Efeito de Diferentes Concentrações Espermáticas sobre a Fertilidade de Éguas Inseminadas com Sêmen Eqüino Diluído, Resfriado a 20oC e Transportado

One hundred and one estral cycles of 92 Mangalarga Marchador breed mares were analyzed to study the effect of different spermatic concentrations on different reproductive characteristics. The mares were inseminated with diluted equine semen, cooled at 20 degrees C and transported: T1-concentrations below 250 x 10(6) (177.58 +41.74 x 10(6) viable spermatozoa per inseminate dose), T2-concentrations between 250 and 350 10(6) sptz (315.51 +/- 20.78 x 10(6)), and T3-concentrations above 350 x 10(6) sptz (477.71 +/- 136.83 x 10(6)). The conception rates in the first cycle were 43.75 (7/16), 57.89 (11/19)and 54.55% (18/33) for treatments 1, 2 and 3,respectively. After five cycles, the conception rates were 36.00 (9/25), 44.12 (15/34) and 54.76% (23/42) for treatments 1,2 and 3, respectively. Concentrations of 177.58 +/- 41,74 x 10(6) viable spermatozoa perinseminate dose had moderate fertility index in a commercial program using cooled and transported semen.

Efeito da Duração do Cio sobre a Fertilidade de Éguas Inseminadas com Sêmen Eqüino Diluído, Resfriado a 20oC e Transportado

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different interval from the beginning of the heat to the ovulation on the fertility of inseminated mares with diluted equine semen, cooled at 20 degrees C and transported, the mares were grouped with the following interval periods: T1 - period less than five days, T2 - period from five to seven days and T3 - period from 8 to 21 days. The conception rates in the first cycle were 53.85 (7/13), 52.17 (12/23) and 66.67% (10/15) for treatments 1, 2 and 3, respectively, and after three cycles, 50.00 (9/18), 48.15 (13/27) and 64.71% (11/17), in the same preceding order. The duration of heat, in the conditions of this experiment, did not influence the fertility of inseminated mares.

Estimativa do Tamanho da Primeira Maturação Sexual da Rã - Touro, Rana catesbeiana, no Sistema Anfigranja de Criação Intensiva

The objective of this research was to study the basic aspects of bullfrog reproduction in Anfigranja system from June 1989 to July 1990. For the 1493 animals involved in this experiment (657 males and 836 females) biometrical data were obtained (weight, length and tympanum diameter) and developmental stages of gonads were determined. Female sizes at first maturation were 10,33 cm and 109,78 g and for males it was around 8,09 cm; all males above 45 g were already in the maturation process. The relationship between tympanum diameter and body length (RTC) was considered a good index for male maturation.

Preservação do Feno de Brachiaria decumbens Stapf cv. Basilisk Submetido a Tratamento com Amônia Anidra ou Uréia

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of anhydrous ammonia (NH3) or urea treatment on the occurrence of fungi in hays of Brachiaria decumbens Stapf cv. Basilisk, baled and stored with different moisture contents. The following treatments were evaluated: T-1 = green forage, soon after the harvest; T-2 = hay with 25% of moisture, with evaluation before baling; T-3 = hay with 13% of moisture and untreated; T-4 = hay with 25% of moisture + .5% of NH3 in the DM T-5 = hay with 25% of moisture +1% of NH3 in the DM; T-6 = hay with 25% of moisture +.9% of urea in the DM and T-7 = hay With 25% of moisture +1.8% of urea in the DM. The treated hays stayed under plastic cover during 75 days, and samples were collected soon after the opening of the bales piles,and they were immediately analyzed in the laboratory. Eleven fungi were identified in different treatments, with high incidence of Aspergillus in the untreated hay, in the hay stored with 25% of moisture and treated with .5% NH3. The ammoniation totally reduced the occurrence of Helminthosporium and Nigrospora, but it did not control the occurrence of Cladosposrium and caused the occurrence of Penicillium in large intensity. The occurrence of Epicoccum, Curvularia, Phitomyces and Aspergillus genus were totally controlled by the treatment of hay with 1% of NH3; .9 and 1.8% of urea.

