Marcílio de Azevedo

Estimativa de níveis críticos superiores do índice de temperatura e umidade para vacas leiteiras ¹/2, ³/4 e 7/8 Holandês-Zebu em lactação

The objective of this trial was to estimate the upper critical levels of the temperature-humidity index (TUI) measuring morning and afternoon rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RF), and hair coat surface temperature (ST) of ½, ¾ and 7/8Holstein-Zebu (HZ) dairy cows during two consecutive years (two summers and two winters) in Coronel Pacheco, MG, Brazil. Correlation and multiple analysis were determined using data obtained from 15 dairy crossbreed cows/season; five from each genetic group (GG). Results showed that RF was more reliable than RT as an indicator of heat stress based on both correlation and regression analysis. Estimated upper critical values of the TUI were 80, 77, and 75 using RT and 79, 77, and 76 using RF for ½HZ, ¾HZ, and 7/8HZ dairy cows, respectively. When ST was used the estimated upper critical values of the TUI were very similar among the three GG averaging 79. The ½HZ dairy cows were more heat tolerant than those in the 7/8HZ GG while the ¾HZ were intermediate.

Substituição do milho por palma forrageira em dietas completas para vacas em lactação

The experiment was conduced to evaluate the effects of corn replacement for forage cactus on the performance of crossbreed lactating cows and nutrient digestibility. Eight cows were assigned a two latin square design in a factorial 2 x 2 arrangement (two forage cactus cultivars, with or without corn).There was not interaction between forage cactus and corn and the effect of both were analyzed in an isolated way. The intake of dry matter, organic matter, acid detergent fiber, crude protein, ether extract and total carbohydrates were not affected by the forage cactus. Animals that received giant cultivar presented larger neutral detergent fiber intake. The diets with corn presented larger dry matter intake (kg/day and % of LW). The intake of TDN, the coefficients of digestibility of all nutrients, the fat corrected milk production, fat content and kg of milk: dry matter intake ratio were not affected not by the forage cactus cultivars neither by the inclusion of corn.

Produção de geléia real e desenvolvimento da larva de abelhas Apis mellifera, na região semi-árida de Pernambuco

Foram analisados dados de producao de geleia real (GR) e peso da larva (PL), em dois apiarios nos municipios de Ibimirim e Petrolândia, na regiao semi-arida do Estado de Pernambuco, nos meses de junho e agosto de 1995, para avaliar o momento de maior acumulo de GR, nas celulas reais (realeiras), e acompanhar o desenvolvimento da larva. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados. A quantidade de GR acumulada nas realeiras foi avaliada 24, 32, 48, 56 e 72 horas apos a transferencias das larvas. As analises de variância mostraram efeitos significativos para o tempo de permanencia, afetando a producao de GR e o PL, nos dois locais estudados. Foi feito um desdobramento polinomial do efeito de tratamento para se avaliar o momento de maior producao de GL. De acordo com as equacoes de regressao obtidas, as producoes maximas ajustadas de 175,57 mg (Ibimirim) e 183,69 mg (Petrolândia) foram conseguidas com 59 e 54 horas apos a transferencia das larvas, respectivamente. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, concluiu-se que, em ambos os locais, maiores producoes de GR poderao ser obtidas fazendo-se coletas entre 48 e 56 horas apos a transferencia das larvas. Apos esse periodo, o crescimento da larva e intensificado pelo aumento de consumo de geleia, reduzindo-se a quantidade de GR acumulada nas realeiras.

Zoneamento bioclimático para a raça ovina Dorper no Estado de Pernambuco

The objective of this work was to perform the bioclimatic zoning for Dorper sheep, in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Average daily meteorological data from 246 meteorological stations in the state were used. The variables air temperature and air relative humidity were used to calculate the temperature and humidity index. With the values of these variables, isolines were traced using the Surfer software. The Agreste region of Pernambuco shows the best weather conditions for Dorper breed throughout the year than the region comprising the coast, “Zona da Mata”, and “Semiarido”. In the warmer months and in critical regions, as the “Sertao”, the implementation of management is required, to provide shade to mitigate heat stress and not compromise the productive performance of the breed .

Feed handling of lactating crossbred cows maintained in a semi‐arid region during the hot season: physiological parameters, ingestive behavior and performance

The effects of time of feed delivery (14.00 hours; 14.00 and 20.00 hours; 16.00 and 18.00 hours) on the physiological parameters, ingestive behavior, nutrient intake and production of lactating cows maintained in a semi-arid region during the hot season were evaluated. Regardless of treatment, all animals received the first feeding supply at 06.00 hours. Eight cows with an average body weight of 600 kg, average milk yield of 20 kg/day and 80 days in milk were utilized. The rectal temperature, respiratory rate and sweating rate were not affected (P > 0.05), with average values of 38.5°C, 53.8 movements/min and 104 g/m2 /h respectively. There was no effect (P > 0.05) on the eating time (314 min/day), ruminating time (564 min/day), drinking time (61 min/day) and idle time (502 min/day). Similarly, the intake of nutrients and performance of lactating cows were not affected (P > 0.05), with average dry matter intake of 19.8 kg/day, 4% fat-corrected milk of 20.6 kg/day and milk fat concentration of 4.03 g/100 g. Since the behavior and performance have not altered, any times of feed delivery evaluated could be used to crossbred Holstein × Zebu cows maintained on a feedlot in semi-arid regions during the hot season.

Evaluation of feeding supply and forage cactus processing for lactation cows

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da forma de fornecimento da dieta e do processamento da palma forrageira sobre o consumo, a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, a producao e a composicao do leite, a concentracao de N-ureico no plasma (NUP) e no leite (NUL) e a producao de proteina microbiana em vacas holandesas em lactacao. Foram utilizadas oito vacas com 453 ± 75,8 kg e producao de 14 kg de leite/dia distribuidas em arranjo fatorial, com duas formas de processamento do cacto (picado a faca ou em maquina forrageira) e duas formas de fornecimento da dieta (concentrado separado e mistura completa). Os consumos de materia seca, materia orgânica, fibra em detergente neutro e nutrientes digestiveis totais foram menores quando o cacto foi processado a faca. A digestibilidade, a producao de leite e as producoes de proteina e gordura nao foram alteradas pela forma de fornecimento da dieta nem pelo processamento da palma-forrageira. A producao media de leite foi de 14,8 kg/dia para a palma picada a faca e de 14,6 kg/dia para a palma picada em maquina forrageira e de 14,8 kg/dia quando fornecida em concentrado separado e de 14,5 kg/dia quando em mistura completa. Todavia, o teor de gordura foi menor (36 g/kg) para nas vacas alimentadas com a palma picada a faca. Os derivados de purina e as concentracoes de N-ureico nao foram influenciados pela forma de fornecimento da dieta nem pelo processamento da palma-forrageira. As medias observadas para eficiencia da sintese de proteina microbiana (98,9 g/kg NDT), concentracoes de NUP (21,3 mg/dL) e NUL (18,2 mg/dL) foram semelhantes para o processamento do cacto e a forma de fornecimento da dieta. O processamento da palma em maquina forrageira melhora o consumo de materia seca e o fornecimento em forma mistura completa evita a seletividade.