ABSTRACT. This study aimed to perform a strategic diagnosis on a property specialized in breeding, rearing and finishing beef cattle in the southern region of Piauí. It was conducted at Agropecuária Alvorada, located in the countryside, municipality of Bom Jesus, PI, Brazil. The farm develops the full cycle of beef cattle production, which is divided into breeding, rearing and finishing. A SWOT analysis (which stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) was carried out, consisting of an assessment of the property’s internal and external environments. To evaluate the internal environment, an interview was held for data collection by means of questionnaires. The evaluation included: breeding management, sanitary management, nutritional management, infrastructure, workforce, technologies used in pasture formation, conservation and recovery, pasture management and zootechnical indices. To analyze the external environment, a group of people (experts) with deep knowledge of the subject addressed during the study was used as source of information. A matrix was generated with all the information from the SWOT analysis, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, culminating with the establishment of strategies to increase the productive efficiency of the cattle raising activity.

RESUMO Os objetivos com este experimento foram avaliar a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, o desempenho produtivo, viabilidade econômica das dietas, assim como o comportamento ingestivo de cordeiros terminados em confinamento recebendo dietas com a inclusão de três teores de concentrado. Quinze cordeiros machos não-castrados, sem padrão racial definido (SPRD) foram distribuídos em blocos casualizados de acordo com a idade e peso inicial. Os animais foram confinados por um período de 55 dias, sendo dez dias de adaptação e 45 para coleta dos dados. Os tratamentos consistiram em três dietas isonitrogenadas com diferentes teores de concentrado: 40%; 60% e 80%, com base na matéria seca. Os consumos de matéria seca (MS) e proteína bruta (PB), assim como a digestibilidade da PB e fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) não foram alterados (P>0,05) com a inclusão de concentrado na dieta. Os animais alimentados com 40% de concentrado apresentaram menor (P<0,01) digestibilidade da MS. A adição de 80% de concentrado na dieta reduziu (P<0,01) o consumo de FDN, porém proporcionou maior (P<0,01) ganho de peso médio diário dos animais, seguido pelos tratamentos com 60% e 40% de concentrado. Em relação ao comportamento ingestivo, os animais alimentados com 80% de concentrado apresentaram maior tempo gasto com alimentação (P<0,05). Dietas com altos teores de concentrado (60 – 80%) aumentam a digestibilidade da matéria seca e proporciona melhor desempenho dos animais, sem relevantes alterações no comportamento ingestivo. A dieta com 80% de concentrado proporciona margem bruta de lucro positiva.

SUMMARY The objectives of this research were to determine the effects increasing levels of concentrate on nutrients digestibility, performance, economic viability of diets and ingestive behavior of lambs. Fifteen crossbred lambs were used in a randomized complete block design according to initial body weight and age. Lambs were penned individually during 55 days, being 10 days for adaptation of diets and 45 days for data collection. The treatments consisted in three isonitrogenous diets with increasing levels of concentrate: 40, 60, or 80%, in dry matter basis. No effect (P>0.05) were observed on dry matter intake, crude protein intake, crude protein digestibility and neutral detergent fiber digestibility, whereas the dry matter digestibility was lower (P<0.01) for lambs fed diets with 40% of concentrate. The addition of 80% concentrate decreased (P<0.05) neutral detergent fiber intake, however this treatment provided higher average daily gain, followed by 60 and 40% of concentrate. In relation to feeding behavior, the animals fed80% concentrate spent more time with feeding (P<0.05) compared to the other treatments. It is concluded that supplementation of concentrate between 60 to 80% improves dry matter digestibility and performance of crossbred lambs without relevant affect dry matter intake and ingestive behavior. A diet with 80% concentrate provides positive gross margin of profit.

Alternative sources of protein for lactating cows were evaluated in this study with respect to intake, digestibility, milk yield and milk composition. Eight multiparous Holstein/Gyr cows were simultaneously distributed in two 4 × 4 latin squares. Each experimental period lasted 21 days (14 days for adaptation and seven days to collect data and samples). Three protein sources, cottonseed meal, semi-integral soybean meal and corn steep liquor were evaluated and soybean meal was used as a control. When the corn steep liquor was used, lower intakes of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and total digestible nutrients were observed compared with soybean meal. Animals that consumed corn steep liquor had a lower milk yield than those fed soybean meal, and no treatment effect on the milk fat content was detected. Animals that consumed cottonseed meal and corn steep liquor had a lower fat yield than those fed soybean meal. Feeding with semi-integral soybean meal decreased the milk protein percentage compared with soybean meal. Nutrient digestibility was lower for cows fed diets with corn steep liquor, except for crude protein digestibility, which was higher for animals fed cottonseed meal and semi-integral soybean meal compared with those fed soybean meal. Based on the dry matter intake, milk yield and milk components, soybean meal can be replaced with semi-integral soybean meal.