Estádio de Desenvolvimento do Milho. 2. Efeito sobre o Consumo e a Digestibilidade da Silagem em Ovinos

Corn plants were ensiled at the milk, milk-early dough, medium dough, and semi-hard dough stages. The intake and digestibility trials showed that: a) silage DM and NFE contents increased and ADF, cellulose, and lignin contents decreased with plant maturity; b) corn plant maturity had little effect on the digestibility of the silages, but the milk and medium dough stages produced the best results; c) no consistent effect of maturity was observed in DM and CP daily intakes (mean values 41.86 and 26.77/g/kg(75), respectively). Nevertheless, daily digestible dry matter and digestible protein intakes (g/kg(75)) were higher with medium-dough grains (31.74 and 1.97g, respectively) than with the milk (23.27 and 1.45g, respectively) and the milk-early dough stages (22.60 and 1.28g, respectively). However, similar intakes were observed with the medium-dough and semi-hard dough stages. Total digestible nutrient contents of the silages were affected little by corn plant maturity. Nevertheless, statistical differences were Found between the medium dough (70.09%) and the milk-early dough stages (63.07%).

Desempenho em pastagens e características de carcaça da 16a progênie dos rebanhos Nelore, Guzerá e Caracu de Sertãozinho (sp)

Forty one young bulls of herds selected for 378 day's weight (W378), born in 1996, were finished on pastures of Panicum Maximum (Jacq.), Panicum Maximum (Jaq) cv. Tanzania 1 and Brachiaria brizantha (Hoschst) Stapf cv. Marandu at the Sertaozinho Experimental Station, São Paulo State, Brazil. The samples, representing the W378 mean for each herd, were composed by 11 Nellore Selection (NeS) and by 10 of each one of the groups Nelore Control (NeC), Guzera Selection (GuS) and Caracu (Ca). The slaughter was carried out when the animals were 824 days older, with a body condition score averaging 7.6, in a 1-9 scale. The minimum and maximum adjusted means for the main traits, including all groups, were: average weight daily gain, 406 (NeC) and 501 g (NeS); slaughter weight (SW), 446.8 (NeC) and 544.3 kg (NeS); carcass weight (CW), 249.8 (NeC) and 309.7 kg (NeS); dressing percentage (DP), 54.0 (GuS) and 56.3% (NeC and NeS). In the 9(th) - 11(th) rib section: muscle, 59.6 (NeC) and 65.2% (Ca); fat, 15.6 (Ca) and 21.4% (NeC); bone, 18.9 (NeC) and 20.2% (GuS); fat thickness (FT), 2.0 (Ca) and 4.2 mm (NeC); loin eye area, 65.6 (NeC) and 71.1 cm(2) (NeS and Ca); Warner-Bratzler shear force (SF), 4.5 (Ca) and 6.6 kg (GuS) and total cooking losses (TCL), 22.5 (NeC) and 24.9% (GuS). The selection for weight promoted higher SW and CW in the NeS group, without changing the DP, the physical composition of the rib, SF and TCL in the meat. However, there was lower FT compared to NeC. The GuS animals had intermediates SW and CW, compared to NeS and Ca and lower DP. The Ca animals presented higher muscle percentage, in the rib section, and also higher meat tenderness compared to the meat of the Zebu animals.

Avaliação de um Sistema de Produção de Gado de Corte. 1. Desempenho Reprodutivo

Data from 1983 through 1991 on reproductive performance, collected from the Beef Cattle production system at Embrapa Gado do Corte, were analyzed. This system, based on exclusive grazing, presented a pregnancy rate (2-3 years old heifers and cows) of 75.9%. The others observed index were first calving reconception rate, 62.1%, total herd loss rate, 2.2%, and calf loss rate until weaning, 6.0%. The calf loss rate represented 53.7% of the total herd loss rate. For calf loss rate (CLR) data analysis, the used model included the effects of sex (S), calf birth year (ANB), cow birth year (ANV) and the interactions between S x ANB and ANV x ANB. Sex had a significant effect on CLR, with 8.1 and 3.8% for male and female loss rate, respectively. For calving interval analysis, the used model included the following fixed effects: ANV, birth month of cow (MNV), birth cow order when it was a calf (OPV) and the ANV x MNV interaction. The 205-day cow weight and her age at first calving were used as covariables. The calving interval was 463.45 days (15.2 mo), ranging from 388 to 543 days, and it was significantly affected by ANV. It is suggested that more research attention should be directed to the highest loss rate observed for male calves, which represent higher commercial value than females.