ABSTRACT This research was conducted to investigate the effect of live and inactive sugarcane yeast on beef cattle voluntary intake, apparent digestibility of nutrients, ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations, and ruminal ammonia. Five rumen-cannulated Nellore heifers were distributed in a 5×5 Latin square design, with five experimental periods of 15 days, with seven days for adaptation to the additives and the remaining days for data records and sampling. Total mixed ration (TMR) was composed by corn silage (20%) and concentrate (80%) based on corn and soybean meal. Five treatments were evaluated: without additive use (negative control; NC); chemical buffer addition – 0.71% in concentrate DM of sodium bicarbonate and 0.18% of magnesium oxide (positive control, PC); 10 g/day live yeast (LY); 15 g/day of inactive yeast (IY15); and 30 g/day of inactive yeast (IY30). Sugarcane yeasts were directly infused in rumen immediately after morning and afternoon feed supply. Feed additives did not affect voluntary intake, nutrient digestibility, and sorting behavior of animals. However, heifers from all treatments presented preferential intake of fibrous fraction of diet, especially those from NC and IY15. Nitrogen balance, VFA concentrations, and blood parameters were not influenced as well. Sodium bicarbonate and magnesium oxide led to greater ruminal pH than yeast, and IY15 presented greater pH than IY30. Ruminal ammonia was increased by the use of additives. Active and inactive yeasts are not recommended as feed additives for bovines fed diets with 80% of concentrate since it allows animals to select fibrous particles from TMR, and no representative gain in ruminal parameters and digestibilities are guaranteed.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar as exigências nutricionais para a manutenção (NRm) e o crescimento (NRg), assim como o coeficiente de retenção (RC) de cálcio, fósforo, sódio, potássio e magnésio, de bezerros da raça Holandesa. As NRm foram de 87,8, 20,8, 4,36, 2,21 e 1,01 mg kg-1 da massa de corpo vazio para Ca, P, Na, K e Mg, respectivamente. O RC foi de 0,882, 0,473, 0,274, 0,088 e 0,052 para Ca, P, Na, K e Mg, respectivamente. As exigências nutricionais de Ca e P de bezerros da raça Holandesa são maiores do que aquelas estimadas para animais adultos.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to quantify the net requirements for the maintenance (NRm) and growth (NRg), as well as the retention coefficient (RC) of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and magnesium, of Holstein calves. The NRm were 87.8, 20.8, 4.36, 2.21, and 1.01 mg kg-1 of empty body weight for Ca, P, Na, K, and Mg, respectively. The RC was 0.882, 0.473, 0.274, 0.088, and 0.052 for Ca, P, Na, K, and Mg respectively. The requirements of Ca and P of Holstein calves are higher than those estimated for adult animals.

RESUMO: O leite produzido no Brasil é visto como tendo má qualidade e associado a grande número de pequenas propriedades. No entanto, não há estudos que demonstram menor qualidade do leite dessas pequenas propriedades. Assim, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a relação entre a escala de produção e qualidade do leite, como é o comportamento ao longo do ano, e definir metas para melhorar a qualidade de acordo com cada estrato. Utilizou-se um total de 21.917 análises de 409 agricultores realizadas de Janeiro/2005 a Dezembro/2014. As propriedades foram divididas de acordo a produção de leite: 10 a 100; 100 a 200; 200 a 500; 500 a 1000; e 1000 a 5000L de leite dia-1. Os dados mostraram que a produção leiteira é predominantemente realizada em pequenas propriedades; no entanto, os volumes mais elevados são produzidos por um pequeno número de produtores. Dados adicionais revelam que a qualidade do leite pode variar devido a fatores como condição nutricional e alimentos para animais. Concluiu-se que a qualidade do leite deve ser um motivo de preocupação para toda a cadeia de produção de leite, porque ainda tem problemas tais como elevada contagem bacteriana total e contagem celular somática e baixo teor de sólidos.

