ABSTRACT We aimed to estimate genetic parameters for growth, reproductive, and carcass traits in Tabapuã cattle. Phenotypic data were collected between 1990 and 2019 in 1,218 farms, and the pedigree file had 340,868 animals. The traits evaluated were body weight at 120 (W120), 210 (W210), 365 (W365), and 550 (W550) days of age; age at first calving (AFC), scrotal circumference at 365 days of age (SC365), ribeye area (REA), backfat thickness (BF), and rump fat thickness (RF). The (co)variance components were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood method, considering single and two-traits animal models. For all traits, the models considered fixed, direct additive genetic, and residual random effects. In addition, for W120 and W210, the maternal additive genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects were also included. Heritabilities for W120, W210, W365, W550, SC365, REA, BF, and RF were of moderate magnitude (0.15, 0.16, 0.23, 0.19, 0.22, 0.36, 0.31, and 0.27, respectively). Low heritability was observed for AFC (0.07). The genetic correlations between growth traits were higher than 0.90, while AFC and SC365 presented negative moderate correlation (−0.66). The REA showed low genetic correlations with BF (0.07) and RF (0.07), whereas BF and RF were highly correlated (0.77). Considering the heritability estimates, selection for AFC would result in limited genetic gain, while for the other traits, it would be satisfactory. Based on the high genetic correlations between growth traits, selection of Tabapuã animals can be performed at younger ages. Additionally, animals can be indirectly selected for AFC through SC365, and only one fat thickness trait may be used in the selection process considering the high genetic correlation and similar heritability values for BF and RF.

RESUMO Objetivou-se aplicar a transformação de dados via regressão isotônica em estudos de crescimento de animais da raça Guzerá cujos dados apresentam distúrbios caracterizados por decréscimos de pesos em determinadas faixas de idades. Foram tomadas observações de peso-idade de machos da raça Guzerá recém-desmamados obedecendo à metodologia das provas de ganho de peso (PGP) definidas pela Associação Brasileira dos Criadores de Zebu (ABCZ). Os modelos Logístico, Von Bertalanffy e Gompertz foram ajustados aos dados de peso-idade por meio do método dos quadrados mínimos ordinários generalizados para modelos de regressão não linear via algoritmo de Gauss-Newton. A transformação proposta por meio da teoria de regressão isotônica mostrou-se eficiente, e o modelo Logístico foi o mais adequado para descrever o crescimento dos animais por apresentar alta porcentagem de convergência (100%) e qualidade de ajuste satisfatória, medida por meio do quadrado médio do erro (QME) e do coeficiente de determinação (R2).

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to apply data transformation via isotonic regression in growth curves studies of Guzerá cattle whose data presented disturbances characterized by decreased body weight in certain age groups. Weight-age data were collected on newly weaned Guzerá males according to the methodology of weight gain tests (WGT) defined by the Brazilian Association of Zebu Breeders (ABCZ). The Logistic, Von Bertalanffy and Gompertz models were fitted to weight-age data using the generalized least squares method for non-linear regression models through the Gauss-Newton algorithm. The proposed transformation based on isotonic regression theory proved to be efficient; and the Logistic model was the best to describe the growth of animals, with a high percentage of convergence (100%) and goodness of fit assessed by the mean squared error (MSE) and the coefficient of determination (R2).

