ABSTRACT Producers in the northeastern semiarid region of Brazil have been cultivating irrigated corn. The commercialized product comprises mainly green ears and silage. However, the irrigation of crops for dry grain has been questioned regarding costs and price competitiveness in relation to the same non-irrigated product cultivated in other regions. In recent years, the use of drip tapes and fertigation has spread among corn producers in the region. The aim of this study was to determine the N dose, via fertigation, which provides the maximum economic production of corn for dry grain, in two crop seasons (summer and winter), in the semiarid region of Brazil. The experimental design was performed in randomized blocks, with four replications. In both crops, the treatments consisted of four doses of N (0, 80, 160, and 240 kg ha-1) applied in the form of urea. In the hybrid corn (Bt Feroz), the N content was evaluated in terms of leaves, grain yield, gross and net incomes, the rate of return, and the profitability index. Independent of the crop season, the yield of dry grain (5,441.03 kg ha-1) was highest when the corn was fertigated with a dose of 104.05 kg ha-1 N. The highest net incomes of the dry grain were obtained with 80 kg ha-1 N in summer (R$ 1,190.78 ha-1) and 160 kg ha-1 N in winter (R$ 2,757.54 ha-1). The winter crop was more favorable to the economic production of dry grain.

ABSTRACT. The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance, carcass traits and economic indicators of Santa Inês lambs and their crossings finished in feedlot. Thirty whole lambs (10 Santa Inês, 10 ½ Dorper + ½ Santa Inês and 10 – Dorper + ¼ Santa Inês) were used, with 115 days of age and initial live weight of 20.07 kg. The lambs were kept for 60 days receiving sorghum silage and concentrate, after which they were slaughtered. The – Dorper + ¼ Santa Inês lambs and the ½ Dorper + ½ Santa Inês lambs showed higher of dry matter intake and water intake, greater daily weight gain and body score in relation to Santa Inês lambs. The carcasses of – Dorper + ¼ Santa Inês lambs showed better conformation, finishing and marbling. The gross profit margin showed positive values for all genetic groups, covering the effective operating cost. Dorper crossbred lambs had a higher gross margin compared to Santa Inês lambs. The cost of the diet represented on average 61.35% of the price paid per kilo of sheep meat. In the sheep meat production system, the genetic group influences the zootechnical and economic indicators of finishing feedlot of lambs.

Resumo Estudos com pastagens necessitam de informações sobre a área foliar, por ser um dos principais parâmetros de avaliação do crescimento das plantas. Desse modo, objetivou-se estimar a área da lâmina foliar do capim-pangolão (Digitaria pentzii Stent.), utilizando métodos não destrutivos por meio de análise de modelos de regressão. O delineamento utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, com três alturas de corte (10, 15 e 20 cm) e quatro repetições. Foram coletadas aleatoriamente 300 lâminas foliares do capim-pangolão e determinados os seus respectivos comprimentos (C) e larguras (L), com uso de paquímetro digital. A área da lâmina foliar do capim-pangolão foi estimada pelo método gravimétrico, sendo utilizados os modelos de regressão linear e potência para explicar a área das lâminas foliares em função do produto do comprimento e máxima largura. A área da lâmina foliar real apresentou valor médio de 18,64 cm2, variando de 4,29 a 45,95 cm2. A área da lâmina foliar do capim-pangolão, independentemente da altura de corte, foi estimada com melhor acurácia pelo modelo potência. O modelo potência, Ŷ=CL1,007, pode ser usado para estimar a área da lâmina foliar do capim-pangolão com base nos valores de comprimento e largura da lâmina foliar dessa espécie.

Abstract Pasture studies require information on leaf area, as it is one of the main parameters for evaluation of plant growth. Thus, the objective of this study was to estimate the leaf blade area of pangolão grass (Digitaria pentzii Stent.) using non-destructive methods by regression model analysis. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks, with three cutting heights (10, 15, and 20 cm) and four replications. Three hundred leaf blades of pangolão grass were randomly collected, and their respective lengths (L) and widths (W) determined using a digital caliper. The leaf blade area of pangolão grass was estimated by the gravimetric method, using linear and power regression models to explain the leaf blade area as a function of the product of L and maximum W. The real leaf blade area presented an average value of 18.64 cm2, ranging from 4.29 to 45.95 cm2. The leaf blade area of pangolão grass, regardless of cutting height, was estimated with greater accuracy by the power model. The power model, Ŷ=LW1.007, can be used to estimate the leaf blade area of pangolão grass based on leaf blade L and W values.