ABSTRACT: Milk produced in Brazil has been seen as having poor quality and is associated with a large number of small farms. However, there are few studies demonstrating lower quality of milk of small properties. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between production scale on dairy farms and milk quality, how it behaviors throughout the year and set goals to improve quality according to each strata. A total of 21,917 analysis of 409 farmers conducted from January 2005 to December 2014 were used. To study the database, the properties were divided according to monthly average daily milk yield: 10 to 100; 100 to 200; 200 to 500; 500 to 1,000; and 1,000 to 5,000L of milk day-1. The data showed that dairy farming is predominantly carried out on small-scale production properties; however, the highest volumes are produced by a small number of producers. Additional data reveals that milk quality can vary because of distinct factors as nutritional condition and feed supply. Quality of the milk produced should be a matter of concern for the entire milk-production chain, because it still has problems such as high total bacterial count, high somatic cell count and low solids.

RESUMO. Este estudo foi realizado para avaliar modelos de predição de peso corporal (PC), utilizando-se medidas corporais como perímetro torácico (PT), altura de cernelha (AC), largura de garupa (LG), comprimento corporal (CC) e altura de garupa (AG), e desenvolver novas Equações de estimação de PC para novilhas Holandesas e mestiças. Foram testadas Equações de predição (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 e 6) propostas em estudos anteriores e as medidas corporais mais relacionadas com PC foram utilizadas para gerar novas Equações. O perímetro torácico é a medida corporal mais correlacionada com PC. A Equação 4 apresentou os melhores resultados de predição com baixo desvio médio e alta precisão e exatidão. As Equações 1 e 2 apresentaram alto viés de estimação, enquanto 2 teve o menor valor de coeficiente de correlação e concordância, e grande contribuição de erro sistemático. O modelo 3 apresentou alta variabilidade na predição de PC. Tanto para novilhas Holandesas quanto mestiças, as Equações avaliadas não são eficientes em predizer PC. Entre as Equações avaliadas, o modelo usando PT apresentou o melhor ajuste e maior coeficiente de determinação ajustado. As medidas corporais de PT e CC foram as variáveis mais significativas na predição do PC, sendo utilizadas na obtenção da Equação: PC = - 372.89 + 2.8072 × PT + 1.6087 × CC.

ABSTRACT. This study was realized to evaluate prediction models for body weight (BW) using body measurements as heart girth (HG), wither height (WH), hip width (HW), body length (BL) and hip height (HH), and develop new Equations to predict the BW of Holstein and crossbred heifers. Prediction Equations (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) proposed in previous studies were tested, while body measurements, which were more significant in terms of predicting BW, were used to obtain new Equations. Heart girth was the body measurement with the greater correlation with BW. Equation 4 presented the best prediction results, showing a low average deviation, high accuracy and precision. Equations 1 and 2 predicted with a high presence of bias, while 2 had the lowest value of the concordance correlation coefficient and a great contribution made by systematic error. The 3 model presented a high variability in predicting BW. For both Holstein and crossbred heifers, the Equations evaluated are inadequate for predicting BW. Among the Equations evaluated, the model using HG presented the best adjustment and the greater adjusted coefficient of determination. Body measurements relating to HG and BL were the most significant variables in predicting the BW, resulting in the following Equation: BW = - 372.89 + 2.8072 × HG + 1.6087 × BL.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and the fermentative parameters of heart of palm waste produced from Alexander Palm, ensiled with chemical additives. Treatments consisted of silage of the sheath with or without calcium oxide. In the silage without calcium oxide, we evaluated the control silage (without additive) and the silage enriched with 5.0 g kg−1 urea (urea). In the silage with calcium oxide, we evaluated the silage enriched with 5.0 g kg−1 calcium oxide (control) and the silage enriched with 5.0 g kg−1 urea and 5.0 g kg−1 calcium oxide (urea). Experimental silos were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (inclusion or lack of lime × inclusion or lack of urea), with four replicates. Crude protein concentration was greater in the silages that received urea, whereas in the case of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber, the lowest levels were found in the control silage. Control silage had the lowest pH (3.75) and the silages that received lime displayed the lowest lactic acid content. Effluent losses were greater in the control silage and in the silage with lime (56.1 kg t−1 and 58.4 kg t−1, respectively). Silages prepared with waste from heart of palm production and enriched only with urea showed a better chemical composition and improved fermentation parameter estimates. We recommend the use of this waste only with additives that can improve the chemical characteristics of the forage. Without additives, unwanted fermentation processes may occur and compromise the quality of the silage.

RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da levedura seca de cana-de-açúcar em substituição ao farelo de soja em dietas de novilhas leiteiras. Vinte e quatro novilhas leiteiras com peso médio inicial (BW) de 178 kg foram distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Os tratamentos foram níveis de inclusão de levedura seca de cana-de-açúcar em substituição ao farelo de soja (0, 33, 67 e 100% com base na matéria seca (MS)). Não houve diferença para a ingestão de MS, fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), energia metabolizável e volumoso; entretanto, houve aumento na ingestão de carboidratos não fibrosos e concentrados. A ingestão de proteína bruta diminuiu de acordo com o aumento do nível de levedura em substituição ao farelo de soja. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade da MS e FDN não foram alterados. A substituição do farelo de soja pela levedura não promoveu efeito sobre o desempenho, pois o ganho médio diário e as medidas corporais estudados foram os mesmos para todos os animais, em todos os níveis de inclusão. O farelo de soja pode ser completamente substituído por levedura seca de cana-de-açúcar em dietas para novilhas leiteiras em crescimento, pois não afeta consumo, digestibilidade, desenvolvimento físico dos animais e metabolismo de compostos proteicos.

ABSTRACT This study was performed in order to evaluate the effect of dried yeast from sugar cane when replacing soybean meal in dairy heifers' diets. Twenty-four heifers, with an initial body weight (BW) of 178 kg, were distributed in a completely randomized design. The treatments were four levels of inclusion of dried yeast from sugar cane replacing to soybean meal (0, 33, 67 and 100% on a dry matter (DM) basis). While there was no difference in DM, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), metabolizable energy or roughage intakes, the intakes of non-fiber carbohydrates and concentrate were increased. The crude protein intake decreased according to the dried yeast from sugar cane when replacing soybean meal. The digestibility coefficients of DM and NDF showed no difference. Replacement of soybean meal with dried yeast from sugar cane had no effect on performance, because average daily gain and body measurements studied were similar for all animals and inclusion levels. Soybean meal can be completely replaced with dried yeast from sugar cane in diets for growing dairy heifers without restrictions; this will not affect the intake, digestibility, physical development of animals or metabolization of protein compounds.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of raw milk in different production systems and its variation throughout the year. The data were collected from 943 dairy farms in the South, Central-West and Central regions of the state of Minas Gerais, and in Vale do Paraíba, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The data were collected in the period from January 2009 to September 2011, in a total of 18,206 samples. The properties were divided into confinement, semi-confinement and extensive production systems. The evaluated factors were somatic cell count (SCC), total bacterial count (TBC) and protein and fat contents. There was no effect of production system on the contents of protein, fat and SCC. Total bacterial count, however, was affected by production. Seasonal variations were found for SCC, TBC, protein and fat; the highest protein values were found from March to June; the highest fat contents were obtained from May to August; and TBC and SCC, from December to March. The production system does not interfere with the percentage of fat and protein and SCC of the milk. However, confinement systems present a better TBC content. Both month and year are factors that interfere with TBC, SCC, protein and milk fat, and the best patterns are found in the coldest periods of the year.

Foram avaliados os efeitos da suplementação com diferentes relações proteína: carboidrato sobre a composição corporal, características de carcaça e eficiência de deposição de proteína e energia em tourinhos. Utilizou-se 24 bezerros Nelore (132,5 ± 5,5 kg e 90-150 dias de idade) em pastagem por um período experimental de 430 dias. Os tratamentos foram: Controle = mistura mineral ; HPHC = suplemento com alta proteína e alto carboidrato; HPLC = suplemento com alta proteína e baixo carboidrato; LPHC = suplemento com baixa proteína e alto carboidrato; LPLC = suplemento com baixa proteína e baixo carboidrato. foram abatidos quatro animais no início do experimento e 20 animais no final do experimento para avaliar a composição da carcaça. Os tourinhos controle apresentaram o menor (p < 0,05) consumo de EM (9,8 Mcal dia-1) não havendo diferenças (p > 0,05) entre os tourinhos suplementados (13 Mcal dia-1). Embora os tourinhos não suplementados tivessem menor (p <0,05) proteína retida, energia retida (ER), ganho de peso e rendimento de carcaça que os animais suplementados, não foram observado diferenças (p > 0,05) entre os touros suplementados. Suplementos com alto carboidrato foram associados com maior (p < 0,05) ER (596,2 Mcal) do que os suplementos de baixo carboidrato (515,5 Mcal). Não houve diferenças (p > 0,05) na eficiência energética entre os grupos. Portanto, a suplementação aumenta a ingestão e retenção de proteína e energia, sem alterar a eficiência de retenção.