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os critérios para formação de grupos de contemporâneos (GCs) na avaliação genética de peso ao desmame em bovinos Nelore. Foram utilizados 713.474 registros de 3.066 rebanhos localizados no Centro-Oeste e no Norte do Brasil. Os dados foram provenientes do Serviço de Registro Genealógico das Raças Zebuínas da Associação Brasileira dos Criadores de Zebu. As estruturas de dados foram definidas com base no número de desvios-padrão (DPs) para remoção de outliers (±2,0, ±2,5, ±3,0 e ±3,5) e no número mínimo de animais por GC (3, 7 e 15). A avaliação genética foi realizada por meio de modelo animal via inferência bayesiana. As estruturas de dados com ±3,5 DPs e GC com mínimo de 15 animais apresentaram a maior variância genética aditiva (82,65±2,93), e aquelas com ±2,0 DPs e GC com mínimo de 3 animais, a menor (60,23±1,96). A formação correta de GCs resulta em arquivos de dados mais consistentes, o que permite obter estimativas mais confiáveis dos parâmetros genéticos. As melhores respostas à seleção são obtidas ao se adotar os seguintes critérios para remoção de outliers: 2,5, 3,0 e 3,5 desvios-padrão e mínimo de 15 animais por grupo de contemporâneos.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the criteria for the formation of contemporary groups (CGs) in the genetic evaluation of body weight at weaning in Nellore cattle. A total of 713,474 records from 3,066 herds located in Midwestern and Northern Brazil were used. Data were obtained from the genealogical registry of zebu breeds of the Brazilian association of zebu breeders. Data structures were defined based on the number of standard deviations (SDs) for outlier removal (±2.0, ±2.5, ±3.0, and ±3.5) and on the minimal number of animals per CG (3, 7, and 15). Genetic evaluation was performed with an animal model using Bayesian inference. Data structures with ±3.5 SDs and CG with at least 15 animals presented the highest additive genetic variance (82.65±2.93), and those with ±2.0 SDs and CG with at least 3 animals showed the lowest one (60.23±1.96). The proper formation of CGs results in better-quality data archives, allowing to obtain more trustable estimates for the genetic parameters. Better selection responses are obtained when the following criteria are adopted for the removal of outliers: 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 standard deviations and a minimum of 15 animals per contemporary group.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate associations among final weight (FW), average daily gain (ADG), scrotal circumference (SC), and visual score (VS) of beef cattle in performance tests on pasture or in feedlots. Genetic parameters for FW, ADG, SC, and VS of young Nellore bulls performance-tested on pasture or in feedlots were evaluated by mixed model. The performance test and final age were considered as fixed effects and additive genetic and residual effects were considered as random effects. Additive genetic and residual variances for final weight and average daily gain were smaller on pasture than in feedlots. There was no difference between genetic and residual variances and heritability for scrotal circumference on pasture or in feedlots. Genetic variance and heritability for visual score on pasture were smaller than those in feedlots. The posterior means (and highest posterior density intervals with 90% of samples (HPD90) in parentheses) for heritability were 0.46 (0.42; 0.50) and 0.49 (0.41; 0.55) for FW, 0.25 (0.22; 0.29) and 0.25 (0.19; 0.30) for ADG, 0.56 (0.51; 0.61) and 0.60 (0.51; 0.68) for SC, and 0.31 (0.27; 0.34) and 0.42 (0.36; 0.48) for VS on pasture or in feedlots, respectively. The genetic correlations (posterior means with HPD90 in parentheses) were 0.74 (0.69; 0.79) and 0.67 (0.58; 0.77) between FW and ADG; 0.49 (0.43; 0.55) and 0.60 (0.53; 0.68) for FW and SC; 0.79 (0.75; 0.83) and 0.85 (0.80; 0.90) for FW and VS; 0.37 (0.29; 0.46) and 0.34 (0.19; 0.50) for ADG and SC; 0.65 (0.59; 0.71) and 0.74 (0.64; 0.84) for ADG and VS; and 0.46 (0.39; 0.52) and 0.53 (0.44; 0.62) for SC and VS, obtained on pasture or in feedlots, respectively. The genetic and residual (co)variances of growth, scrotal circumference, and visual score of beef cattle vary across environments; however, genetic and residual correlation and efficiency of correlated response among these traits remain constant on pasture or in feedlots.

RESUMO Objetivou-se comparar os modelos multicaracterístico e de repetibilidade na estimação de parâmetros genéticos para as características número de leitões nascidos vivos (NLN) e às três semanas de idade (NL3), peso da leitegada ao nascimento (PLN) e às três semanas de idade (PL3), e peso médio do leitão ao nascimento (PMLN) e às três semanas de idade (PML3), considerando os três primeiros partos de fêmeas da raça Landrace. As estimativas de herdabilidade (h2) aumentaram até a terceira ordem de parto para as características PLN e PML3. Para NLN, NL3, PL3 e PMLN as h2 aumentaram da primeira para a segunda parição e reduziram da segunda para terceira parição. Em geral, as herdabilidades estimadas via modelo de repetibilidade foram menores que a média das estimativas obtidas utilizando o modelo muticaracterístico. As características PLN, PMLN e PML3 apresentaram altas correlações genéticas entre as diferentes parições (0,961–0,997), enquanto as características NLN, NL3 e PL3 (0,092–0,986) apresentaram valores irregulares de correlações genéticas entre as parições. Pelo critério de informação de Akaike corrigido o modelo de repetibilidade não foi indicado para a maioria das características estudadas. Esses resultados indicam que o modelo multicaracterístico é recomendado para avaliação genética das características número de leitões nascidos vivos e às três semanas de idade, peso da leitegada ao nascimento e às três semanas de idade e peso médio do leitão ao nascimento e às três semanas de idade, em diferentes parições, como características diferentes.

