heritability, permanent environment, as well as on genetic and phenotypic correlations, estimated using MTDFREML, it was concluded that these traits should respond to direct selection, except for RF and AFP. Genetic correlations between production traits were favourable, indicating the possibility of genetic progress through indirect selection.

Caracterização morfológica de eqüinos da raça Campeiro

Data was available on 498 horses registered by the Brazilian Association of Campeiro Horse Breeders. This included individual data on 16 linear traits [shoulder height (SH), mid back height (MBH), withers height (WH), back height (BH), head length (HL), neck length (NL), back length (BL), shoulder length (SL), hip length (HiL), body length (BOL), head width (HW), chest width (CW), hip width (HIW), chest circumference (CC), cannon bone circumference (CBC)], space under horse (SUH), coat color, temperament and nine subjective traits taken at registration. Body indices and weight were calculated from standard formulae where pectoral index (PI)= WH/SUH, dactyl-thoracic index (DTI), weight (BW), length index (LI), body index (BI), thorax index (TI), conformation index (CI), work index 1 (WI1) and work index 2 (WI2), compact index 1 (COI1) and compact index 2 (COI2). The effect of sex of animal, month, age and year of registration as well as coat color on the measurements was carried out using SAS® (Statistical Analysis System). The Campeiro horse is well proportioned with WH (1.46 m) slightly higher than SH. It is an animal that is between saddle and light traction, with a mean weight 419.96 kg, and medium length. WI1 and WI2 show that it can support 117.16 kg at a trot or gallop and a maximum weight of 198.76 kg at a fast walk. Variance coefficients varied widely but low measures predominated. Sex and coat color were not important sources of variation for measurements and indices. Month of registration influenced CC, CP, CD, CE, LP, LA, PT, PC and most indices. Year of registration did not influence AC, AD, ACost, CC, LP and PT, but was significant for the other linear measures and only for IT in the indices. Age influenced ACost, CD, LC, LP, LA, PT and most indices. The most popular coat color was chestnut followed by bay and dark grey.

Desempenho, características de carcaça e constituintes corporais de ovinos Santa Inês alimentados com farelo de girassol em substituição ao farelo de soja na dieta

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of replacing soybean meal with sunflower meal on carcass traits and body measurements of Santa Ines lambs. Eighteen intact lambs averaging 90 days of age and 14±1.43 kg of body weight (BW) at the beginning of the study were assigned to a completely randomized design and confined during 87 days. Animals were fed coastcross (Cynodon dactylon) hay ad libitum plus 300 g of one of the following three concentrate mixtures: ground corn + 100% soybean meal (SB), ground corn + 50% soybean meal + 50% sunflower meal (SBSF), or ground corn + 100% sunflower meal (SF). Feed intake was measured three times a week while body weight once a week. At slaughter the following measurements were taken: BW, hot carcass and half carcass weights, carcass length, carcass fat cover, skin weight and thickness, thoracic (lung, trachea and heart) and abdominal (liver and kidneys) organ weights, and retail cut weights (neck, ham, loin, shoulder, rib and rib/belly). The average daily weight gain and total weight gain were greater on animals fed SB than on those fed SBSF and SF. However, DM intake expressed as metabolic weight was lower on SB diet compared to SBSF but similar to SF diet. Weights of half-carcass as well as loin and rib/belly weights were all higher on SB than on SBSF and SF diets. Replacing SB with SBSF decreased production and carcass characteristics in feedlot finishing lambs.

Características de carcaça, componentes não-carcaça e composição tecidual e química da 12ª costela de cordeiros Santa Inês terminados em pasto com três gramíneas no período seco

Carcass traits, non-carcass components and 12th rib yield of Santa Ines sheep finished in rotational grazing with three different tropical grasses (A. gayanus Kunth. cv. Planaltina, P. maximum Jacq. cv. Aruana and P. maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzania) were evaluated in the dry season of the year. A completely randomized design with 11 sheep (3 months old and 18.8 ± 2.88 kg LW) in each treatment was used. Animals were supplemented with increasing levels of concentrate, as advancing of the dry season, besides ad libitum mineral salt. At the end of 82 days of experiment, the animals were slaughtered, in the previous day of the slaughter; loin eye area (LYA) was measured using ultra-sound (EMUS). Carcasses were evaluated for slaughter weight (SW), hot carcass weight (HCW), hot carcass dressing (HCD), carcass length (CL), subcutaneous fat score (SFATS), hot half carcass weight (HHCW), half carcass cuts (Rib/Belly, Rack, Back, Shoulder, Leg and Neck), skin weight (SKIN), thoracic (TV) and abdominal (AV) viscera and testicular (TE). The 12th rib was evaluated for total weight (TW), LYA, amount and percentage of muscle (MUSC), bone (BONE) and fat (FAT) as well as chemical composition. The characteristics SW, HCD, HHCW, SKIN and FAT did not differ between animals finished on Aruana and Tanzania grass, however were superior to those on andropogon grass. The yields on Neck, Rib/Belly and Rack in animals finished in tanzânia grass was superior to those on andropogon grass and aruana grass, which did not differ between itself. The other carcass traits, non-carcass components and 12th rib analyses did not differ between treatments. Sheep kept on aruana grass and tanzania grass howed better carcass traits with more satisfactory production levels when compared to the animals finished on andropogon grass.

Eficiência de síntese microbiana e atividade enzimática em bovinos submetidos à suplementação com enzimas fibrolíticas

It was investigated the effects of fibrolytic enzymes (cellulase and xylanase) on the microbial protein synthesis efficiency and enzymatic activity of b-1,4-endoglucanase (cellulase) in animals receiving diets with corn silage and Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon spp.). Eight bovines fitted with rumen and duodenum cannulas were randomly assigned to two replicated 4 x 4 Latin squares with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (two forage sources with or without fibrolytic enzymes). The commercial enzymatic complex used in this trial was extracted from Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma longibrachiatum fungi. Each animal received 12 g/day of the enzymatic complex by mixing it in the ration. Inclusion of fibrolytic enzymes in the diet increased the b-1,4-endoglucanase activity in the ruminal fluid of animals fed both forages. However, there was no effect of enzymes on efficiency of microbial protein synthesis that averaged 31.8 and 33.9 g of N/kg of OMDR and 0.40 and 0.41 g of N/Mcal of EDR, respectively, for corn silage and Tifton hay diets. Similarly, duodenal flows of microbial nitrogen (mic-N) and non ammonia nitrogen (NAN) did not differ and averaged 78.2 and 52.5 g/day and 89.6 and 76.3 g/day for corn silage and Tifton hay, respectively. Supplementation with fibrolytic enzymes had no effect on the ruminal parameters of cattle fed hay or corn silage.

Determination of metabolizable energy value of corn with different average geometric diameters for european quails (Coturnix coturnix coturnix)

Metabolizable energy (ME) of corn with different ge ometric diameters was determined in European quail with 26 days of age with 124 g of mean live weight, using t he Total Collection of Excreta Method. One hundred and twenty five quails were divided in five treatments, five r eplications with five quails each, with one treatme nt used to determine endogenous losses. Values of Average Geom etric Diameter (AGD) of the corn were 600, 800, 100 0 and 1200 µm. ME of corn was not affected by AGD. Average valu es were 3079, 3274, 3300, 3137 Kcal/kg respectively for apparent metabolizable energy, corrected appare nt metabolizable energy, true metabolizable energy, corrected true metabolizable energy. Key word: metabolizable apparent energy, metabolizable true energy, particle size, total collections of excre ta.