The effects of supplementation with different protein: carbohydrate ratios on body composition, carcass characteristics and protein and energy deposition efficiency of young were assessed. Twenty-four Nellore calves (132.5 ± 5.5 kg and 90-150 days of age) were kept on pasture for a 430 day experimental period. The treatments were: Control = mineral mixture only; HPHC = high-protein and high-carbohydrate supplement; HPLC = high-protein and low-carbohydrate supplement; LPHC = low-protein and high-carbohydrate supplement; LPLC = low-protein and low-carbohydrate supplement. Four animals at begning and 20 animal at end of experiment were slaughtered to evaluate the carcass composition. Control bulls had the lowest (p < 0.05) intake of ME (9.8 Mcal day-1) with no difference (p > 0.05) between supplemented bulls (13 Mcal day-1). Although non-supplemented bulls had less (p < 0.05) retained protein, retained energy (RE), body weight gain and dressing percentage, differences were not observed (p > 0.05) between supplemented bulls. High-carbohydrate supplements were associated with more (p < 0.05) RE (596.2 Mcal) than low-carbohydrate supplements (515.5 Mcal). Differences were not found (p > 0.05) in the energy efficiency between the groups. Therefore, supplementation increases the intake and retention of protein and energy without changing the retention efficiency.

This study was conducted to develop equations to predict chemical composition of head, limbs, hide and blood in cattle. A database containing 335 animals from 10 trials, with 221 Nellore, 38 Nellore-Simmental and 76 Nellore-Angus (96 steers, 118 heifers and 121 bulls) animals was used. Models were constructed to estimate water, ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP), ash and macrominerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium) in the non-carcass parts of cattle. A stepwise procedure was conducted to determine the most significant variables within each model. Subsequently, a random coefficient model was used to construct the equation using studies as random effect, and sex and breed as fixed effects. The visceral fat was the most important variable in the prediction models developed, affecting EE and water in head and limbs; head CP; and hide and blood water. Carcass dressing affected head EE and water and water in the limbs. Carcass weight had significant influence on head CP and hide EE; it was also affected by hide percentage in empty body weight (EBW). The percentage of OV in EBW influenced hide water. Lastly, EBW had influence only on hide sodium. Sex affected the EE of head and limbs. No breed effect was observed on any of the equations obtained. The estimation of the composition of head, limbs, hind and blood is possible and recommended, once they do not have great relevance to the estimation of EBW composition.

The objective of this study was to determine the nutritional requirements of energy and protein and estimate the efficiencies of metabolizable energy utilization for fat and protein deposition, as well as for maintenance (k m) and growth (k g). An experiment of comparative slaughter was carried out with thirty-seven 14-month-old (±1 month) Nellore bulls with 259±24.9 kg. Animals were divided as follows: five to reference, four to maintenance level and twenty-eight bulls feeding ad libitum. Bulls were also grouped in 4 different feedlot periods (42, 84, 126 and 168 days) for slaughter. The diet was composed of corn silage and concentrate, at a 55:45 ratio. After the slaughter, the left half carcasses were totally dissected for determination of body composition. The energy requirements for maintenance were obtained by exponentially relating the heat production and the metabolizable energy intake, while the energy requirements for gain (NEg) were obtained according to empty body weight (EBW) and EBW gain (EBG). The net protein requirements for gain (NPg) were estimated according to EBG and retained energy (RE). The net (NEm) and metabolizable (MEm) energy requirements for maintenance were 76.5 and 113.84 kcal/EBW0.75/day, respectively. The k m was 0.67. The equations for NEg and NPg were: NEg (Mcal/day) = 0.0555 × EBW0.75 × EBG1.095 and NPg (g/day) = 263.37 × EBG - 23.21 × RE. The k g was 0.33. The efficiencies to deposition of energy as protein and fat were 0.18 and 0.71, respectively. The model obtained for the percentage of retained energy as protein (%REp) was %REp = 2.4221 × (RE/EBG)-1.6472. The net and metabolizable energy requirements for maintenance of Nellore bulls were 76.5 and 113.84 kcal/EBW0.75/day. The energy and protein requirements for gain could be obtained by the respective equations: NEg (Mcal/day) = 0.0555 × EBW0.75 × EBG1.095 and NPg (g/day) = 263.37 × EBG - 23.21 × RE.

