ABSTRACT This study examined the replacement of maize and soybean meal with cassava chips and alfalfa grazing, respectively. Twelve lactating Anglo-Nubian goats were kept on a Panicum maximum cv. Tobiatã pasture. The experiment was laid out in a Latin square design in which the following diets were tested: ground maize + soybean meal, cassava chips + soybean meal, ground maize + alfalfa grazing, and cassava chips + alfalfa grazing. The evaluated variables were feed intake, daily weight gain, milk yield and composition, and feeding behavior of the goats as well as production costs. Cassava chips and grazed alfalfa influenced the intakes of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and total digestible nutrients. However, milk yield, body weight, and body score did not change. There was no diet effect on the proportions of protein, solids-not-fat, somatic cell count, or urea nitrogen in the milk. Treatments influenced the levels of fat, lactose, and total solids in milk, with the highest fat levels achieved with diets containing alfalfa. Grazing, rumination, and idle times and time spent interacting with other goats were not influenced by diets. The evaluated feedstuffs improved feed efficiency and reduced production costs. Therefore, cassava chips and alfalfa can replace certain ingredients without impairing the production performance of goats, but rather improving the profit of the producer.

RESUMO O experimento foi conduzido para avaliar a cana-de-açúcar in natura em substituição à silagem de milho no consumo de matéria seca, parâmetros ruminais e cinética de degradação de forragens e concentrado em cabras adultas em mantença. Quatro cabras não lactantes canuladas no rúmen foram utilizadas em um delineamento em quadrado latino 4 × 4 com a substituição de 0, 33, 67 e 100% da silagem de milho por cana-de-açúcar. A substituição da cana-de-açúcar pela silagem de milho não afetou o consumo de matéria seca, o ganho de peso diário e o pH ruminal. Foi observado efeito quadrático para a concentração de nitrogênio amoniacal com concentração máxima de 74,43% de inclusão da cana, e também para ácidos graxos de cadeia curta, com concentrações máximas de acetato e butirato de 0,59 e 32,70% de inclusão da cana, respectivamente. A concentração mínima de propionato foi verificada em 10,36% de inclusão de cana-de-açúcar. No entanto, a relação acetato: propionato diminuiu linearmente com o aumento do teor de cana-de-açúcar. Não foi observado efeito de diferentes ambientes ruminais sobre a degradabilidade da matéria seca da forragem e da fibra em detergente neutro. A degradabilidade da matéria seca foi de 66,79% para a cana-de-açúcar e 72,62% para a silagem de milho após 96 h de incubação. A fibra em detergente neutro foi 37,10 e 51,82% para cana-de-açúcar e silagem de milho, respectivamente, após 96 h de incubação. Em conclusão, a cana-de-açúcar pode ser usada como substituto da silagem de milho na alimentação de cabras adultas de manutenção, sem alterar o consumo de matéria seca e a degradabilidade da forragem, aumentando a produção de propionato.

