Thiago Vinicius Costa Nascimento

Productive performance and parasitological control of kids supplemented with umbu fruits (Spondias tuberosa Arruda)

Native fruits from Caatinga vegetation can be an important alternative to improve the productive performance of kids in the semi-arid region of Brazil. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementation with Umbuzeiro fruits in natura over the weight gain and anthelmintic control of kids kept in Buffel grass pasture in the semi-arid zone of Pernambuco, Brazil. Twenty-four castrated, crossbreed kids were allocated into three treatments: 1) Control (n = 8) fed exclusively with Buffel grass; 2) Umbu 1x (n = 8) fed with fruits once a week and 3) Umbu 3x (n = 8) fed with fruits for three times a week. The following parameters were evaluated: variation of body weight, faecal egg counts (FEC) and coproculture. Overall, the average consumption of Umbu fruits in natura was 1.48 kg/animal/day, which corresponded to 133.5 g daily dry matter intake (DMI/animal/day). There were no significant difference (P>0.05) for any parameters evaluated. During the experimental period, the overall daily weight gain was variable between 108.75 to 116.70 g/animal/day and the average FEC was 436 eggs. In the present study, the goat kids supplemented with fresh umbu fruits showed a good productive performance, however the supplementation with umbu did not control the infestation of gastrointestinal nematodes in kids.

Retorno da atividade ovariana pós parto em cabras leiteiras suplementadas com diferentes níveis de energia

This study aimed to evaluate the return of post partum ovarian activity in dairy goats supplemented with different levels of energy during the dry period in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco. Twenty-four animals were allocated into four treatments of six animals each: Control, consisting of goats that had access to pasture and only received 4 kg of fresh palm, and three groups with isoproteic supplementation (20% Crude Protein), ranging in TDN content of 65%, 75% and 85%. The daily milk yield showed a linear growth behavior (P 0.05). We concluded that the supplementation with different levels of energy promoted a positive effect, as increased productive parameters and reduced the number of days for the reestablishment of the reproductive parameters postpartum; for instance, uterine involution, return to estrus and consequently return of ovarian activity postpartum.

Fatores meteorológicos sobre a atividade reprodutiva de cabras leiteiras na época seca do semiárido pernambucano

The heat stress conditions with reference to meteorological and individual factors were investigated, and the influence of this condition on the reproductive activity of undefined breed of goats (SPRD), calved during the dry period. In all, 24 animals were used, divided into four treatments: control group, consisting of goats that had access only to the pasture and palm in nature and 3 groups through supplementation with concentrated isoproteic 20% crude protein (CP), varying the total digestible nutrients (TDN) content of 65, 75 and 85%. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. The meteorological factors were observed by index of temperature of black globe and humidity (ITGU) and the physiological through respiratory (RF) and cardiac frequencies (CF); cutaneous (CT) and rectal temperatures (RT) and analysed in factorial scheme. Statistical differences were found in the respiratory and cardiac frequencies, showed an interaction between the month and times of observation. The uterine involution, did not show differences between treatments (p > 0.05). The return to estrus tended to be faster in groups 85 and 75% than in other groups. There was no negative influence of mild heat stress, indicated by climatic factors (ITGU) and the individual factors on the reproductive activity of goats SPRD.