This study aimed to determine the protein requirements for females of Nellore, F1 Nellore × Angus and F1 Nellore × Simmental fed on two concentrate levels (30 and 50%). Sixty heifers from three genetic groups with 18 months of age were used: 20 Nellore, 20 Nellore × Angus and 20 Nellore × Simmental. Twelve heifers of the reference group (four of each genetic group) were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment. Another 12 heifers (four of each genetic group) were fed on the level of maintenance and 36 heifers (12 animals of each genetic group) were kept in power system ad libitum with 30% (six of each group) or 50% (six of each group) dietary dry matter in concentrate. Heifers were randomly assigned to six treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement (three genetic groups and two diets) with six replicates per treatment. Nine more heifers (three from each genetic group) were used to estimate the apparent digestibility coefficients of food in a parallel experiment. A model was fitted according to the protein retained as function of the gain of empty body weight (EBW) and retained energy (RE) to calculate the protein net requirements. To estimate the metabolizable protein requirements for maintenance the consumption of metabolizable protein was contrasted with EBW. The joint use of the equation net protein gain (NPG) = 197.40 × EBWg - 11.14 × RE is recommended to predict the protein net requirements for weight gain. Protein and metabolizable protein net requirements for maintenance are 1.07 and 3.88 g/EBW0.75/day, respectively. The use efficiency of metabolizable protein for gain of all genetic groups is 37.04%.

The objective of this study was to determine the energy nutritional requirements for females of Nellore, Nellore × Angus and Nellore × Simmental fed on two levels of concentrate. Sixty heifers from three genetic groups were used: 20 Nellore, 20 Nellore × Angus and 20 Nellore × Simmental. Twelve belonged to the reference group (four of each genetic group) and were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment. Another 12 heifers (four of each genetic group) were fed on the maintenance level and 36 heifers (12 animals of each genetic group) were kept in feeding system ad libitum with 30 (six in each group) or 50% (six of each group) dry matter concentrate. Animals were randomly assigned to six treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement (three genetic groups and two diets) with six replicates per treatment. Nine more heifers were used in a parallel experiment to estimate the apparent digestibility coefficients (three from each genetic group). Net energy requirements were estimated by the equation of retained energy as a function of metabolic empty body weight (EBW0.75) and empty body weight gain (EBWg). Requirements of metabolizable and net energy were estimated for maintenance by the equation of heat production as a function of metabolizable energy intake. Using the combined equation RE (retained energy; Mcal/day) = 0.0703 × EBW.75 × EBWg1.128 to predict net energy requirements for weight gain is recommended. The requirement of metabolizable and net energy for maintenance of all groups is 70.55 and 106.53 kcal/kgEBW0.75/day, respectively. Use efficiencies of metabolizable energy for gain and maintenance are 36.41 and 66.23%, for the three genetic groups respectively.

This trial was conducted to evaluate some beef quality attributes of Nellore, F1 Simmental × Nellore and F1 Angus × Nellore steers finished on feedlot. The effects of feeding regime and genetic group on shear force, thawing losses, cooking (leak + evaporation) losses, total losses and muscle fiber type, as well as carcass pH and temperature during 24 h of chilling were evaluated. There was a genetic group effect on shear force, where the beef from F1 Simmental × Nellore and F1 Angus × Nellore animals had lower values than Nellore animals. Beef of the animals fed the diets with 1% and 2% of body weight on concentrated lost more liquid than the meat of the animals fed at maintenance during thawing and when considering total losses. During cooking there was a difference among the feeding regimes for drip losses which were greater on the animals fed the diet of 1% of body weight on concentrate, followed by the 2% diet and, finally, by the animals fed at maintenance. The muscle of the Nellore steers had larger proportion of intermediate fibers and lower proportion of oxidative fibers than the crossbred animals. The proportion of glycolytic fibers was not influenced by genetic group. The Nellore animals had larger proportion of fibers of fast contraction and smaller proportion of fibers of slow contraction when compared with the crossbred animals. Feeding regime did not influence the proportion of muscular fibers or shear force. Nellore cattle produce tougher beef than crossbred Simmental × Nellore or Angus × Nellore, although all of them have the potential to produce an acceptable beef when slaughtered at young age. Feed restriction up to 90 days is not enough to cause modification on muscle fiber frequencies, then not affecting beef quality.