ABSTRACT The trial was conducted with the objective to evaluate fresh sugarcane as a replacement for corn silage on dry matter intake, ruminal parameters (pH, short chain fatty acids, and ammonia nitrogen concentration), and degradation kinetics of forages and concentrate in maintenance adult goats. Four nonlactating ruminally cannulated goats were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with the replacement of 0, 33, 67, and 100% of corn silage by sugarcane as the independent variable. The substitution of sugarcane for corn silage did not affect dry matter intake, daily weight gain, or ruminal pH. A quadratic effect was observed for ammonia nitrogen concentration with a maximum concentration at 74.43% of sugarcane inclusion, as well as for short chain fatty acids, with maximum concentrations of acetate and butyrate at 0.59 and 32.70% of sugarcane inclusion, respectively. The minimum concentration of propionate was verified on 10.36% of sugarcane inclusion. However, the acetate:propionate ratio linearly decreased with increased sugarcane content. No effect was observed of different rumen environments on forage dry matter and neutral detergent fiber degradability (effective and potential degradability, soluble and potential degradable fractions). Dry matter degradability was 66.79% for sugarcane and 72.62% for corn silage after 96 h of incubation. Neutral detergent fiber was 37.10 and 51.82% for sugarcane and corn silage, respectively, after 96 h of incubation. In conclusion, sugarcane can be used as a replacement for corn silage in maintenance adult goats feed without altering dry matter intake and forage degradability while increasing propionate production.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of vegetable oils in goat kid diets on performance, carcass traits, and meat composition, quality, and fatty acid profile. Forty-eight Anglo Nubian kids were evaluated in a completely randomized experimental design with four treatments, namely, control diet and diets including 2.5% canola, sunflower, or soybean oils. The animals were slaughtered at 30 kg live weight and performance, carcass and meat quality, centesimal composition, and fatty acid profile were evaluated. The treatments did not influence carcass yield or meat color. Among the saturated fatty acids, only caprylic, palmitic, and heptadecanoic acids differed among the treatments, whereas total saturated fatty acids decreased in the sunflower oil treatment. Monounsaturated fatty acids were not influenced by lipid supplementation. Among the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), linoleic acid was highest in the sunflower oil-treated group. Total PUFA were higher for the soybean oil-supplemented group, but similar to that achieved with sunflower oil. The highest omega-6 content was obtained with dietary inclusion of sunflower oil, whereas conjugated linoleic acid, atherogenicity index, and hypocholesterolemic:hypocholesterolemic ratio improved with the inclusion of sunflower and soybean oils. Supplementation with vegetable oils improves the fatty acid profile of kid meat without affecting animal performance. Better results are obtained with sunflower and soybean oils; therefore, it is up to the producer to choose the diet according to its cost.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the intake and ruminal parameters of goats fed diets supplemented with vegetable oils. Four rumen-cannulated Saanen goats were allocated to four treatments, which consisted of a control diet and diets with the inclusion of 30 g of canola, sunflower, or soybean oils per kilogram of diet dry matter (DM). The experiment lasted 40 days, which were divided into four 10-day periods. Forage intake was estimated using chromium oxide as an external marker, and supplement intake was determined as the difference between the daily amount supplied and orts. Rumen fermentation parameters were evaluated from samples of rumen fluid collected every 2 h, for 12 h. Rumen pH and short-chain fatty acid and ammonia nitrogen concentrations were measured. There was no effect of lipid supplementation on DM intake. Ether extract intake was highest in the treatments with oil inclusion, and the highest acid detergent fiber intake was obtained with the diet containing canola oil. The pH was highest in the group fed soybean oil and responded quadratically to the collection times. Total short-chain fatty acid and acetic acid concentrations also responded quadratically to the collection times. Propionic and butyric acid concentrations and acetic:propionic acid ratio showed a cubic behavior with the increasing collection times. Canola, sunflower, or soybean oils can be included at 30 g/kg of the diet DM as a strategy to increase the energy density of goat diets.

ABSTRACT We aimed to evaluate the inclusion of three sources of vegetable oil in the diet of lactating goats on production in 120 days of lactation and the effect of these sources and lactation stage on fortnightly composition and fatty acid profile of goat milk at 20, 50, 80, and 110 days of lactation. A completely randomized design was adopted and 32 Anglo Nubian goats were used, distributed in four treatments: control diet and diets with inclusion of 30 g/kg of dry matter of diet of canola, sunflower, or soybean oil. The dairy production was 182.75 kg, and there was no difference for treatments. Among the constituents, only urea nitrogen was influenced by treatment and presented lower content for control treatment. Day of lactation had an effect on lactose. Defatted dry extract and somatic cell count had a quadratic effect with minimum values around 100 and 33 days of lactation, respectively. The content of urea nitrogen, also with a quadratic effect, was higher at 93 days of lactation. For protein, there was an interaction between treatments and period and, at the end of lactation, its content was increased. The inclusion of vegetable oils promoted reduction in total saturated fatty acids (SFA) and increased the total content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and conjugated linoleic acid. The proportions MUFA:SFA and PUFA:SFA, the atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indexes, and the relation hypocholesterolemic fatty acids:hypercholesterolemic fatty acids improved with oil addition in animal diets. The addition of vegetable oil to diets for lactating goats improve the fatty acid profile with no impairment on milk production and composition, and the milk from early stages of lactation has better nutritional quality of the lipid fraction.

