Effect of genotype, finishing system, and sex on physiochemical characteristics of goat meat

Seventy-eight kids of both sexes and five genotypes were used: Alpine, ½ Boer + ½ Alpine (½ BA), ¾ Boer + ¼ Alpine, ½ Anglo-nubian + ½ Alpine and "tricross" (½ Anglo-nubian + ¼ Boer + ¼ Alpine) with initial average weight of 14.1 ± 2.5. The objective was to evaluate the effect of genotype, finishing system, and sex on the physiochemical characteristics of goat meat. Finishing systems were: ST1 - kid + dam in pasture and ST2 - weaned kid and feedlot. Kids in ST1 were kept in an area with Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania, and after grazing, water and mineral salt/mix were fed ad libitum to the animals. The animals in ST2 were confined in collective pens distributed according to genotypes and received diet with 16% CP and 73% TDN. The values of pH, a* (red content), Cooking Loss (CL), and Ether Extract (EE) percentage were influenced by genotype. Values for red content (a*) and L* (brightness), CL and percentages of moisture, protein, EE, and ash were influenced by the finishing system. Longissimus dorsi muscle from animals ½ BA exhibited better physiochemical characteristics. For greater tenderness and higher percentages of fat, consumers should choose female kid goat meat.

Lolium Multiflorum seeds in the soil: II. Longevity under natural conditions

The interest was the seed longevity dynamics of annual ryegrass in natural conditions as an important tool to explain its dynamics in no tillage systems used in the South of Brazil. The species is commonly managed for natural re-sowing and, in this way, allows cattle grazing with reduced costs during the winter time. In February of 2003, twenty bags of nylon screen containing sterilised soil with 100 seeds in each were randomly buried in the field, 5 cm deep. Around every three or four months, four sacks were exhumed. Seeds were counted and tested using germination and tetrazolium tests.The seeds showed high primary dormancy, which was overcome very fast. After 108, 226, 326, 565 and 732 days of burial there were no significant differences as the secondary dormancy of the seeds that did not germinate in autumn was not high. The last exhumation period was significantly different from the others due to the strong decay on seed viability. As few seeds remained viable after 732 days, the soil seed bank was classified as transient, being evident that in annual pastures the transitory seed banks have a main role in the regeneration of the species.