SUMMARY We aimed to compare multi-trait and repeatability models to estimate genetic parameters for the traits number of piglets born alive (NBA) and alive at 3 week of age (NP3), litter weight at birth (LW0) and at 3 week of age (LW3), and mean piglet weight at birth (MW0) and at 3 week of age (MW3), considering the first three farrowings of Landrace sows. Heritability (h2) estimates showed an increasing pattern up to the third farrowing for LW0 and MW3. For NBA, NP3, LW3, and MW0 h2 increased from the first to the second and decreased from the second to the third farrowing. In general, heritability estimated in the repeatability model was lower than the mean of the estimates in the multi-trait model. The traits LWO, MW0, and MW3 presented high genetic correlation among different farrowings (0.961–0.997), while NBA, NP3, and LW3 (0.092–0.986) presented irregular values among farrowings. The corrected Akaike information criterion shows that the repeatability model is not indicated for almost all of the studied traits. These results indicate that the multi-trait model is recommended for genetic evaluation of the traits number of piglets born alive and alive at 3 week of age, litter weight and mean piglet weight at birth and 3 week of age, in different farrowings, as different traits.

Objetivou-se avaliar a degradação da matéria seca (MS), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e proteína bruta de alimentos volumosos pela técnica da digestão cecal in situ em equinos. Avaliaram-se as forrageiras: feno de alfafa (Medicago sativa), amendoim forrageiro (Arachis pintoi cv. Amarillo), desmódio (Desmodium ovalifolium), estilosantes (Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Mineirão), guandu (Cajanus cajan), macrotiloma (Macrotyloma axillare) e feno de coastcross (Cynodon dactylon cv. coastcross). O ensaio teve duração de 35 dias e foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com sete alimentos e três repetições. Utilizou-se uma égua fistulada no ceco, alimentada com dieta composta por feno de coastcross (80%) e concentrado (20%), fornecida quatro vezes ao dia em quantidade equivalente a 2% do peso vivo. No ceco, foram inseridos 3 a 4 sacos de náilon de porosidade 45 μ de 6,5 × 20 cm, contendo 5,2 g de MS/saco, nos tempos de 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 e 48 horas de incubação. Os parâmetros de degradação da MS de todos os volumosos foram significativos. Não houve ajuste no modelo de degradação da PB e FDN do guandu. O amendoim, estilosantes e macrotiloma apresentaram maior fração potencialmente degradável da MS, com valores de 53, 46,5 e 40%, respectivamente, e os maiores valores da fração solúvel de 20, 21, 28,6%, além de elevadas taxas de degradação (10,36, 20,26 e 14,8%h-1). Nestes alimentos, também foram observadas as maiores taxas de degradação da FDN (9,1 e 11,3, 11,2%h-1), das frações potencialmente degradáveis (55, 51,8 e 47,2%) e as mais altas taxas de degradação da PB em 48 horas de incubação (87, 95, 94,8%, respectivamente). O amendoim forrageiro, o estilosantes e o macrotiloma apresentam potencial de uso nas dietas para equinos.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the in situ degradation of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and crude protein (CP) in roughages by the in situ caecal digestion technique in horses. The roughages evaluated were: Lucerne hay (Medicago sativa), peanut (Arachis pintoi cv. Amarillo), desmodio(Desmodium ovalifolium), stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Mineirão), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), lime-yellow pea (Macrotyloma axillare) and coastcross hay (Cynodon dactylon cv. coastcross). The assay was conducted in a complete randomized design with seven roughages and three replications. One mare with a cannula fitted in the caecum was used, fed diet consisting of coastcross hay (80%) and concentrate (20%) at 2.0% BW, four times a day. Nylon 6.5 × 20 cm bags were used with 45 μ/pore, containing 5.2 g DM/bag, inserting 3 or 4 bags in the caecum at the times of 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 and 48 hours incubation. The caecum in situ degradability parameters of nutrients were obtained by Ørskov model. The DM degradability parameters of all the roughages were significant. There was no fit to the model for pigeon pea for CP and NDF and desmodio. Peanut, stylo and lime-yellow pea presented larger potentially degradable DM with values of 53, 46.5 and 40%, respectively, and higher values for the soluble fraction of 20, 21, 28.6%, with high degradability rates of 10.36, 20.26 and 14.8% h-1. Higher NDF degradation rates were observed in these foodstuffs with values of 9.1 and 11.3, 11.2% h-1, high potentially degradable fraction with values of 55, 51.8 and 47.2%, and greater CP degradation at 48 hours with values of 87, 95, and 94.8%. Peanut, stylo and lime-yellow pea presented potential for use in horses diets.