RESUMO Sistemas de produção baseados em pastagens e alimentos alternativos podem ser utilizados para reduzir cerca de 20% os custos de produção do leite caprino.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência da substituição do milho e do farelo de soja do concentrado, pela raspa de mandioca e alfafa, respectivamente, sobre o consumo, fermentação e degradabilidade ruminal de cabras adultas Saanen confinadas, vazias, secas e canuladas no rúmen. O experimento foi conduzido no delineamento em quadrado latino, com as dietas: milho triturado e farelo de soja; raspa de mandioca e farelo de soja; milho triturado e alfafa; raspa de mandioca e alfafa. Foram avaliados: consumo, parâmetros ruminais, produção de ácidos graxos de cadeia curta (AGCC) e cinética da degradação das dietas. A inclusão da raspa de mandioca e da alfafa não influenciou o consumo e a produção de amônia. O pH ruminal e as produções de AGCC foram influenciados pelos tempos de colheita,apresentando um pH elevado (6,29) na primeira mensuração (7 h 00) e diminuindo em seguida, influenciando dessa forma as produções de AGCC ao longo do dia. O ácido acético e a produção total de AGCC foram influenciados pelas dietas, sendo os maiores valores para a dieta mandioca/alfafa (68,03 e 93,64 mM 100 mM-1, respectivamente) e os menores valores para a dieta milho/soja (55,40 e 76,03 mM 100 mM-1, respectivamente).A degradabilidade dos nutrientes foi influenciada pelas dietas, sendo que as com mandioca e mandioca/alfafa apresentaram as maiores degradabilidades efetivas(57,57 para 0.02 h-1 e 53,49 para 0.05 h-1; 57,25 para 0.02 h-1 e 53,26 para 0.05 h-1, respectivamente), demonstrando que a mandioca e a alfafa podem substituir o milho e o farelo de soja dos concentrados, sem alterar o consumo e o ambiente ruminal das cabras, melhorando a produção de ácido acético e a degradabilidade da dieta.

ABSTRACT Pasture-based production systems and alternative foods can be used to reduce goat milk production costs by around 20%.The objective of this study was to examine the effect of substituting the corn and soybean meal of the concentrate with cassava chips and alfalfa, respectively, on the feed intake, fermentation, and rumen degradability parameters of adult, dry, empty, rumen-cannulated Saanen goats reared in a feedlot. The experiment was conducted as a Latin square design in which the following diets were tested: ground corn and soybean meal; cassava chips and soybean meal; ground corn and alfalfa; and cassava chips and alfalfa. The following variables were evaluated: feed intake, rumen parameters, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and feed degradation kinetics. Inclusion of cassava chips and alfalfa did not influence feed intake or ammonia production. Rumen pH and SCFA production were influenced by the collection times, presenting a high pH (6.29) at the first measurement (07 h 00) and then decreasing, thus influencing SCFA production throughout the day.Acetic acid and total SCFA production were influenced by the diets, with the highest values for the cassava/alfalfa diet (68.03 and 93.64 mM 100 mM-1, respectively) and the lowest values for the corn/soybean diet (55.40 and 76.03 mM 100 mM-1, respectively).Nutrient digestibility was also influenced by diets, with those containing cassava and cassava/alfalfa, providing the greatest effective degradability (57.57 to 0.02 h-1 and 53.49 to 0.05 h-1; 57.25 to 0.02 h-1and 53.26 to 0.05 h-1, respectively). This finding demonstrates that cassava and alfalfa can substitute the corn and soybean meal of concentrates without changing feed intake or the ruminal environment of goats. Rather, this substitution improves acetic acid production and diet digestibility.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate levels of replacement (0, 33, 67 and 100%) of corn silage with fresh sugarcane in dairy-goat diets on the ingestive behavior of these animals. Eight lactating Alpine goats (after lactation peak) with a live weight of 51.95±3.29 kg were distributed into two 4 × 4 Latin squares according to their milk production. Animals were placed in individual pens where they received diets ad libitum, twice a day, with a roughage:concentrate ratio of 40:60, during 72 days of experiment. The evaluated variables were time spent feeding (TSF), ruminating (TSR), idle (TSI) and chewing (TSC), dry matter intake (DMI), neutral detergent fiber intake (NDFI), feeding efficiency of dry matter (FEDM) and neutral detergent fiber (FENDF), rumination efficiency of dry matter (REDM) and neutral detergent fiber (RENDF), number of ruminal boli per day (NRB) and number of rumination chews per day (NRC). The different treatments had no effect on TSF or TSR. However, a linear effect was observed on TSC. There was a linear effect on TSI, in which the highest value was observed in the treatment with 0% of sugarcane inclusion. A quadratic effect was observed on dry matter intake, with minimum point of 2.14 kg/day for 68.04% of sugarcane inclusion; however, NDFI was not affected by the different treatments. There was no effect of treatments on FEDM, although a quadratic effect was observed on FENDF, wherein the lowest value was observed in the treatment with 67% of sugarcane inclusion. There was no effect of different levels of corn silage replacement on REDM, RENDF, NRB or NRC. Sugarcane can be replaced with corn silage without changing the times spending on feeding and rumination.

