Luciane Rumpel Segabinazzi

Carcass and beef characteristics of young bulls finished in feedlot and fed diets with different concentrate levels

The objetive in this experiment was to evaluate carcass and beef quantitative and qualitative characterstics from young bulls, slaughtered at 14-16 months of age and fed diets containing different concentrate levels. It was used sixteen Charolais- Nellore crossbreed non-castrated young bulls and fed diets containing 22; 40; 59 or 79% of concentrate. The animals were complete randomly distributed, with four replicates per diet. Initial age and body weight of the animals were 9.32 months and 192.44 kg, respectively. The animals were slaugthered at 400 kg of body weight in a packing plant, 54 km away from the feedlot. The diet offered was isoproteic and the roughage used was corn silage. The carcass physiological maturity decreased as the concentrate in diet increased. The hindquarter percentage, beef color, and texture increased linearly as the level of concentrate in diet increased. Increase in the concentrate levels in the diet does not affect the majority of carcass characterstics, although it improves meat visual aspect.

Corn silage substituted by sunflower silage in the diet of fedlot steers: ingestive behavior

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of replacing corn silage with sunflower silage (0, 33 e 66% DM) on the ingestive behavior of fedlot steers. Nine castrated steers were used, with average 288 kg initial live weight and 20 month old from the Nellore (N), 21/32Charolais (C) 11/32N and 21/32N 11/32C genetic groups. A randomized complete block experimental design was used, with three replications per treatment. The tested diets were: 100% corn silage and 0% sunflower silage; 70.94% corn silage and 29.06% sunflower silage and 38.27% corn silage and 61.73% sunflower silage, all with a 60:40 roughage:concentrate ratio. Time spent lying idle was greater for steers that consumed only corn silage as roughage compared to those that consumed sunflower silage. Time spent standing idle was similar between 33 (1.84 h) and 66% sunflower silage (1.96 h) and lower for 0% sunflower silage (1.62 h). The animals rumination time increased with the inclusion of sunflower on diet, with values of 8.61; 8.76 and 9.45 h, respectively for 0; 33 and 66% sunflower silage. Animals fed only with corn silage show better dry matter and neutral detergent fiber rumination efficiencies. The time spent feeding decrease with higher participation of sunflower silage.

Características da carcaça de tourinhos charolês e mestiços charolês x nelore terminados em confinamento

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the carcasses of young bulls Charolais (C) and crossbreeds C x Nellore (N), feedlot finished. Twelve animals of genetic groups C, 11/16CN and 5/8CN had been used, with initial age of 12 months and 270kg of average weight. The animals had been slaughtered at 17 months, showed no difference between the genetic groups studied for slaughter weight, cold carcass percentage and thickness fat, with 418.76kg; 54.67%; 2.51 mm, respectively. Group 11/16CN showed minor Longissimus dorsi area in relation to the C and 5/8CN. The crossbred animals exhibit higher leg length (70.13 and 69.75cm to 11/16CN and 5/8CN, respectively) compared defined ones (66.38cm), even so showed similarity in carcass length. In the evaluation of the ratios of commercial cuts of the carcass in forequarter, sidecut, and sawcut no group showed difference. The studied genetic groups, in the condition of non castrated and slaughter next to 420kg had showed low fat deposition. The characteristics of economic inference (commercial cuts) of the carcass had showed similarity among animals C, 5/8CN and 11/16CN.

Silagem de milho e grão de sorgo como suplementos para vacas de descarte terminadas em pastagem cultivada de estação fria

The effect of supplementation with corn silage or sorghum grain on the performance and characteristics of carcass and meat of cull cows, under temporary grazing on oats (Avena strigosa) + ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) pasture was evaluated. Thirty crossbred Charolais-Nellore cull cows, with averaging eight-yearold,were randomly distributed in three treatments. The animals received corn silage (TSI) or sorghum grain (TSO) as supplement, while another lot did not receive supplementation (TPH). Animals supplemented with corn silage showed higher final body condition score (4.35 points versus 4.15 for TPH and 4.22 for TSO). No effect of supplementation on body weight, average daily weight gain; and body condition score gain were verified. Differences were not observed concerning carcasses weight, hot and cold yield of carcasses, fat thickness, conformation, cushion thickness, Longissimus dorsi area, and commercial cuts percentages. Supplemented animals showed better color and higher marbling of meat. Corn silage and sorghum grain are alternative for the supplementation of cull cows in oats and ryegrass pasture, since they showed better carcass characteristics, although no effect on the performance in relation to exclusive pasture was detected.

