ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of carcass and non-carcass components of lambs and hoggets finished in the feedlot with high-concentrate corn or sorghum grain-based diets. Thirty-two animals were finished, comprising 16 lambs (milk teeth) and 16 hoggets (two teeth), which were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (two sheep categories × two grains). For the variables final live weight, live weight at slaughter, hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, hot carcass yield, cold carcass yield, carcass compactness index, subjective color, loin-eye area, fasting losses, external organs, internal organs, and for the weights, in kilograms, of neck, shoulder, ribs, and leg, there was a significant difference between categories. In the variables studied for the high-concentrate diets, significant differences were found for the ribs, expressed in relative values. Lambs have much higher fasting losses, a greater proportion of internal organs, and lighter-colored meat compared with hoggets. Hot and cold carcass yields, meat subjective color, and percentage of ribs are higher in feedlot-finished lambs and hoggets fed high-concentrate sorghum-based diets compared with those fed corn-based diets.

RESUMO: O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar as características estruturais, morfológicas e bromatológicas da forragem e o desempenho de bovinos de corte, da raça Caracu (200±9kg de peso inicial), suplementados com mistura mineral múltipla (0,25% do peso corporal) em pastos diferidos de Brachiaria brizantha , cv. 'Marandu', e Brachiaria decumbens , cv. 'Basilisk', sob pastejo contínuo. Após o rebaixamento dos pastos a 10cm de altura, realizado em março de 2014 por meio de pastejo, ambas as espécies foram vedadas e diferidas por 126 dias. O período experimental foi de julho a outubro de 2014, e as avaliações das características do pasto e as pesagens dos animais foram realizadas a cada 28 dias. A maior massa de forragem foi registrada em pastos de 'Marandu'. A maior porcentagem de folhas e a menor de material morto foram observadas para a 'Basilisk'. Os maiores teores de proteína bruta (8,1 vs 7,0 ± 0,2%), digestibilidade in vitro da matéria orgânica (57,7 vs 53, 9 ± 0,4%), os menores teores de fibra em detergente neutro (69,2 vs 72,7 ± 0,4%) e, consequentemente, o maior ganho médio diário (680 vs 530 ± 0,04g animal-1) foram registrados para a cv. 'Basilisk'. O diferimento de pastagens de 'Marandu' ou 'Basilisk' associado à suplementação com mistura mineral múltipla figura como alternativa de manejo para recria de bovinos de corte durante o período seco. Para a duração do período de vedação utilizada, pastos de B. decumbens são mais indicados para alcançar o maior desempenho animal.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to compare structural, morphological and bromatological characteristics of forage as well as performance of Caracu beef cattle (200 ± 9 kg of initial body weight) supplemented with a multi-mineral mixture (0.25% of body weight) on deferred pastures of Brachiaria brizantha 'Marandu' and Brachiaria decumbens 'Basilisk' under continuous grazing. After the pasture was grazed to 10 cm of height, in March 2014, both grasses were left to rest and subjected to a 126-day deferment period. The experimental period lasted from July to October 2014; the sward characteristics and the animal's weight were evaluated every 28 days. The highest forage mass was recorded in 'Marandu' grass, whereas the highest leaves percentage and lowest dead material percentage were observed in 'Basilisk' pastures. Similarly, the highest crude protein content (8.1 vs. 7.0 ± 0.2%), in vitro organic matter digestibility (57.7 vs. 53.9 ± 0.4%), lowest neutral detergent fiber content (69.2 vs. 72.7 ± 0.4%), and; consequently, the highest average daily gain (680 vs. 530 ± 0.04g animal-1) were recorded for 'Basilisk' pastures. 'Marandu' and 'Basilisk' deferment was associated with a multi-mineral mixture supplementation as a management alternative for rearing beef cattle during the drought periods. Because of the duration of the pasture recovery period in this study, B. decumbens pastures were more likely to achieve the highest animal performance.