The objective of this work was to analyze the interrelations among weights and carcass measures of the longissimus lumborum muscle thickness and area, and of sternum tissue thickness, measured directly on carcass and by ultrasound scan. Measures were taken on live animals and after slaughter to develop models of multiple linear regression, to estimate the composition of shoulder blade, from selected variables in 89 kids of both genders and five breed groups, raised in feedlot system. The variables considered relevant and not redundant on the information they carry, for the common factor analysis, were used in the carcass composition estimate development models. The presuppositions of linear regression models relative to residues were evaluated, the estimated residues were subjected to analysis of variance and the means were compared by the Student t test. Based in these results, the group of 32 initial variables could be reduced to four variables: hot carcass weight, rump perimeter, leg length and tissue height at the fourth sternum bone. The analysis of common factors was shown as an effective technique to study the interrelations among the independent variables. The measures of carcass dimension, alone, did not add any information to hot carcass weight. The carcass muscle weight can be estimated with high precision from simple models, without the need for information related to gender and breed, and they could be built based on carcass weight, which makes it easy to be applied. The fat and bones estimate models were not as accurate.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlated responses to selection for growth in feed efficiency and carcass traits of Nellore animals. A total of 121 animals of the Nellore control (NeC) and selection herds were subjected to performance testing and classified regarding residual feed intake (RFI). Sixty-seven of these animals were selected and finished until reaching 4 mm of subcutaneous fat thickness between the 12th and 13th ribs. The animals were slaughtered at a mean age of 541 days and mean live weight of 423 kg for NeS and of 363 kg for NeC, and carcass traits were measured. Animals in NeS presented higher initial and slaughter weights, dry matter intake, hot and cold carcass weight, weight of retail cuts, and carcass yield than NeC animals for the same slaughter age and feedlot time. No significant differences in RFI were observed between herds, showing that the weight gain from selection for growth did not cause changes in the energy efficiency of the animals.

Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a influência do grupo racial e da condição sexual nas características da carcaça de caprinos jovens criados em confinamento. Foram utilizados 91 animais, 52 machos e 39 fêmeas, pertencentes a cinco grupos raciais: Alpino, ½Boer + ½Alpino, ½Anglo Nubiano + ½Alpino, ¾Boer + ¼Alpino, e ½Anglo Nubiano + ¼Boer + ¼Alpino. Foi tomado o peso ao jejum, no dia do abate, após 24 horas de jejum de sólidos. Foram tomadas medidas biométricas e de carcaça, objetiva e subjetivamente. O grupo racial influenciou a altura de cernelha, o comprimento interno e externo da carcaça e o comprimento de perna, que foram maiores nos animais Alpinos, bem como a largura do peito, o escore corporal, os índices de compacidade da carcaça e da perna e a cobertura de gordura da carcaça, que foram melhores nos animais com grau de sangue Boer. Animais machos tiveram maior altura de cernelha, medidas da estérnebra com ultrassom, comprimento interno da carcaça, comprimento de perna, profundidade dos tecidos na altura da 3ª e 4ª estérnebras tomadas na carcaça. Nas demais características corporais avaliadas, não foram encontradas diferenças entre grupos raciais e sexo dos animais. O cruzamento do grupo Boer com Alpino reduz o comprimento das carcaças e aumenta a cobertura de gordura e a quantidade de tecidos depositados, mas não influencia o desempenho do animal.