Behavior patterns of cows with Charolais or Nellore breed predominance fed diets with plant extract or monensin sodium

The objective of this research was to study the ingestive behavior of feedlot cows fed additives based on plant extracts or monensin sodium. Twenty-four Charolais and Nellore crossbred cows with age and average initial weight of 7 years and 423 kg, respectively, were used. The experimental diets were plant extracts: basal diet + 5 g/animal/day of a natural additive composed of 750 mg of essential oil of thyme (Thymus vulgaris), 150 mg of garlic (Allium sativum), 250 mg of rosemary extract (Rosmarimus officinalis), 250 mg of canola oil (Brassica napus), 250 mg extract of quillaja (Quillaja saponaria), and 3350 mg of corn starch; sodium monensin: basal diet + 300 mg/monensin/animal/day; and control: basal diet without additive. The basal diet contained sorghum silage and concentrate in a 62:38 ratio. The experimental design was completely randomized with a 3 × 2 (3 diets and 2 breed predominances) factorial arrangement, and means were compared using DMS test at 5% of significance. The type of additive consumed did not alter animal feeding behavior. Cows with Charolais predominance consumed more dry matter (13.78 vs. 12.38 kg/day) and neutral detergent fiber (7.81 vs. 6.89 kg/day), ruminated for longer (8.47 vs. 7.82 h), spent more time chewing (13.05 vs 12.01 h), had a greater number of chews per minute (58.88 vs 53.21) and a greater number of ruminal bolus (541.43 vs. 464.09 boluses/day); however, cows with Nellore predominance had greater idling time (11.82 vs. 10.74 h).

Performance of finishing steers fed different sources of carbohydrates

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of carbohydrate sources (corn, soybean hulls or wheat bran) in the diet on performance of feedlot steers in the finishing phase. Twenty-four Charolais × Nellore crossbred steers, aged 22 months and initial weight of 335.0±10.9 kg were used in the experiment. Diets contained 40% sorghum silage and 60% concentrate. The intakes of dry matter (DM; 10.68, 10.16 and 10.34 kg/day) and crude protein (1.66, 1.70 and 1.72 kg/day) were not affected by diets with corn, soybean hulls or wheat bran, respectively. The intakes of neutral and acid detergent fiber were higher for soybean hulls, but the diet containing corn provided higher intake of non-fibrous carbohydrates, total digestible nutrients and digestible energy. Weight gain was higher and better feed conversion for animals fed corn (1.57 kg/day, 6.85 kg DM/kg gain) or soybean hulls (1.58 kg/day and 6.61 kg DM/kg gain) compared with steers receiving wheat bran (1.29 kg/day and 8.14 kg DM/kg gain) in the diet. There was no significant effect of carbohydrate sources on the final body score (3.78 points), energy conversion (28.25 Mcal digestible energy/kg gain), hot carcass yield (57.63 kg/100 kg BW) and fat thickness (3.1 mm). From an economic point of view, soybean hulls can be an alternative source of carbohydrate to corn in diets of finishing steers with 60% concentrate.

Comportamento social, frequência respiratória e escore de limpeza de novilhos confinados com diferentes espaços individuais

Objetivou-se avaliar o comportamento social, a frequencia respiratoria e o escore de limpeza de novilhosconfinados em diferentes espacos individuais. Foram utilizados 48 novilhos com idade e pesos medios iniciaisde 20 meses e 243,4 kg, respectivamente. Os animais foram confinados coletivamente de acordo como espaco individual disponivel, 2,5; 5,0 ou 10 m2. A dieta continha relacao volumoso:concentrado de 39:61(base na materia seca). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso. As analises foramefetuadas atraves do proc MIXED. As medias foram classificadas pelo teste “F” e os parâmetros comefeito significativo comparados pelo “teste t”, com α = 0,05. As interacoes agressivas atraves de cabecadasou ameacas, medias de 15,8 e 5,1 ocorrencias diarias, respectivamente, e o numero total de disputas, com21,9; 21,5 e 19,7 ocorrencias entre animais mantidos em espacos de 2,5; 5,0 e 10 m2, citados na mesmaordem, nao foram influenciadas pelo espaco individual disponivel. Do mesmo modo, o numero de interacao nao-agonisticas foi similar entre os diferentes espacamentos avaliados. Novilhos confinados com 5,0 e 10m2 estenderam seus membros 8,8 e 9,7 vezes por dia, respectivamente, superiores aos animais mantidoscom disponibilidade individual de 2,5 m2, que realizaram esse comportamento 4,3 vezes ao dia. O escore delimpeza diferiu entre os espacamentos – 3,2; 2,4 e 1,1 – para novilhos com espacos individuais de 2,5; 5,0 e10 m2, respectivamente, assim como a frequencia respiratoria, com 27,1; 24,8 e 22,7 movimentos/ minuto,citados na mesma ordem.

