ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of slaughter body weight (SW) on the performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of Jersey bulls in feedlots from weaning to slaughter. Eighteen Jersey bulls (125.7±15.9 kg; 5±0.6 months old) were used in the study. The treatments corresponded to three slaughter-weights: L360 – light weight, SW of 360 kg, M390 – medium weight, SW of 390 kg, and H420 – heavy weight, SW of 420 kg (n = 6/treatment); the animals were slaughtered at 368, 392, and 422 kg, respectively. The average daily gain was not influenced by SW. The M390 and H420 groups remained in feedlot, on average, 6 and 51 d longer, respectively, to reach a similar SW in relation to the L360 group. The increase in SW did not influence dry matter intake. However, the L360 group exhibited greater dry matter intake relative to body weight compared with the other two groups (29 vs. 26 g/kg). The increase in SW resulted in heavier and longer carcasses, with higher hot carcass yields. However, animals with greater SW had lower fat thickness. In addition, the increase in SW led to greater pistol cut, bone, and muscle weight for the carcasses. Although the meat color of Jersey bulls was darker in the H420 group, the meat was considered softer and more palatable by the consumer panel compared with the meat from the L360 group. The L360 group exhibited less fluid loss during thawing and cooking. Shear force measured by Warner Blatzer Shear was lower for H420. Animals slaughtered in the L390 group had an intermediate carcass weight, similar carcass yield, better cover fat and meat quality (color and shear) than animals slaughtered in the H420. Combining these factors with a shorter feedlot time compared with that of heavier animals, the SW of feedlot Jersey bulls is recommended at 390 kg.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a estrutura do dossel e o comportamento ingestivo de caprinos em pastos de papuã manejados sob lotação contínua. Os tratamentos corresponderam a quatro alturas de manejo (10, 20, 30 e 40 cm) mantidas através de taxa de lotação variável. As variáveis analisadas foram: composição morfológica, massa e densidade dos componentes; comprimento de lâminas foliares; valor nutritivo por simulação de pastejo; tempos de pastejo, ruminação e atividades complementares. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e teste de contrastes de polinômios ortogonais. Os principais resultados foram: i) com o aumento da altura de manejo, houve um aumento da massa (total e dos componentes morfológicos) e uma inversão na composição morfológica (redução na proporção de lâminas foliares e aumento na de colmos + material morto); ii) o comprimento de lâminas foliares aumentou com a altura de manejo; iii) os animais dedicaram mais tempo ao pastejo com a redução da altura de manejo, embora aparentemente tenham abdicado do pastejo no tratamento 10 cm ao final do experimento. Baseado nos dados de estrutura do dossel e comportamento ingestivo, concluiu-se que pastos de papuã sob lotação contínua devem ser manejados próximos de 40 cm. As razões são discutidas ao longo do artigo.

Abstract The aim of this trial was to describe the canopy structure and grazing behavior of goats in Alexandergrass swards under continuous stocking. The treatments corresponded to four sward canopy heights (10, 20, 30, and 40 cm) maintained by variable stocking density. The following variables were accessed: morphological composition; nutritive value by hand plucking; mass and density of morphological components; leaf lamina length; Time spent grazing, ruminating, and idling. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and polynomial orthogonal contrasts. The main results were: i) following the sward canopy height increments, there was an increment in forage mass (and its morphological components), as well as an inversion in morphological compositions (leaf proportion reduction and stem + dead material increment); ii) leaf lamina length increased with grazing height increments; iii) time spent grazing was increased following sward canopy height reduction, although animals apparently abdicated to graze in 10 cm treatment at the final of the experiment. Based on sward canopy structure and grazing behavior, we concluded that Alexandergrass under continuous stocking should be managed around 40 cm. Reason are discussed throughout the manuscript.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of protected fat from palm oil on body weight and milk production and composition of lactating Lacaune ewes. Four treatments (0, 20, 40, and 60 g kg−1 as fed) of protected fat from palm oil were used to feed nine animals in each group. Isoproteic and isoenergetic diets were formulated and adjusted for each animal after milk weighing. Corn silage was used as roughage on the same proportion of concentrated to feed all animals. Milk samples were collected weekly for chemical analyses up to the seventh week of the lactation period and every other week after that until the end of the lactation period (182 days). Increased levels of protected fat in the diet of lactating ewes resulted in lower body weight gain and poor animal body condition. The production peak showed differences and was higher in the treatment of 40 g kg−1 of palm oil, but milk production during lactation was higher in animals that received 60 g kg−1 of protected fat supplementation. Animals fed 60 g kg−1 of protected fat showed the highest milk yield. We observed a positive linear effect on milk fat content, whereas the effect on milk protein, lactose, and nonfat solids was linearly negative after dairy sheep fed protected fat from palm oil. There were no changes in the amount (kg) of milk fat, protein, lactose, total solids, and nonfat solids in any of the treatments. Therefore, protected fat from palm oil is efficient to increase milk production and fat content.

RESUMO: Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da inclusão de glicerina na dieta de cabritos sobre o consumo, desempenho e características de carcaça. Foram utilizados 20 cabritos não castrados, mestiços Boer, com peso corporal médio de 25,06±4,15 kg e 8,00±0,66 meses de idade, distribuídos em blocos ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos e cinco repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram da inclusão de glicerina (87% de glicerol) na dieta, em substituição ao milho, em quatro níveis de concentração: zero, cinco, 10 e 15% na matéria seca (MS). Não foi encontrada influência (P>0,05) da glicerina na dieta sobre o consumo de volumoso e a conversão alimentar. Os consumos de concentrado e de MS total foram afetados (P<0,05) pelo nível de glicerina na MS, com redução nos animais que receberam o mais alto nível. Não houve efeito (P>0,05) dos níveis de glicerina para ganho de peso, rendimento de carcaça e perdas por resfriamento. Entretanto, houve efeito (P<0,05) para peso da carcaça quente e fria para os animais alimentados com 15% de glicerina. A inclusão de até 15% de glicerina na dieta de cabritos mestiços Boer, embora não afete a conversão alimentar e o desempenho, compromete o consumo e o peso da carcaça dos animais.