This study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the influence of breed groups and sexual conditional on carcass traits of young goats raised in feedlot. It was used 91 animals, 52 males and 39 females, belonging to five breed groups: Alpine, ½Boer + ½Alpine, ½Nubian + ½Alpine, ¾Boer + ¼Alpine and ½ Anglo-Nubian + ¼Boer + ¼Alpine. On the slaughter day, the shrunk weight was measured after 24 hours of solid fasting. Biometric and carcass measures were objectively and subjectively taken. Racial group influenced withers, internal and external carcass length, and leg length, which were greater for Alpine animals, as well as chest width, body condition score, carcass and leg compactness index and fat thickness on carcass, which were better in animals with Boer blood degree. Male animals showed greater withers, measures of sternebrae by ultrasound, internal carcass length, leg length, tissue depth height between 3rd and 4th sternebrae measured on carcass. On the other body evaluated characteristics, it was not found any differences among breed groups and sex of the animals. Crossing Boer with Alpine reduces carcass length, and increases fat thickness and deposited tissue, however, it does not change animal performance.

Oitenta e seis machos jovens, não-castrados, divididos em quatro grupos raciais - Nelore (n=20), Canchim (n=17), ½ Canchim ×Nelore (CN) (n=25) e ¾ Canchim ×Nelore (TQ) (n=24) - foram pesados a cada 28 dias para avaliação de ganho de peso (kg/dia), ingestão de matéria seca (kg/dia) e conversão alimentar. Ao atingirem peso de abate médio de 450 kg e espessura de gordura subcutânea superior a 4 mm, os animais foram abatidos para avaliação do peso e do rendimento de carcaça e de cortes comerciais do traseiro, área de olho-de-lombo, espessura de gordura subcutânea (mm), marmorização, força de cisalhamento, extrato etéreo (%) e perdas por cocção. O grupo Nelore apresentou-se adequado ao sistema de produção proposto, revelando desempenho similar ao dos animais CN quanto ao ganho de peso (1,18 e 1,29 kg para Nelore e CN, respectivamente) e conversão alimentar (6,90 e 7,04 para Nelore e CN, respectivamente). A ingestão de matéria seca (kg/dia) diferiu entre os grupos raciais (11,82; 9,39; 8,90 e 8,31 para Canchim, TQ, CN e Nelore, respectivamente). O peso da carcaça (kg) dos Canchim (291,14) foi maior e diferiu dos outros grupos (250,74; 246,64 e 244,18 para TQ, CN e Nelore, respectivamente). Apesar de o rendimento de carcaça ter sido maior no grupo Nelore (58,75%), os animais desse grupo apresentaram menor rendimento de cortes nobres que de traseiro, com diferença para o contrafilé (10,22; 11,55; 11,64 e 11,18 para Nelore, Canchim, TQ e CN, respectivamente). Os valores de força de cisalhamento comprovam que o abate de animais jovens garante carne macia, independentemente do grupo genético estudado.

Eighty six young bulls were used, divided into four genetic groups: Nellore (n=20), Canchim (n=17), ½ Canchim ×Nellore (NC) (n=25) and ¾ Canchim ×Nellore (TQ) (n=24). The animals were weighed every 28 days to evaluate the average daily gain (kg/day), dry matter intake (kg/day) and feed conversion. When the animals reached slaughter weight (450 kg) and fat thickness greater than 4 mm, were slaughtered to evaluate the rib eye area (cm²), subcutaneous fat thickness (mm), marbling, shear force, ether extract (%) and total cooking losses. The Nellore group fitted correctly into the proposed system, showing similar performance when compared to the CN group (1.18 and 1.29 kg/day for Nellore and CN, respectively) and feed conversion (6.90 and 7.04 for Nellore and CN, respectively). The dry matter intake (kg/day) differed among all groups (11.82, 9.39, 8.90 and 8.31 for Canchim, TQ, CN and Nellore, respectively). The carcass weight (kg) was higher in the Canchim group (291.14) than the other groups (250.74, 246.64 and 244.18 for TQ, CN and Nellore respectively). Although the carcass dressing percentage of the Nellore group (58.75%) was the highest, this group had the lowest yield of commercial cuts in the hindquarter especially for the sirloin (10.22, 11.55, 11.64 and 11.18% for Nellore, Canchim, TQ and CN, respectively). The shear force values indicated that the slaughter of young animals can assure tender beef regardless of the genetic group.