Suplementação com gordura protegida para vacas de corte desmamadas precocemente mantidas em pastagem natural

The objective of this work was to evaluate the productive and reproductive performance of beef cows, as well as the performance of their calves according to the following dietary treatments: PRE: supplemented with protected fat (PF) during 45 days prepartum; PREPOS: supplemented with PF during 45 days prepartum and 63 days postpartum; POS: supplemented with PF during 63 days postpartum; PN: without supplementation. The productive performance of cows was not influenced by feed management (P>0.05), except for body condition score (BCS), which was lower for PRE and PREPOS cows at the end of mating season, with the latter cows having similar BCS POS and PN. The calving interval (CI) was shorter for cows supplemented in PREPOS  376 days , and did not differ in cows maintained in PN  383 days. Supplemented PREPOS cows weaned 4.4% more pounds of calf per 100kg of cow at calving  22.6kg  than the PRE and POS cows  21.6kg and 21.6kg, respectively  and 8,4% more pounds of calf per 100 of cow at calving than the cows maintained in native pasture  20.7kg. The fat protected supplementation during pre and/or postpartum periods did not affect the performance of cows and calves.

External body components and internal fat of Charolais or Nellore steers, fed with different concentrate level

The objective was to evaluate the development of external body components and the distribution of internal fat of Charolais (CH) and Nellore (NE) steers, fed with different concentrate level in the diet. The steers were distributed in six treatments constituted by three concentrate level: 35, 50 or 65% (dry matter basis) and two genetic group (Charolais or Nellore). NE steers fed with 65% concentrate in diet showed higher EBW yield, it was not different to CH and NE steers fed with 50% concentrate. Head weigth in relation to EBW was decrease with the increase of the proportions concentrate (4.67, 4.30 and 1 Zootecnista, Depto de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, UFSM, Av. Roraima, 1000, Camobi, 97105-900. Santa Maria, RS. E-mail: mg_ or@yahoo.com.br 2 Engo Agro, Prof. do Depto de Zootecnia, UFSM, Santa Maria, RS. E-mail:darialves lho@hotmail.com 3 Zootecnista, Discente de Pos-Doutorado da Universidade Federal de Goias, UFG, Goiânia, GO. E-mail: regisluismissio@hotmail. com 4 Zootecnista, Profa. Colegio Agricola de Frederico Westphalen,UFSM, Frederico Westphlen, RS. E-mail:patimetz@hotmail.com 5 Engo Agro, Prof. Visitante, UFG, Goiânia, GO. E-mail: jorestle@terra.com.br 6 Zootecnista(s), M.e. Discente(s) de Doutorado, UFSM, Santa Maria, RS. E-mail: luzoot@hotmail.com; mcalisson@yahoo.com. br 7 Discente de Zootecnia da UFSM, Santa Maria, RS. E-mail:jonerzootecnista@yahoo.com.br * Autor para correspondencia

Behavior pattern of beef heifers supplemented with different energy sources on oat and ryegrass pasture

The objective of this study was to evaluate behavior patterns of heifers grazing on black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), fed supplementation with brown rice meal and/or protected fat. A total of 28 Charolais × Nellore crossbred heifers at average initial age of 18 months and with initial live weight of 274.9±4.97 kg were used in the experiment. Animals were kept in oat + ryegrass pastures and distributed in the following treatments: no supplementation; Megalac (MEG): protected fat supplementation; supplementation with brown rice meal (BRM); and supplementation with BRM + MEG. The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake of pasture either in kg or in percentage of live weight was not changed by supply of supplement, but increased linearly (0.045 kg per day) over grazing periods. Supplementation with BRM and BRM + MEG reduced grazing time, 49.63%, in relation to non-supplemented animals and animals supplemented with MEG, 63.13%. Feeding seasons per minute increased over the experimental period with reduction in time spent in each feeding station. The number of bites per feeding station decreased linearly, with a variation of 34.48% in the late grazing period. Heifers supplemented with BRM and BRM + MEG require less time for grazing and increase their idle time, with no modification in displacement patterns within the paddocks and pasture ingestion. Grazing and idle time does not change in the distinct periods of pasture use, but rumination time increases with days of pasture use and with increase in NDF intake.