Physiological Parameters in Neonatal Lambs of the Bergamasca Breed

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

Impacts of Reproductive Technologies on Beef Production in South America

The majority of beef cow herds in South America are constituted by Bos indicus females, which have particular reproductive features that contribute to reduced reproductive efficiency compared with that of B. taurus cohorts. Hence, several alternatives to enhance reproductive efficiency of B. indicus heifers and cows have been developed to address their inherent reproductive shortcomings. These research-based technologies are being described in detail within this chapter and have already made an impact on South American B. indicus-based production systems. These include the following: (a) hormonal protocols to induce puberty in nulliparous heifers or estrous cyclicity in postpartum cows to maximize their reproductive performance during the subsequent breeding season, (b) hormonal protocols to synchronize estrus and/or ovulation in B. indicus females to exploit their reproductive responses to artificial insemination, and (c) genetic and environmental factors that influence reproductive success in beef herds, including reproductive diseases and excitable temperament of B. indicus females, that have been investigated to support/promote the development of appropriate mitigation technologies.

The chemical properties of soil for alfalfa production after biofertiliser application

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of biofertilisers for the production of alfalfa shoot, root and nodule dry matter, and also, to evaluate the chemical properties of the soil. This study was conducted in the greenhouse of the Support Department, Animal Production and Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine/UNESP, Aracatuba - SP, from May to October 2010. The experimental design was completely randomised with six biofertiliser doses (0, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 m(3) ha(-1)) and five replicates. The biofertiliser doses were the primary treatments and the cuts (five) were subplots. The cuts were performed, on average, every 27 days at 10 cm above the soil. At the end of the experiment, the roots, nodules and soil from all experimental units were collected for chemical analysis. We observed a linear increase in dry matter production of the shoots relative to the doses studied. The dry matter production of the roots and nodules was not significantly different. The chemical properties of the soil significantly improved for calcium and magnesium as well as the sum of bases and base saturation with biofertiliser application. Biofertilisers can be used for agricultural production and favourably alter the soil characteristics.

BILL E. KUNKLE INTERDISCIPLINARY BEEF SYMPOSIUM: Temperament and acclimation to human handling influence growth, health, and reproductive responses in Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle

Temperament in cattle is defined as the fear-related behavioral responses when exposed to human handling. Our group evaluates cattle temperament using 1) chute score on a 1 to 5 scale that increases according to excitable behavior during restraint in a squeeze chute, 2) exit velocity (speed of an animal exiting the squeeze chute), 3) exit score (dividing cattle according to exit velocity into quintiles using a 1 to 5 scale where 1 = cattle in the slowest quintile and 5 = cattle in the fastest quintile), and 4) temperament score (average of chute and exit scores). Subsequently, cattle are assigned a temperament type of adequate temperament (ADQ; temperament score <= 3) or excitable temperament (EXC; temperament score > 3). To assess the impacts of temperament on various beef production systems, our group associated these evaluation criteria with productive, reproductive, and health characteristics of Bos taurus and Bos indicus-influenced cattle. As expected, EXC cattle had greater plasma cortisol vs. ADQ cattle during handling, independent of breed type (B. indicus x B. taurus, P < 0.01; B. taurus, P < 0.01; B. indicus, P = 0.04) or age (cows, P < 0.01; heifers or steers, P < 0.01). In regards to reproduction, EXC females had reduced annual pregnancy rates vs. ADQ cohorts across breed types (B. taurus, P = 0.03; B. indicus, P = 0.05). Moreover, B. taurus EXC cows also had decreased calving rate (P = 0.04), weaning rate (P = 0.09), and kilograms of calf weaned/cow exposed to breeding (P = 0.08) vs. ADQ cohorts. In regards to feedlot cattle, B. indicus EXC steers had reduced ADG (P = 0.02) and G:F (P = 0.03) during a 109-d finishing period compared with ADQ cohorts. Bos taurus EXC cattle had reduced weaning BW (P = 0.04), greater acute-phase protein response on feedlot entry (P <= 0.05), impaired feedlot receiving ADG (P = 0.05), and reduced carcass weight (P = 0.07) vs. ADQ cohorts. Acclimating B. indicus x B. taurus or B. taurus heifers to human handling improved temperament (P <= 0.02), reduced plasma cortisol (P < 0.01), and hastened puberty attainment (P <= 0.02). However, no benefits were observed when mature cows or feeder cattle were acclimated to human handling. In conclusion, temperament impacts productive, reproductive, and health characteristics of beef cattle independent of breed type. Hence, strategies to improve herd temperament are imperative for optimal production efficiency of beef operations based on B. taurus and B. indicus-influenced cattle.