Este trabalho foi realizado com os objetivos de quantificar e qualificar a carcaça e os cortes cárneos de cabritos de dois sexos (machos e fêmeas) e três grupos raciais - Alpino; ½ Boer + ½ Alpino (½ BA); e ¾ Boer + ¼ Alpino (¾ BA) - abatidos em três idades (aos 60, 90 e 120 dias de confinamento), visando avaliar o aproveitamento de cabritos provenientes de rebanhos leiteiros. As carcaças foram avaliadas pelas características de peso, rendimento, conformação, gordura de cobertura, comprimento interno e externo, comprimento da perna, perímetro da garupa, profundidade torácica, largura da garupa, compacidade, rendimento dos cortes cárneos e proporção dos tecidos. Os dados foram analisados em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial incompleto 2 X 3 X 3 (2 sexos X 3 grupos raciais X 3 idades de abate). O aumento da idade dos animais promove aumento do peso e das medidas da carcaça, assim como dos componentes comestíveis da carcaça e do rendimento comercial. Mestiços Boer apresentam maior compacidade de perna e menos osso em relação aos Alpinos. O grupo racial, a idade de abate e o sexo não influenciam a maciez da carne.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the yield and quality of the carcass and meat cuts from kids of both sexes, slaughtered at three different ages, aiming to use animals from dairy herds. Forty-one kids were used, from three breed groups: Alpine, ½ Boer ½ Alpine (½ BA) and ¾ Boer ¼ Alpine (¾ BA), which were slaughtered at 60, 90 or 120 days of slaughter age. The animals were raised in a feedlot system. The following carcass traits were evaluated: carcass weight, commercial yield, conformation, subcutaneous fat, internal and external length, leg length, rump perimeter, thoracic depth, rump width, compactness, meat cut yield and tissue proportion. Meat tenderness was evaluated by means of the Warner-Bratzler shear force. Data were analyzed as an incomplete factorial arrangement (2 sexes X 3 breed groups X 3 slaughter ages), in a complete randomized design. As age increased, so did carcass weight and characteristics, as well as the weight of edible carcass components and commercial yield. The Boer crossbreds showed higher leg compactness and less bone compared to the Alpines. No difference in meat tenderness was observed for breed group, age or sex.

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o efeito do uso de gordura protegida na dieta de ovelhas da raça Bergamácia sobre a produção e composição do leite e a dinâmica de peso das ovelhas. Utilizaram-se 77 ovelhas distribuídas em 2 grupos de forma homogênea por ordem de parição e idade, mantidas com uma dieta controle, com silagem de milho e concentrado, ou com a dieta controle contendo gordura protegida (35 g/ovelha.dia) adicionada ao concentrado. As dietas foram isoenergéticas e isoproteicas e continham 16% PB e 70% NDT na matéria seca. Durante o dia, os cordeiros eram mantidos com suas mães em pasto, à noite eram separados e retornavam à suas mães após a ordenha matinal; foram desmamados aos 45 dias de idade. As ovelhas, após 48 horas do parto, foram ordenhadas mecanicamente uma vez ao dia, às 7 h, e sua produção de leite foi mensurada diariamente durante 60 dias. Amostras de leite foram coletadas semanalmente para determinação dos teores de proteína e gordura. A dieta com gordura protegida proporcionou maior produção média diária de leite após a desmama dos cordeiros (0,531 vs 0,489 kg/animal.dia). Entretanto, a produção de todo o período não diferiu entre as dietas (0,468 vs 0,453 kg/animal.dia, com gordura protegida e controle, respectivamente). As produções de leite corrigidas para 6,5% de gordura e para 6,5% de gordura e 5,8% de proteína foram semelhantes entre as dietas.

The objective of this study was to observe the effect of using bypass fat in the diet of Bergamasca ewes on milk yield, milk composition and ewe weight dynamics. Seventy seven ewes were distributed in two homogeneous groups, according to lambing order and age fed a control diet with corn silage and concentrate; or with a control diet with bypass fat (35 g/ewe/day) added to the concentrate. The diets were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous, presenting 16% CP and 70% TDN on dry matter basis. The lambs stayed with their mothers in pastures during the day and were separated at night. They returned to their mothers after the morning milking and were weaned at 45 days of age. Forty-eight hours after lambing, ewes were machine milked once daily at 7 am and the milk yield was recorded for a period of 60 days. Milk samples were collected weekly to determine the content of milk protein and fat. The bypass fat diet showed a higher daily average milk yield after weaning the lambs (0.531 vs 0.489 kg/animal.day). However, milk yield throughout the period was not different between the two diets (0.468 vs 0.453 kg/animal.day, for bypass fat and control, respectively). Milk yield corrected to 6.5% fat and 6.5% fat and 5.8% protein were similar in both diets.

