Valor bioeconômico da suplementação alimentar para bovinos em pastagens de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influence of parity on concentrations of enzymes, proteins, and minerals in the milk of cows

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Metodologias e estratégias de imputação de marcadores genéticos em bovinos da raça Cachim

Pós-graduação em Genética e Melhoramento Animal - FCAV

Germoplasma do gênero Paspalum com potencial para produção de forragem

This study was carried out in Fazenda Canchim in Sao Carlos-SP, physical base of Embrapa Southeast Livestock, aiming to select, based on the agronomic characteristics of productivity of dry matter and quality of the forage, the accesses of suitable gender Paspalum for possessing potentiality of use as foraging plants. Were evaluated for 3 years, with 22 forage grasses, being 19 of Paspalum and three more of control species: Brachiaria decumbens, Andropogon gayanus cv. Baet and Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania, submitted to two intensification levels: high (fertilizer after each cut and supplemental irrigation) and low (only fertilizer of annual replacement without irrigation). The experimental design was of split blocks subdivided in the space and time with two replications. The studied variables were: dry matter production, in vitro dry matter digestibility and crude protein content. The results show that the accesses responded to the intensification level minimizing the negative effect of the stational production. Based on the studied variables, the selected accesses were: BRA-011401 (Paspalum glaucescens); BRA-011681 (P. atratum); BRA009661 (P. atratum) and BRA-019186 (P. regnellii).

Linkage disequilibrium and haplotype block structure in a composite beef cattle breed

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Desempenho de bovinos cruzados e parâmetros qualitativos de músculos maturados

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FCAV

Strategies for genotype imputation in composite beef cattle

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Validação de protocolo sensorial para avaliação de carne bovina

Beef quality control, particularly its sensory characteristics, is an important factor for producers and retailers in order to satisfy consumer’s choices. Sensory analysis is an important tool to evaluate attributes that cannot be measured by easily available instrumental techniques, as well as texture – tenderness and juiciness – whose human perception is more complete, through trained panels. The aim of this study was evaluate the use of a beef sensory analysis protocol in three different laboratories. Six commercial samples of different brands of aged beef and 14 samples from crossbred animals (Bonsmara × Nelore - 7 and Canchim × Nelore - 7), aged during 14 days were analyzed. The samples were distributed to each participant laboratory, where 7 to 12 panelists were trained. A sheet containing a 9 cm non-structured scale with 14 attributes was used. The attributes were brown colour (CMAR); aponevrosis (PNAP); hydration degree (GH); characteristic beef aroma (SCCB); salty taste (SS); liver flavour (SF); fat flavour (SG); metallic flavour (SM); tenderness (MZ); juiciness (SL); fibrosity (FBS) and liver texture (SF). Obtained data was analyzed using analysis of variance and principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that there was no interaction between samples and laboratories, indicating that all of them responded in a similar manner in relation to the samples, except PNAP attribute, which was expected as meat is very non-uniform normally. Samples were well differentiated in all laboratories as it could be observed in PCA graphs. With proper training it is possible to use a standard protocol for beef sensory analysis.

Desempenho de bovinos cruzados terminados em confinamento e qualidade dos músculos longissimus e semitendinosus in natura e maturados

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

RELATIONS BETWEEN SOIL SURFACE ROUGHNESS, TORTUOSITY, TILLAGE TREATMENTS, RAINFALL INTENSITY AND SOIL AND WATER LOSSES FROM A RED YELLOW LATOSOL

The soil surface roughness increases water retention and infiltration, reduces the runoff volume and speed and influences soil losses by water erosion. Similarly to other parameters, soil roughness is affected by the tillage system and rainfall volume. Based on these assumptions, the main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of tillage treatments on soil surface roughness (RR) and tortuosity (T) and to investigate the relationship with soil and water losses in a series of simulated rainfall events. The field study was carried out at the experimental station of EMBRAPA Southeastern Cattle Research Center in Sao Carlos (Fazenda Canchim), in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Experimental plots of 33 m(2) were treated with two tillage practices in three replications, consisting of: untilled (no-tillage) soil (NTS) and conventionally tilled (plowing plus double disking) soil (CTS). Three successive simulated rain tests were applied in 24 h intervals. The three tests consisted of a first rain of 30 mm/h, a second of 30 mm/h and a third rain of 70 mm/h. Immediately after tilling and each rain simulation test, the surface roughness was measured, using a laser profile meter. The tillage treatments induced significant changes in soil surface roughness and tortuosity, demonstrating the importance of the tillage system for the physical surface conditions, favoring water retention and infiltration in the soil. The increase in surface roughness by the tillage treatments was considerably greater than its reduction by rain action. The surface roughness and tortuosity had more influence on the soil volume lost by surface runoff than in the conventional treatment. Possibly, other variables influenced soil and water losses from the no-tillage treatments, e. g., soil type, declivity, slope length, among others not analyzed in this study.

A review of the genus Corynoneura Winnertz (Diptera: Chironomidae) from the Neotropical region

Currently the genus Corynoneura Winnertz comprises 10 species already cited or described for the Neotropical region. In the present paper 15 new species are described for the Neotropics: 12 new species are described from Brazil, five of them are described as male, female, pupa and larva, Corynoneura canchim sp. n., C. diogo sp. n., C. espraiado sp. n., C. humbertoi sp. n., C. salviniatilis sp. n.; three as male, pupa and larva, C. franciscoi sp. n.; C. longiantenna sp. n. and C. renata sp. n.; the species C. sisbiota sp. n. as male, female and pupa; C. bodoquena sp. n. as male and pupa and C. boraceiasp. n. and C. vidiapodeme sp. n. as males. Corynoneura trondi sp. n. is described from Chile (male, pupa), C. guanacaste sp. n. from Costa Rica (male) and C. zempoala sp. n. from Mexico (male). The knowledge of the distribution of Corynoneura fortispicula, C. sertaodaquina, C. septadentata and C. unicapsulata all species described by Wiedenbrug and Trivinho-Strixino (2011) as well as Corynoneura ferelobata Sublette et Sasa is extended. A larval morphotype is also included. Keys for males, females, pupae and larvae to known species of the Neotropical Corynoneura are given.

