Orlando Rus Barbosa

Behavior of beef cattle in silvipastoral systems with eucalyptus.

It was aimed to verify the effect of the presence of trees and their heights in silvipastoral system on the intake behavior of Nellore heifers in the summer. Ten heifers for the following systems were used: system without shade, silvipastoral system with 8-meter and 18-meter trees. The data were collected in three days during 12 hours, subdivided in morning (7:15 a.m. to 1. p.m.) and afternoon (1:15 p.m. to 7 p.m.). It was evaluated the times and frequency of grazing, rumination, idle and the percentage of time that the animals remained in the shade; black globe-humidity index, whose average and minimum values (86 and 82) were equal for 8-meter tree system and 18-meter tree system; however they were lower when compared to the without shade system (89 and 86). There was an interaction between the systems and the periods for all the analyzed variables, except for the rumination frequency. For system without shade, the grazing time did not differ between morning (202 min) and afternoon (187 min); however the grazing frequency was lower for the afternoon (3.17). For 8-meter trees systems and 18 meter trees system, the grazing time in the afternoon, respectively, with 195.50 and 219.00 min was higher than in the morning, respectively, with 128.00 and 158.50 minutes. The rumination time was higher in the morning for all systems. The grazing frequency for 8-meter trees was 3.58, for the without shade system it was 3.05 and for 18-meter tree system it was 2.22. A higher idle time and the idle frequency was found in system without shade (97.50 min and 3.80 respectively) in the afternoon. For 8-meter tree system (98.50 min and 4.47 respectively) and 18-meter tree system (127.00 min and 4.27 respectively), they were higher in the morning. The animals remained under shade for an average of 43.49% (with trees with 8 m) and 49.81% (with trees with 18 m) of the time. It was concluded that the presence of trees modify the time and the frequency in grazing and idle; however, it does not influence the time and frequency in rumination.

Efeito de dois regimes de suplementação alimentar e dois sistemas de produção, nos constituintes sangüíneos de cabras Saanen durante a lactação

Three blood constituents in eight crossbred Saanen goats bred in two systems ¾ pasture (S1) and semi-confinement (S2) ¾ were analyzed. The animals were fed two different diets: 30% of the dairy requirements of net energy supplied by concentrate during all the lactation (R1), and 60% of the requirements from 3rd to 13th week of lactation and 15% from 14th until the end of lactation (R2). Blood samples were taken to evaluate glucose (Gl), hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (Ht) levels. The results showed that none of these traits were affected by the feeding systems. Animals in the S1 production system presented higher values of Hb (7,60 g/100 mL) and Ht (22,42%) than those of S2 animals (Hb = 6,05 g/100 mL and Ht = 17,71%). No significant difference was observed between the two production systems for Gl.

Thermic Variation in Incubation and Development of Pantanal Caiman (Caiman crocodilus yacare) (Daudin, 1802) Kept in Metabolic Box

Thirty-two eggs of Pantanal caiman (Caiman crocodilus yacare) (Daudin, 1802) were incubated at 30° C. After 20 days of incubation at 30° C, the remaining eggs were distributed in the following way: seven at 34° C, seven at 32° C, six at 30° C and six at 28° C. At 32° C and 34° C a 100% hatchability was obtained while at 30° C 83.3% and at 28° C 66.6%. After hatching, the animals were kept for 120 days at the same temperature of their final incubation. Weight (g) control and morphometric (cm) analysis were carried out. The statistic design was totally randomized and the data were treated by regression analysis showing a quadratic behavior ( p<0.05). It was found that weight, total length (TTL), tail length (TL), snout- vent length (SVL), head length (HL), eye length (EL), snout length (SL), mid-point snout width (MSW), head width (HW), width of snout at nostrils (NW), distance between limbs (DBL) showed a higher development at the temperature range from 31.2° C to 31.8° C and circumference of belly at 30.0° C.