Objetivou-se avaliar o desempenho de cabritos de três grupos raciais. Foram considerados nas avaliações o peso, o ganho de peso, as medidas biométricas, a conversão alimentar e o custo de produção relativo à alimentação. Utilizaram-se 41 cabritos, machos e fêmeas, de três grupos raciais (A - Alpino; ½ BA - ½ Boer + ½ Alpino; e ¾ BA - ¾ Boer + ¼ Alpino), avaliados aos 60, 90 e 120 dias em sistema de confinamento. As médias foram comparadas por análise de variância utilizando-se o teste Tukey. O desempenho não diferiu entre os grupos raciais. O escore corporal foi maior nos animais ¾ BA, o que pode representar vantagem econômica ao produtor se esses animais forem comercializados vivos. Com o avanço da idade, houve aumento do comprimento corporal, da altura anterior, da altura posterior, do perímetro torácico, do perímetro da perna, da largura da garupa e da largura do peito. Os machos foram superiores às fêmeas quanto às medidas biométricas e quanto ao peso ao nascimento, aos 60 e aos 90 dias. Os machos Alpinos foram mais pesados aos 120 dias e apresentaram, ainda, maior ganho de peso no intervalo dos 30 aos 60 dias. O menor custo de produção relativo à alimentação por quilograma de cabrito produzido foi observado aos 90 dias de idade.

The objective of this trial was to evaluate performance (weight and weight gain), body measurements, feed conversion, and production costs of purebred (Alpine) and crossbred [½ Boer + ½ Alpine (½ BA) and ¾ Boer + ¼ Alpine (¾ BA)] goat kids at different ages (60, 90 and 120 days). Therefore, 41 kids in a feedlot system were used in this study. Data were submitted to analysis of variance using the Tukey test for comparison of means. No difference in performance was observed among the three different groups of animals (Alpine, ½ BA, and ¾ BA). Body condition score was greatest in ¾ BA kids, which may represent additional profit to producers if animals are sold alive. As expected, most body measurements increased with age. Body measurements and weight at birth, 60 and 90 days of age were all greater on males than females. In addition, Alpine males were heavier than females at 120 days of age. They also gained more weight from 30 to 60 days when compared to females. The lowest production cost (kg of feed per kg of weight gain) was observed at 90 days of age.

A caprinocultura leiteira no Brasil, apesar de ser uma atividade rural consolidada há algumas décadas, tem se mostrado totalmente dependente de outros países no que se refere ao melhoramento genético. A maioria dos plantéis existentes atualmente tem como base animais importados, e a renovação do material genético é feita por meio da importação de sêmen. Inexistem informações sobre o valor genético dos animais e sua evolução no decorrer dos anos. No presente trabalho, foram estimadas a herdabilidade e a repetibilidade da produção de leite utilizando o REML. Os valores obtidos foram 0,21557 e 0,21564, respectivamente. Para a predição do valor gênico dos animais, foi usado o procedimento BLUP com modelo animal. A mudança na tendência genética anual estimada por um modelo quadrático foi -0,8109 kg/ano², indicando desaceleração no ganho genético. A correlação de Pearson entre os valores gênicos dos bodes estimados com base na média da capacidade provável de produção das filhas obtida pelo método de mínimos quadrados com as estimadas pelas equações do modelo misto foi de 0,5751. A correlação de SPEARMAN entre as classificações dos bodes obtidos pelos dois métodos foi de 0,5813.

Dairy goat production in Brazil, although firmly established since a few decades, has proved to be totally dependent on foreign countries for genetic improvement. Most herds presently producing are based on imported animals, and genetic refreshment is obtained through imported semen. No information is available on the genetic values and their evaluation along the years. In this paper, heritability and repeatability estimates, obtained through REML, are reported for milk yield. The values were 0.21557 and 0.21564, respectively. The BLUP method with animal model was used to predict genetic values. The annual change in genetic trend, estimated by means of a quadratic model, was -0.8109 kg/year², which indicates a slowdown in genetic gain. The Pearson correlation between buck genetic values estimated by means of the most likely production of daughters and least squares and those estimated through BLUP and mixed model equations was 0.5751; the Spearman correlation between buck ranks obtained by both methods was 0.5813.