Effects of feeding a multivalent polyclonal antibody preparation on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, rumenitis, and blood gas profile in Bos indicus biotype yearling bulls

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of feeding monensin (MON) or a multivalent polyclonal antibody preparation (PAP) against several rumen microorganisms on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, blood gas profile, and rumenitis of Bos indicus biotype (BT) yearling bulls. The study was designed as a completely randomized design with a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement, replicated 4 times, in which 32 yearling bulls of each of 3 BT evaluated (3-way-cross, TC; Canchim, CC; and Nellore, NE) were fed diets containing either MON at 300 mg.d(-1) or PAP at 10 mL.d(-1) across 3 different periods. No significant (P > 0.10) feed additive (FA) main effects were observed for any of the feedlot performance variables and carcass characteristics with the exception of dressing percentage. Yearling bulls receiving PAP had a decreased (P = 0.047) dressing percentage when compared with yearling bulls receiving MON. Significant (P < 0.05) BT main effects were observed for all feedlot performance variables and carcass characteristics with the exception of kidney-pelvic fat expressed in kilograms (P = 0.49) and LM lipids content (P = 0.45). Crossbred yearling bulls (TC and CC) had greater (P < 0.001) ADG, DMI in kilograms, DMI as % of BW, and improved (P = 0.001) G: F when compared with NE yearling bulls. A tendency (P = 0.072) for a FA main effect was observed for rumenitis scores, in which yearling bulls receiving PAP had lesser rumenitis scores than those receiving MON. When the data were disposed as frequency percentage, 55.6% and 45.7% of the rumens from yearling bulls fed PAP and MON were scored between 0 and 1, respectively (0 = no lesions, 10 = severe lesions). Likewise, a significant BT main effect was observed (P = 0.008), where NE yearling bulls had greater rumenitis scores than those of crossbred yearling bulls (TC and CC). No signifi cant FA main effects were observed (P > 0.10) for any of the fatty acids measured in the subcutaneous adipose tissue, with the exception that yearling bulls receiving MON had greater (P < 0.05) concentrations of palmitic acid (16: 0), margaric acid (17: 0), docosapentaenoic acid (22: 5), and docosahexaenoic acid (22: 6) than those yearling bulls receiving PAP. Feeding PAP tended to decrease incidence of rumen lesions and led to similar feedlot performance compared with feeding MON. Thus, PAP is a new technology that presents a possible alternative for ionophores.

Genetic relationship between growth and reproductive traits in Nellore cattle

The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic relationship between postweaning weight gain (PWG), heifer pregnancy (HP), scrotal circumference (SC) at 18 months of age, stayability at 6 years of age (STAY) and finishing visual score at 18 months of age (PREC), and to determine the potential of these traits as selection criteria for the genetic improvement of growth and reproduction in Nellore cattle. The HP was defined as the observation that a heifer conceived and remained pregnant, which was assessed by rectal palpation at 60 days. The STAY was defined as whether or not a cow calved every year up to the age of 6 years, given that she was provided the opportunity to breed. The Bayesian linear-threshold analysis via the Gibbs sampler was used to estimate the variance and covariance components applying a multitrait model. Posterior mean estimates of direct heritability were 0.15 +/- 0.00, 0.42 +/- 0.02, 0.49 +/- 0.01, 0.11 +/- 0.01 and 0.19 +/- 0.00 for PWG, HP, SC, STAY and PREC, respectively. The genetic correlations between traits ranged from 0.17 to 0.62. The traits studied generally have potential for use as selection criteria in genetic breeding programs. The genetic correlations between all traits show that selection for one of these traits does not imply the loss of the others.

Relations between soil surface roughness, tortuosity, tillage treatments, rainfall intensity and soil and water losses from a red yellow latosol

The soil surface roughness increases water retention and infiltration, reduces the runoff volume and speed and influences soil losses by water erosion. Similarly to other parameters, soil roughness is affected by the tillage system and rainfall volume. Based on these assumptions, the main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of tillage treatments on soil surface roughness (RR) and tortuosity (T) and to investigate the relationship with soil and water losses in a series of simulated rainfall events. The field study was carried out at the experimental station of EMBRAPA Southeastern Cattle Research Center in São Carlos (Fazenda Canchim), in São Paulo State, Brazil. Experimental plots of 33 m² were treated with two tillage practices in three replications, consisting of: untilled (no-tillage) soil (NTS) and conventionally tilled (plowing plus double disking) soil (CTS). Three successive simulated rain tests were applied in 24 h intervals. The three tests consisted of a first rain of 30 mm/h, a second of 30 mm/h and a third rain of 70 mm/h. Immediately after tilling and each rain simulation test, the surface roughness was measured, using a laser profile meter. The tillage treatments induced significant changes in soil surface roughness and tortuosity, demonstrating the importance of the tillage system for the physical surface conditions, favoring water retention and infiltration in the soil. The increase in surface roughness by the tillage treatments was considerably greater than its reduction by rain action. The surface roughness and tortuosity had more influence on the soil volume lost by surface runoff than in the conventional treatment. Possibly, other variables influenced soil and water losses from the no-tillage treatments, e.g., soil type, declivity, slope length, among others not analyzed in this study.