ABSTRACT: This experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of including glycerin in kid goats diet on intake, performance and carcass traits. Twenty intact male kid goats Boer crossbred were used, with body weight of 25.06±4.15kg and 8.00±0.66 months old, allocated in block design, with four treatments and five replicates. The treatments consisted on including dry matter basis (DM) of the diet of four levels of glycerin: zero, five, 10 and 15%, in replacing corn. It was not reported influence (P>0.05) of level of glycerin on intake of forage and feed conversion of animals. The concentrate and total DM intake were affected (P<0.05) for the level of glycerin in DM, with reduction in the animals that received the highest level. It was not reported influence (P>0.05) of level of glycerin on weight gain, carcass yield and percentage of cooling losses. However, the hot and cold carcass weight was lower (P<0.05) to the animals feed with 15% of glycerin. The inclusion up to 15% of glycerin in the diet of kid goats Boer crossbred, although did not affect feed conversion and performance, compromised the intake and carcass weight.

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da disponibilidade de creep feeding por diferentes períodos de tempo sobre o ganho de peso, peso a desmama e as medidas biométricas corporais de cabritos mestiços da raça Bôer. Foram utilizadas 12 cabras 7/8 Bôer, lactantes, e suas respectivas crias, distribuídas em três tratamentos, totalizando 27 cabritos, sendo nove por tratamento. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com três tratamentos e nove repetições por tratamento. Os tratamentos foram: acesso ao creep feeding do nascimento até os 70 dias de idade; acesso ao creep feeding a partir dos 20 dias até os 70 dias de idade; acesso ao creep feeding a partir dos 40 dias até os 70 dias de idade. Os dados foram coletados a cada 10 dias. A análise de variância e comparação entre médias foi realizada pelo teste Tukey. Os diferentes tratamentos possibilitaram diferenças de ganho de peso, peso vivo corporal, comprimento corporal, perímetro torácico e abdominal e altura de garupa. Não houve diferença no escore corporal e na altura de cernelha dos animais. Os melhores resultados foram observados em grupos submetidos aos maiores tempos de acesso à suplementação. Assim, indica-se esse tipo de suplementação durante a amamentação por pelo menos 50 dias, e demonstra a irrelevância do fornecimento de concentrado nos primeiros 20 dias de vida.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the availability of creep feeding for different periods of time on weight gain, weaning weight, body condition and biometric measurements bodily crossbred goats breed Boer. 12 goats were used 7/8 Boer, nursing mothers, and their offspring, in three treatments, totaling 27 kids, nine per treatment. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with three treatments and nine replications by treatment. The treatments were: access to creep feed from birth to 70 days of age; access to creep feed from 20 days until 70 days of age; access to creep feed from 40 days until 70 days of age. Data were collected every 10 days. The analysis of variance and comparison of means was performed by Tukey test. The different treatments possible differences in weight gain, body weight, body length, heart girth and abdominal and hip height. There was no difference in body condition and withers height and animals. The best results were observed in groups subjected to higher access times supplementation. Thus, we indicate this type of supplementation during breastfeeding for at least 50 days, and demonstrate the irrelevance of supply concentrated in the first 20 days of life.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as alterações no comportamento ingestivo, consumo diário de forragem e desempenho de cabritas alimentadas com diferentes níveis de suplementação, em pastagem de aveia‑preta (Avena strigosa, 'IAPAR 61'). Foram utilizadas 36 cabritas da raça Boer, com 10 meses de idade e peso médio inicial de 21 kg, que receberam suplementação alimentar com milho moído e farelo de soja a 0, 0,5, 1 e 1,5% do peso vivo, em pastejo de lotação contínua com taxa de lotação variável. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso com três repetições. Foram avaliados: altura, taxa de acúmulo, massa, oferta e estrutura da pastagem; carga animal; ganho de peso individual e por área; e tempo de pastejo, ruminação e ócio (comportamento ingestivo); além do consumo de forragem. A suplementação diminuiu o consumo de forragem - 2,4, 1,45, 1,43 e 1,05% do peso vivo, nos tratamentos com 0, 0,5, 1 e 1,5%, respectivamente -, o tempo de pastejo diário e o ganho de peso individual. Os níveis de suplementação não alteraram o consumo total de matéria seca (forragem + concentrado) e nem o tempo de ruminação, mas aumentaram o tempo de ócio, o que permitiu maior desempenho dos animais por área.

The objective of this work was to evaluate changes in ingestive behavior, dry matter intake, and performance of goats fed with different levels of supplementation, in black oat pasture (Avena strigosa, 'IAPAR 61'). Thirty‑six ten‑month‑old Boer goats were used, with an initial average weight of 21 kg, which received supplementation with 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% of body weight, in continuous stocking grazing with variable stocking rate. A randomized block design was used with three replicates. Evaluations were done for: height, accumulation rate, mass, offer, and structure of the pasture; stocking rate; individual and per‑area weight gain; and time used for grazing, rumination and resting periods (ingestive behavior); besides forage intake. Supplementation decreased forage intake - 2.4, 1.45, 1.43, and 1.05% of body weight, in treatments with 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5%, respectively -, daily grazing time, and the individual weight gain. The supplementation levels did not change total dry matter intake (forage + concentrate) neither the rumination time, but they increased resting time, which allowed greater animal performance per area.