Objetivou-se avaliar o consumo, a cinética digestiva e a digestibilidade de nutrientes em equinos consumindo rações suplementadas com óleo de soja. Foram utilizados 15 equinos em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com três dietas e cinco repetições. As dietas experimentais foram formuladas a partir de uma dieta controle (sem inclusão de óleo de soja) acrescida 8,5% ou 19,5% de óleo de soja. O ensaio teve duração de 34 dias: 30 de adaptação dos equinos às dietas e quatro de coleta de fezes. A cinética da fase líquida da digesta no trato digestivo foi estimada pela LIPE® (lignina isolada, purificada e enriquecida) na forma líquida. A LIPE® foi fornecida no 30º dia, em dose única, e as amostras de fezes foram coletadas nos tempos 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 72 e 78 horas após o fornecimento. O consumo de matéria seca das dietas reduziu com a inclusão de óleo de soja. O coeficiente de digestibilidade aparente do extrato etéreo aumentou nas dietas hiperlipidêmicas, enquanto o de digestibilidade da celulose reduziu com a inclusão de 19,5% de óleo de soja. O coeficiente de digestibilidade dos demais nutrientes, exceto o de proteína bruta, e a cinética da digesta no trato gastrointestinal não foram alterados. A inclusão de óleo de soja em dietas práticas para equinos possibilita reduzir o consumo de matéria seca e aumentar a concentração energética, desejável em equinos atletas.

The objective of this study was to evaluate intake, digestive kinetics and nutrient digestibility in horses fed diets supplemented with soybean oil inclusion. Fifteen horses were used in a randomized complete design with three diets and five replications. The experimental diets were formulated from a control diet (without soybean oil) with the addition of 8.5% and 19.5% soybean oil. The experiment lasted for 34 days, 30 days for the horses to adapt to the diets and four days for feces collection. The kinetics of the liquid phase of the digesta in the digestive tract was estimated by LIPE® (Purified Enriched Isolated Lignin) in liquid form. LIPE® was given on the 30th day, in a single dose, and the feces samples were collected at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 72 and 78 hours after administration. Dry matter intake of the diets decreased with soybean inclusion. The apparent digestibility coefficient of the ether extract increase in the high fat diets, while the cellulose digestibility decreased with the inclusion of 19.5% soybean oil. The coefficient of digestibility of the other nutrients, except crude protein, and the kinetics of the digesta in the gastrointestinal tract were not altered. Including soybean oil in practical diets for horses enables dry matter intake reduction and increase in the energetic concentration, which is desirable in athletic horses.

Neste estudo, foram realizados dois ensaios com os objetivos de avaliar o fracionamento dos carboidratos de alimentos volumosos e estimar a digestibilidade desses nutrientes em dois ensaios de digestão com eqüinos. No ensaio 1, foram utilizados cinco eqüinos em delineamento de blocos casualizados, com sete tratamentos - fenos de alfafa (Medicago sativa); amendoim forrageiro (Arachis pintoi); desmódio (Desmodium ovalifolium); guandu (Cajanus cajan); macrotiloma (Macrotyloma axillare); estilosantes (Stylosanthes guianensis); ou coastcross (Cynodon dactylon) - avaliados pela técnica de sacos de náilon móveis. No ensaio 2, foram utilizados quatro eqüinos em delineamento quadrado latino 4 × 4, alimentados com feno de coastcross em quatro tipos de moagem com o objetivo de avaliar se a redução do tamanho de partícula interfere na digestibilidade dos carboidratos. Os resultados comprovaram que os eqüinos possuem alta eficiência na digestão dos carboidratos não-fibrosos e de suas frações hidrolisáveis e rapidamente fermentáveis. Os fenos de amendoim forrageiro, estilosantess e macrotiloma apresentaram elevada digestibilidade dos carboidratos fibrosos e não-fibrosos, enquanto a digestibilidade de todos os nutrientes do amendoim forrageiro foi superior a 70%, o que indica potencial para uso desta leguminosa em dietas para eqüinos. O processamento do feno de coastcross não influenciou a digestibilidade das frações dos carboidratos fibrosos e não-fibrosos. A análise dos carboidratos fibrosos e não-fibrosos é um bom indicativo do valor nutricional dos alimentos e pode ser incluída na avaliação da qualidade de alimentos para eqüinos.