Objetivou-se avaliar o valor nutritivo de silagens de diferentes cultivares de sorgo. Foram utilizados cinco ovinos machos, castrados, sem padrão racial definido, com peso corporal médio de 26 kg. Os animais foram distribuídos em delineamento experimental quadrado latino (5 x 5), e alojados em gaiolas para estudo de metabolismo, equipadas com coletores de fezes e urina. Os tratamentos consistiram de silagem de cinco cultivares de sorgo: IPA 1011, IPA 2564 (graníferos), IPA 2502 (duplo propósito), IPA SF-25 e IPA 467 (forrageiros). O teor de proteína das silagens foi corrigido para 12% com a adição da mistura ureia-sulfato de amônio (9:1). As cultivares 1011, 2564 e 2502 proporcionaram maiores consumos de matéria seca, carboidratos totais, nutrientes digestíveis totais e menores teores de fibra em detergente neutro. As cultivares 1011 e 2564 proporcionaram maiores coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente da matéria seca e orgânica, e juntamente com o 467 e o SF-25, os maiores coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente da proteína bruta. As cultivares 1011 e 2564 proporcionaram maiores teores de nutrientes digestíveis totais. Todos as cultivares proporcionaram balanço de nitrogênio positivo. Em função dos valores observados para consumo e digestibilidade dos nutrientes, as silagens das cultivares graníferas apresentam maior potencial para a alimentação de ruminantes.

Nutrition values of silages from different sorghum cultivars are evaluated. Five 26-kg castrated crossbred lambs, housed in pens equipped with feces and urine collectors for the study of their metabolism, were employed in a 5 x 5 Latin square experimental design. Treatments consisted of silage from five different sorghum cultivars: IPA 1011 and IPA 2564 (grain sorghum), IPA 2502 (dual purpose sorghum), IPA FS-25 and IPA 467 (forage sorghum). Protein level was corrected to 12% by adding a mixture of urea: ammonium sulfate (9:1). Treatments IPA 1011, IPA 2564 and IPA 2502 provided high intake of dry matter, total carbohydrate and total digestible nutrients, and low intake of neutral detergent fiber. Cultivars IPA 1011 and IPA 2564 provided high apparent crude protein digestibility coefficient, whereas cultivars IPA 1011 and IPA 2564 had high total digestible nutrient levels. All cultivars provided positive nitrogen. Owing to nutrient intake and digestibility values, grain sorghum silages evidenced high potential in ruminant nutrition.

O experimento foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da associação de silagens de girassol e sorgo; fenos de leucena, guandu e capim-elefante, com palma forrageira, sobre o consumo, digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes e parâmetros ruminais em ovinos sem padrão racial definido, com fístulas no rúmen. Foram utilizados cinco ovinos com peso corporal médio de 30kg (±0,3), distribuídos em quadrado latino 5x5. Os consumos de matéria seca, matéria orgânica, proteína bruta, carboidratos totais, carboidratos não-fibrosos, nutrientes digestíveis totais, fibra em detergente neutro (% peso vivo), digestibilidade aparente da proteína bruta e carboidratos não-fibrosos não foram influenciados pela associação dos alimentos. O consumo de extrato etéreo foi superior no tratamento com silagem de girassol em relação à silagem de sorgo e aos fenos. O consumo de fibra em detergente neutro (kg/dia) foi superior para o tratamento com feno de capim-elefante em relação à silagem de girassol e semelhante aos demais tratamentos. A digestibilidade aparente da matéria seca para a silagem de sorgo foi superior quando comparada aos fenos de leucena e capim elefante. Não foi observada diferença significativa para os valores de pH e concentração de amônia ruminal para os tratamentos nos diferentes tempos de coleta. A associação da palma forrageira com silagens e fenos não altera o consumo de matéria seca e energia. Silagens de sorgo e girassol e fenos de leucena, guandu e de capim elefante associados à palma forrageira apresentam-se como uma boa alternativa alimentar para ovinos na região semiárida do Nordeste brasileiro.

The aim of the present experiment was to assess the effect of the association of the spineless cactus with sunflower silage, sorghum silage, leucena hay, pigeon pea hay or elephant grass hay on intake, apparent digestibility of nutrients and ruminal measures in mixed breed sheep, with fistulas in the rumen. Five sheep with a mean body weight of 30kg (±0,3), were distributed in 5x5 Latin squares. Intake of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, total carbohydrates, total digestible nutrients (in kg/day), neutral detergent fiber (in % of live weight), apparent digestibility of crude protein and non-fiber carbohydrates were not influenced by the association of spineless cactus and the silages or hays. Ether extract intake was greater for the elephant grass hay treatment in comparison to sunflower silage and similar to the sorghum silage and hays. Apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber and total carbohydrates was not influenced by the association of spineless cactus and silages or hays. Apparent digestibility of dry matter for sorghum silage was higher in comparison to the leucena hay and elephant grass hay. There was no significant difference between pH and ruminal ammonia concentration for the treatments at different sampling times. The association of spineless cactus and silages or hays did not alter dry matter intake and energy. Sorghum silages and sunflower and leucena, pigeon pea and elephant grass hay associated the spineless cactus show a good food alternative to sheep in semiarid region of the northeastern Brazil.