O feijoeiro comum (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) pode se beneficiar da fixação biológica de N2, mas respostas inconsistentes da cultura à inoculação com rizóbio indicam a necessidade de aplicação de N mineral complementar. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a resposta do feijoeiro à inoculação com rizóbio, associada à suplementação com N mineral, nos biomas Cerrado e Mata Atlântica. Foram conduzidos quatro experimentos de campo, dois em Santo Antônio de Goiás, GO, um em Valença, RJ e um em Macaé, RJ, onde a inoculação com estirpes comerciais de rizóbio foi comparada à inoculação com a estirpe BR 923 de Sinorhizobium sp., à adubação com N mineral e à suplementação com N na semeadura e em cobertura. A avaliação da população nativa de rizóbio indicou 105 células g-1 no solo na área experimental em Goiás, anteriormente cultivada com feijão, e 102células g-1 em Valença, anteriormente mantida com pastagem. Nos dois experimentos em Goiás, o rendimento de grãos, da ordem de 2.100 kg ha-1, não diferiu entre os tratamentos testemunha absoluta, inoculação com rizóbio ou aplicação de 120 kg ha-1 de N. Em Valença, a inoculação com estirpes comerciais forneceu rendimentos da cultivar Ouro Negro superiores à testemunha absoluta, na ausência de adubação de cobertura; na presença de 40 kg ha-1 de N em cobertura, a inoculação com rizóbio proporcionou rendimento de 3.420 kg ha-1, superior aos demais tratamentos. Na média das diferentes fontes de N na semeadura, a adubação de cobertura aumentou a produção de grãos de 2.367 para 2.542 kg ha-1. Em Macaé, em solo com alto teor de matéria orgânica, os maiores rendimentos foram obtidos com inoculação das estirpes comerciais associada a 40 kg ha-1 de N em cobertura, com efeito deletério da adubação de 80 kg ha-1 de N no plantio. Concluiu-se que em áreas sem cultivo prévio de feijão, a inoculação com estirpes comerciais de rizóbio aumentou o rendimento de grãos, em particular quando associada à adubação de cobertura com N.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) may benefit from biological N2fixation, but inconsistent responses of the crop to rhizobium inoculation indicate the need for supplemental mineral N fertilization. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the response of the common bean crop to rhizobium inoculation in association with supplemental mineral N in the Cerrado (Brazilian tropical savanna) and Atlantic Forest biomes. Four field experiments were carried out, two in Santo Antônio de Goiás (State of Goiás), one in Valença (State of Rio de Janeiro), and another in Macaé (State of Rio de Janeiro), all in Brazil. Inoculation with commercial rhizobium strains was compared to inoculation with strain BR 923 of Sinorhizobium sp., to mineral N fertilization, and to supplementation with N at sowing and in topdressing. Evaluation of the native rhizobium population indicated 105 cells g-1 in the soil of the experimental area in Goiás, previously cultivated with common bean, and 102 cells g1 in the soil in Valença, previously kept in pasture. In both experiments in Goiás, grain yields of around 2,100 kg ha-1 did not differ among the control treatments, rhizobia inoculation, or the application of 120 kg ha-1 of N. In Valença, inoculation with commercial strains provided yields from the cultivar Ouro Negro higher than the absolute control, in the lack of topdressing N fertilization. With 40 kg ha-1 of N in topdressing, rhizobium inoculation led to 3,420 kg ha-1 of grain yield, higher than the other treatments. In the mean of different N sources at sowing, topdressing fertilization increased grain yield from 2,367 to 2,542 kg ha-1. In Macaé, in a soil with high organic matter content, the highest yields were obtained with inoculation of commercial strains associated with 40 kg ha-1 of N in topdressing, and there were deleterious effects from application of 80 kg ha-1 of N at sowing. We conclude that in areas without a previous common bean crop, inoculation with commercial rhizobium strains increases grain yield, particularly when associated with topdressing N fertilization.

Avaliou-se o efeito de níveis de glicerina bruta sobre o consumo de suplemento e o desempenho de cordeiros lactentes mantidos a pasto, além das características quali-quantitativas do pasto de azevém. Foram utilizados 32 cordeiros lactentes distribuídos nos tratamentos: 0, 10, 20 e 30% de glicerina bruta, em substituição ao milho, no suplemento isoproteico (18% PB) fornecido diariamente em quantidade equivalente a 2% do peso corporal. Não houve efeito (P>0,05) dos níveis de glicerina bruta sobre as características qualitativas e quantitativas do pasto, na composição de proteína bruta e fibra detergente neutro e na carga animal suportada pela pastagem, nem no consumo de suplemento, ganho de peso médio diário e o número de dias até o abate dos cordeiros. Níveis de até 30% de glicerina bruta, em substituição ao milho, no suplemento fornecido para cordeiros lactentes pastejando azevém não comprometem o consumo de suplemento, desempenho e período de terminação dos animais.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of levels of crude glycerin in the supplement intake and performance of suckling lambs on ryegrass pasture, beyond the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of ryegrass pastures. It was used 32 suckling lambs distributed between the treatments: 0, 10, 20 and 30% of crude glycerin, replacing corn, in the isoproteic supplement (18% CP) offered daily in an amount equivalent to 2% of body weight. There was no effect (P>0.05) of the levels of crude glycerin on the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of pastures, composition of crude protein and neutral detergent fiber, stocking rate supported by ryegrass pasture, neither on supplement intake, average weight gain and number of days to slaughter the lambs. Levels up to 30% of crude glycerin, replacing corn, provided in the supplement to suckling lambs grazing ryegrass didn't compromise the supplement intake, performance and termination period of the animals.