This work was carried out to evaluate the fractions of carbohydrates and estimate the apparent digestibility of these nutrients in two digestion assays with horses. In assay 1, five horses were allotted to a complete randomized blocks design and treatments were seven forages hays, alfalfa (Medicago sativa), peanut forage (Arachis pintoi), desmodio (Desmodium ovalifolium), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), lime-yellow pea (Macrotyloma axillare), stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis) e coastcross (Cynodon dactylon), evaluated with the mobile nylon bag technique. In assay 2, four horses were allotted to a 4 × 4 Latin Square design and fed with coastcross hay with four different processed forms with the objective of evaluating whether a reduction of the particle size affected the carbohydrate digestibility. Results showed that horses had high digestion of non-fibrous carbohydrate and hydrolysable carbohydrate and rapidly fermentable carbohydrate fractions of forages. Among the forages analyzed, peanut forage, stylo and lime-yellow pea, presented high nutrient digestibility, and the peanut forage nutrients presented digestibility above 70%, demonstrating potential to be used in diets for horses. The coastcross hay processing in different grinding degrees does not affect the fibrous and non-fibrous carbohydrate fractions digestibility. Analysis of fibrous and non-fibrous carbohydrate fractions is a good indicative of nutritional value of feeds, and could be included in the evaluation of the quality of diets for horses.

Objetivou-se estimar a digestibilidade de nutrientes de forrageiras em eqüinos utilizando-se a técnica de sacos de náilon móveis. Foram avaliados alfafa (Medicago sativa), amendoim forrageiro (Arachis pintoi), desmódio (Desmodium ovalifolium), estilosantes (Stylosanthes guianensis), guandu (Cajanus cajan), macrotiloma (Macrotyloma axillare) e capim-coastcross (Cynodon dactylon cv. coastcross). O delineamento foi em blocos inteiramente casualizados com sete alimentos e cinco blocos (animais). Foram utilizados cinco eqüinos mestiços com 17 a 27 anos de idade e peso vivo médio de 350 kg. O ensaio teve duração de 12 dias: três para a adaptação às baias, cinco para inserção gástrica dos sacos através de sonda nasogástrica e quatro de coleta dos sacos nas fezes. No período pré-experimental de 30 dias, os animais foram mantidos em piquetes com dieta composta de 80% de feno de coastcross e 20% de concentrado. Na confecção dos sacos, utilizou-se náilon com porosidade de 45 µ e dimensão de 7,5 × 2 cm. Em cada saco, foram inseridos 510 mg de matéria seca de amostra do alimento. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade dos nutrientes das forragens foram calculados considerando o resíduo obtido no saco. A digestibilidade dos nutrientes do amendoim, estilosantes e macrotiloma foram superiores à da demais forrageiras, com destaque para a digestibilidade da proteína bruta, cujos valores foram de 91,4; 94,9 e 97,0%, respectivamente. O amendoim e macrotiloma apresentaram digestibilidade da fibra em detergente neutro de 72,3 e 65,2% e da fibra em detergente ácido de 70,9 e 59,4%, respectivamente. O amendoim forrageiro, macrotiloma e estilosantes apresentam digestibilidade dos nutrientes satisfatória e têm potencial para o uso em dietas para eqüinos.

This work was carried out to evaluate the nutrient digestibility of forages using mobile bags technique in horses. The forages were lucerne (Medicago sativa), peanut (Arachis pintoi), desmodio (Desmodium ovalifolium), stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), lime-yellow pea (Macrotyloma axillare) and coastcross (Cynodon dactylon cv. coastcross). A randomized block design was used with seven treatments (feeds) and five blocks (horses). Five crossbreed horses were used with age ranging from 17 to 27 years and average weight of 350 kg. The assay lasted 12 days, being three days for adaptation to barns, five days for nasogastric insertion of bags and four days for bags collection in feces. The diet of horses was composed of 80% of coastcross hay and 20% of commercial concentrate. During the pre-experimental period of 30 days, the horses were maintained in paddocks feeding the diet. Nylon cloth had 45µ pore size, and bags presented dimensions of 7,5 × 2 cm with 510 mg of DM of forage sample/bag. The nutrient digestibility of forages were calculated through residues inside the bags. The nutrient digestibility of peanut, stylo and lime-yellow pea were high than the other forages, mainly crude protein with values of 91.4, 94.9 and 97.0%, respectively. Fibrous fractions of peanut and lime-yellow pea presented digestibility values of NDF of 72.3 and 65, 2%, and ADF of 70.9 and 59.4%, respectively. Peanut, lime-yellow pea and stylo presented satisfactory nutrient digestibility and had potential to use in diets for horses.