Desempenho e Características de carcaça de suínos (33 - 84 kg) criados em baias de piso compacto ou com lâmina d'água

An experiment using 60 pigs (½ males and ½ females) was carried out to evaluate the effects of the type of pens floor on the performance and carcass traits of growing-finishing pigs (33 - 84 kg). The pigs were allotted to a randomized block design, with two treatments, tree or two pigs per experimental units (EU), 12 EU per treatment and 30 pigs per treatment. They were housed in pens of 8m2 (2.0 x 4.0 m), allotted to two treatments: shallow pool and compact floor. In the treatment Shallow Pool the pens had a shallow pool locate in the back (0.80 m of width and ±10 cm of depth), which was kept with run water. In the treatment Compact Floor the same ones were kept empty and dry. Daily feed intake and daily weight gain was higher for the treatment with shallow pool in the growing phase, while the feed:gain ratio and the backfat thickness was not different. In finishing and in the total period of the experiment the animals did not show differences between treatments. The results suggest that rearing growing-finishing pigs either on shallow pool pens or compact floor pens, results in the same performance and carcass traits. Nevertheless, in the growing phase the shallow pool pens showed higher feed intake and weight gain.

Zoneamento Bioclimático da Ovinocultura no Estado do Paraná

Forty five adult ewes were used, 15 for each of the three breeds: Hampshire Down (HD), Texel (TE) and Ile de France (IF). These animals were measured for rectal temperature (Rt), skin temperature (St), fleece temperature (Ft), temperature of the coat surface (Cst) and respiratory rate (Rr), Air temperature (At), air vapour pressure (Avp), wind speed (Ws), globe temperature (Gt) and radiant heat load (Rhl) were also recorded. The Thermal Comfort Index equation was used: TCI = 0.6678Ta + 0.4969e + 0.5444Tg + 0.1038v. Regression of TCI on Rt showed quadratic effect for the three breeds. For a TCI = 24.3, 27.3 and 20.6, Rt values were: 39.10oC, for HD, 39.05oC for TE, and 39.09oC; for IF sheeps and for TCI=58, these values were respectively 40.40oC, 40.50oC and 40.28oC. All the animals presented increased Rt under theses index, with Texel showed the least Rt for TCI=46, but was the only group with higher Rt values for TCI>48. For TCI=27.6, 29.7 and 27.0, Fr values were respectively: 89.63 resp./min. for HD, 77.08 resp./min. for TE and 78.77 resp./min. for IF. TE presented smaller Rr (77.08 resp./min.), for TCI=29.7, and values similar to IF (179.63 resp./min.), under TCI=48. After this level TE values were higher than those of the other breeds, reaching 288.66 resp./min. for TCI=56, but inferior that HD (289.01 resp./min.); IF, presented lower Rr (275.72 resp./min.). An extensive strip of land along the Parana State coast, heading inland 200 km up to the borders Castro, Telemaco Borba, Laranjeiras do Sul and Pato Branco cities, allows the creation of the three breeds.

Parâmetros fisiológicos e desempenho para ovelhas Santa Inês e cordeiros ½ Dorper - Santa Inês nas estações verão e inverno

This study aimed to evaluate the physiological parameters and performance of sheep Santa Ines and Dorperlambs ½-SantaInes in summer and winter seasons. 160 Santa Ines sheep and 189 ½ Dorper lambs were used - Santa Ines completely randomized in two treatments, summer: 80 sheep and 92 lambs and winter: 80 sheep and 97 lambs.Was recorded environmental the environmental parameters of air temperature (Ta°C), relative humidity (% RH), wind speed (Vvms- 1) and black globe temperature (Tg°C) and physiological parameters of rectal temperature (Tr°C), respiratory rate (RR mov.min-1) and heart rate (HR beat.min - 1). The body condition of the ewes was measured at birth. In the final third of gestation there was a significant effect P < 0.05) for TR, FR and HR on sheep, where in summer the values were 40.63°C, 102.58 (mov.min-1) and 128,34 (beat.min-1) with 46 ICT, and winter was 38.34°C , 35.71 (mov.min-1), 77.96 (beat.min-1) with ICT of 14. The values of TR, RR and HR at birth and weaning were also significant between the summer and winter seasons. Differences were observed (P < 0.05) for TR, RR and HR of lambs at birth and weaning between summer and winter. The weight at birth (4.51 ± 2.86) and weaning (16.91 ± 3.91) were higher for those born in the summer. During the summer Santa Ines ewes were superior in body condition score, favoring births of heavier lambs and consequently higher weaning weight with higher rate of survival than those found in winter.