Desempenho de bovinos de corte em pastos de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés manejados em diferentes alturas de pastejo

The production of grazing cattle has been very interesting, due to the low cost to produce fodder, compared to other sources of forage used to feed these animals, but the adequate management pasture has high influence on the success and profitability of cattle production systems. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the optimum grazing height of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraes, which provides the highest individual weight gain and gain per area. The stocking rate was continuous, with variable stocking rate. The experimental period was from January to December 2010. Three Nellore males were used in each experimental plot, and, when needed, additional animals were used for adjusting the desired heights. Monthly sampling was obtained to estimate forage mass (kg.ha(-1) of DM) and the structural characteristics of the pastures, such as, leaf: stem ratio. The animals were weighed at the beginning of the experiment and every 28 days, after 12 hours of fasting, to measure the average daily gain (ADG) After weighings were performed adjustments stocking rate to desired heights. Throughout the experimental period the animals received mineral supplementation. The desired sward heights were 15, 30, 45 and 60 cm, with three replicates each. The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments and three replications. To body weight gain (BWG) and average daily gain (ADG), each animal was considered an experimental unit. To gain per area and stocking rate, the paddock was considered the experimental unit. The leaf: stem ratio showed a linear increasing behavior in the spring and summer seasons. The smaller grazing heights provided higher gain per unit area (812.15 kg ha(-1)), while the highest grazing heights promoted high individual weight gain (0.790 kg.dia(-1)). The results suggest that Xaraes grass pastures should be grazed between 30 and 45 cm to allow reasonable performances by area and individual performances.

Práticas higiênico-sanitárias na ordenha de vacas e percepção de risco de produtores rurais no Estado de São Paulo

Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - FMVA

Percepção de risco sanitário na bovinocultura de corte no estado de São Paulo

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Imunomodulação por Actigen® em tilápia-do-nilo (Oreochromis niloticus): Respostas fisiológicas e desempenho produtivo após desafio com LPS

Pós-graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia Animal - FEIS

Mutações putativo-causais em genes candidatos associadas à fertilidade de bovinos de corte e bubalinos

Pós-graduação em Genética e Melhoramento Animal - FCAV

Substituição do milho pela glicerina em suplementos múltiplos para novilhos Nelore em pastejo

The objective was to evaluate the performance and production costs of Nellore steers growing on Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu during the dry season receiving mineral supplements with partial replacement of corn by residual glycerin. 40 Nellore steers with initial body weight of 203.12 +/- 20.10 kg and average initial age of 12 months, distributed into eight paddocks of 1.6 ha each, were used. The experimental design was completely randomized with five replicates and eight supplements. Supplements with levels of partial replacement of corn by glycerin were evaluated: 0% (G0), 10% (G10), 20% (G20), 30% (G30), 40% (G40), 50% (G50) and 60% (G60) provided on the amount of 1 kg/animal/day in the natural matter, and a mineral supplement (MS). The average daily gain (ADG) was higher (P<0.05) in animals receiving supplements G30 (0.609 kg), G40 (0.588 kg) and G60 (0.611 kg) in relation to supplements G0 (0.546 kg), G10 (0.509 kg), G50 (0.561 kg) and MS (0.223 kg). There were differences (P <0.10) in ADG in supplemented animals when compared to MS. The supplemented animals showed higher ADG (P<0.05) compared to MS. The different levels provided positive financial return. It is concluded that the supply of multiple supplements replacing the corn by glycerol in production systems of steers in the dry period provides higher productive performance levels of 30, 40 and 60% and positive financial return to levels of 60% of replacement, demonstrating thus, its potential use for intensive systems of beef production on pasture.

Diagnóstico de situação das práticas de manejo sanitário em sistemas de produção de bovinos de corte

We interviewed 21 farmers in order to access which sanitary practices adopted in the production systems of beef cattle on farms located in São Paulo, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and Rondonia. The survey was conducted through a qualitative approach to the collection of data obtained through questionnaire and personal interview with the landowners. We questioned the attitudes and sanitation procedures in these current production systems such as veterinary assistance, preventive health practices and disease surveillance, knowledge of health hazards for the safe production of food, animal feed, vaccine and immunizations, registration system, measures with newborns, products used in the environment and animals, grace period, employee training, destination of the dead animals, among others. Along with the data found that only 30% of properties had veterinary care, 67% said they meet the expiration dates of the products, although it was not mentioned on the products if there were any. In only 48% of properties were veterinarians who prescribed drugs to animals. Only two of the owners confirmed buying and using expired products in animals and only 48% have received some training on the property. In this setting, it is evident that farmers should be better prepared for insertion of its products in a highly demanding and competitive market. In this context, add value to the product depends mainly on the condition of sanitation of the herds.

Quantificação de citocinas no conteúdo abomasal de bovinos de corte na presença ou ausência de ulceração gástrica

Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - FMVA

Silagens de milho consorciado com forrageira tropical e leguminosa em dietas para terminação de cordeiros

Pós-graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia Animal - FEIS

Relationships between company size, types of production system and supply chain management: evidence from electro-electronics sector in Brazil

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how company size and the type of production system affect the adoption of supply chain management (SCM) practices in companies in the electro‐electronics sector in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach – An e‐mail survey of 107 companies associated with the Brazilian Electrical and Electronics Industry Association (ABINEE) was conducted. Statistical techniques were employed to verify the adoption of SCM practices according to the size of the company and its production system. Findings – The major results indicate that the larger the size of the company, the higher the level of adoption of SCM practices, and that the choice of SCM practices depends upon the type of production system implemented. Practical implications – The implications of this study are useful to top management leaders of small and medium‐sized enterprises since the findings enable them to identify the most common practices adopted by either large‐, medium‐ or small‐sized companies in order to benchmark the level of adoption of SCM practices. Production managers can also benefit from this study by identifying the SCM practices that may support certain production systems.

Seleção genômica e estudo de associação em um rebanho experimental da raça Nelore

Pós-graduação em Genética e Melhoramento Animal - FCAV