Objetivou-se avaliar as características quantitativas e qualitativas da carcaça em caprinos de diferentes genótipos terminados em confinamento. Foram utilizados 30 cabritos, sendo 10 Anglo Nubiana Sem Raça Definida (SRD), 10 Boer SRD e 10 SRD, com peso médio de 19,05kg no início do experimento, distribuídos no delineamento inteiramente casualizado. A dieta utilizada foi única e completa, contendo 15,5% de proteína bruta e 2,58 Mcal de energia metabolizável por quilograma de matéria seca. Os Anglo Nubiana × SRD apresentaram maiores rendimentos de carcaça, espessura de gordura subcutânea e medida GR quando comparados com os Boer SRD. Entretanto, os cabritos Boer SRD obtiveram maior índice de musculosidade em comparação com os demais genótipos avaliados. Os cabritos SRD apresentaram menor percentual de gordura e maior relação músculo:gordura, quando comparados com os Boer × SRD. Não houve diferença entre os genótipos para os cortes comerciais, exceto o peso e rendimento do pescoço. Os cabritos Boer × SRD apresentaram melhor conformação e acabamento de carcaça. Houve correlação significativa entre a conformação e o acabamento de carcaça e entre o marmoreio, a espessura de gordura subcutânea e a medida GR. A área de olho de lombo foi correlacionada com o rendimento de carcaça quente. A espessura de gordura subcutânea e a medida GR apresentaram correlação significativa, indicando que estas avaliações representam à cobertura de gordura na carcaça de cabritos. O genótipo influencia a espessura de gordura subcutânea, os rendimentos de carcaça, a conformação e acabamento de carcaça de cabritos.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative carcass traits in goat kids finished in feedlot. Thirty goat kids were used non-castrated, with 10 Anglo Nubian Undefined Breed (UB), 10 Boer UB and 10 Undefined Breed, with average 19.05 kg BW at the beginning of the experiment, divided into a completely randomized design. The diet used was unique and complete, containing 15.5% crude protein and 2.58Mcal kg-1 DM. The Anglo Nubian UB goat kids showed higher carcass dressing, fat thickness and GR site in comparison to Boer UB. However, the Boer UB obtained higher muscularity index compared with Anglo Nubian UB and UB. The UB goat kids showed lower percentage of fat and higher muscle:fat relation when compared with Boer UB. No differences between genotypes for the weight and yields, except for the weight and yields of neck. The Boer UB goat kids showed better conformation and carcass fatness compared to Anglo Nubian UB and UB. There was significant correlation between conformation and carcass fatness. Correlation was observed between marbling, fat thickness and pelvic-renal fat. The fat thickness and GR site showed significant correlation, indicating that these evaluations represent the back fat in the carcass of kids goat. The genotype influenced the fat thickness, carcass dressing, conformation and carcass fatness.

Objetivou-se avaliar o desempenho e margem bruta de lucro de cabritos de diferentes grupos genéticos terminados em confinamento. Foram utilizados 30 cabritos não castrados, sendo 10 ½ Anglo Nubiana × ½ Sem Raça Definida, 10 ½ Boer × ½ Sem Raça Definida e 10 Sem Raça Definida, alimentados com dieta contendo 15,5% de proteína bruta e 2,58Mcal de energia metabolizável por quilograma de matéria seca. Os cabritos Boer × Sem Raça Definida (SRD) apresentaram maiores consumos de matéria seca, em percentual do peso vivo, em relação aos SRD, tendo obtido os Anglo Nubiana × SRD resultados semelhantes aos demais grupos genéticos. Os consumos de água, a conversão alimentar e o escore corporal ao final do confinamento não foram influenciados pelo grupo genético. No entanto, houve efeito significativo do grupo genético sobre o ganho de peso total e ganho de peso médio diário, que foram maiores para os cabritos Boer × SRD em comparação aos SRD. Os cabritos Anglo Nubiana × SRD e SRD obtiveram maiores escores corporais no início do experimento quando comparados com os Boer × SRD. A utilização da raça Boer no cruzamento melhora o desempenho dos cabritos SRD. Os cabritos Boer × SRD, terminados em confinamento, apresentam maior margem bruta de lucro em comparação aos Anglo Nubiana × SRD.

The objective of this study was to evaluate performance and gross profit margin of goat kids finished in feedlot. Thirty kids non-castrated were used, being 10 ½ Anglo Nubian × ½ undefined breed, 10 ½ Boer × ½ undefined breed and 10 undefined breed, fed with diet containing 15.5% of crude protein and 2.58Mcal/kg dry matter. The Boer × undefined breed kids showed greater dry matter intake, live weight percentual, in relation to undefined breed kids, obtained the Anglo Nubian × undefined breed kids similar results to the others genetics groups. The water intake, the feed conversion and the corporal score no influenced by genetics groups. However, there was significant effect of the genetics groups on the total weight gain and daily weight gain that were greater for the Boer × undefined breed kids when compared with undefined breed. The Anglo Nubian × undefined breed kids and undefined breed obtained greater corporal score at the beginning of the experiment when compared with Boer × undefined breed. The use of the Boer breed in the crossbred improves the performance of undefined breed kids. The Boer × undefined breed kids showed greater gross profit margin than the Anglo × undefined breed kids finished in feedlot.