Monitoring the nutritional and reproductive state of dairy cows through the presence of urea in milk

The effects of farm, parity (PO) and month of parturition on milk production, percentage of fat and protein, somatic cell count (SCC), and milk urea nitrogen (MUN) concentration were assessed on four specialized dairy farms using 120 cows. Also, the effects of MUN on gestation rate (GR) and artificial insemination rate (AIR) in early lactation were studied. The parameters of production and milk quality were similar among farms and were not influenced by the month of parturition. Farm D presented the highest MUN concentration. Concentration of MUN, percentages of fat and protein and SCC were not influenced by PO. Cows with a value of MUN between 10.1 and 13.0 mg/dL had the highest AIR and GR between days 55 and 70 postpartum and after 70 days in milk. These data suggested that MUN concentration was a useful parameter to predict the nutritional and reproductive stages of dairy cows.

Influência das estações do ano na temperatura retal e freqüência respiratória de carneiros

This work was carried out to evaluate the effect of the season of the year, from March/96 to March/97, on the rectal temperature (RT) and breathing rate (RR) of rams from Bergamacia, Corriedale and Hampshire Down (Hd) breeds, with three-four years of age. Twenty-four rams, nine Bergamacia (Be) eight Corriedale (Co) and seven Hampshire Down (Hd), were used. The month of the year had a significant effect on RT for Hd breed. The observed rectal temperatures was higher in the summer (39.31oC), decreased in the autumn (38.63°C) and in the winter (38,93°C) and increased again in the spring (39.15oC). The RR in the Co e Hd breeds, under high temperature (31.8°C), was higher (130 and 120 breaths/min, respectively) than the Be breed (68 breaths/min), while under low temperature (21.2°C), values of 79.89 breaths/min for Co and Hd breed and 33 breaths/min for Be breed were observed, showing to be the respiratory tract the main mechanism used by the breeds Co and Hd to dissipate the heat.

Influência das estações do ano nas características seminais de carneiros

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the season of the year on the spermprogressive motility (PM), vigor, volume of semen and sperm concentration of rams from the Bergamacia, Corriedale and Hampshire Down (Hd) breeds, with three-four years of age, from March/96 to March/97. Twenty-four rams nine Bergamacia (Be), eight Corriedale (Co) and seven Hampshire Down (Hd) were used. The semen collection and the climatic variables: wind speed (ws), air temperature (Ta), globe temperature (GT) and air relative humidity (RH) were taken monthly. For PM, the Be and Co breeds showed higher values during the summer, decreasing in the autumn and in the winter and increase again in the spring. The Hd breed presented higher values during the summer, decreasing in other seasons. For spermatic vigor, Be and Co breeds showed higher values during the summer, decreased in the autumn and in the winter, and increased again in spring. There was no effect of season on the spermatic vigor of Hd breed. For semen volume, Co and Hd showed higher values during summer, falling in autumn and in winter, and rising in spring. The spermatic concentration was not affected by the season, maintaining constant for the three studied breeds. The ws was the climatic variable that showed the highest influence on semen characteristics, followed by Ta, GT and RH. The Be and Hd breeds showed better results than Co breed for the semen characteristics, resisting better to the environment.