Sixty 18-month-old steers (20 Nellore, 20 F1 Simmental × Nellore and 20 F1 Angus × Nellore with average body weight of 265.6±6.4 kg; 325.3±4.7 kg and 324.6±6.0 kg, respectively) were used. The effects of feeding regime and genetic group on physical carcass composition, empty body composition, composition of the gain, as well as the pattern of tissue deposition were evaluated in this trial. The interaction between genetic group and feeding regime was not significant for any variable evaluated. Animals fed at the maintenance level produced carcass with larger proportions of bones and muscle than the animals fed ad libitum and Nellore animals had larger muscle portion and smaller adipose tissue portion on the carcass than the crossbred animals. Nellore animals and those fed at maintenance had smaller amount of total fat in the carcass than the crossbred animals and those fed ad libitum, respectively. Fat was deposited more pronouncedly in the intermuscular depot, followed by the visceral depot. The rate of deposition of the carcass tissues was smaller in the Nellore animals and in the animals fed the diet with concentrate allowance equivalent to 1% body weight (except for subcutaneous fat tissue), when compared with the crossbred animals and those fed the diet with 2% BW on concentrate, respectively. The rate of fat deposition on the visceral depot was larger in the F1 Angus × Nellore animals and on those fed the 2% of BW of concentrate diet when compared with F1 Simmental × Nellore animals and those fed the diet with the lowest concentrate allowance (1% BW).

Objetivou-se estimar as exigências de proteína de animais Nelore, Nelore-Angus e Nelore-Simental, assim como a eficiência de uso da proteína metabolizável para ganho. Foram utilizados 69 animais (23 Nelore, 23 Nelore-Angus e 23 Nelore-Simental): 12 (quatro de cada grupo genético) foram abatidos antes do início do experimento, como grupo-referência, e nove animais foram separados para um ensaio de digestibilidade. Os animais restantes foram divididos em três dietas (ofertas de concentrado na base de 1 ou 2% do peso corporal à vontade e 1% do nível de mantença). Ao final do experimento, todos os animais foram abatidos e a composição corporal e o peso de corpo vazio (PCVZ) determinados. O consumo de proteína metabolizável (CPmet) foi estimado pela proteína microbiana verdadeira digestível média somada à proteína digestível não-degradada no rúmen. As exigências líquidas de proteína para ganho foram estimadas pela proteína retida (PR) em função do ganho de PCVZ (GPCVZ) e da energia retida. As exigências de proteína metabolizável para mantença foram estimadas pelo CPmet em função do GMD e as exigências líquidas para mantença pela PR em função do CPmet. O grupo genético influenciou apenas a relação entre os diferentes ganhos, mas não teve efeito sobre as exigências líquidas de proteína para ganho, que podem ser estimadas por meio do modelo PR = GPCVZ × (238,5 - 16,73 × (ER/GPCVZ)). Não há influência de grupo genético sobre as exigências líquidas e metabolizáveis de proteína para mantença, cujos valores são de 1,72 g/PCVZ0,75 e 3,09 g/PC0,75, respectivamente. Também não há efeito de grupo genético na energia retida em forma de proteína, assim como na eficiência de uso da proteína metabolizável para ganho, que é de 37,5%.

The objective was to estimate the protein requirements of Nellore, Nellore × Angus and Nellore × Simmental cattle, as well as efficiency of metabolizable protein for gain. Sixty-nine animals (23 Nellore, 23 Nellore × Angus and 23 Nellore × Simmental) were used, with 12 animals (four of each genetic group) slaughtered before the beginning of the experiment as the baseline group, and nine split for the performance of digestibility trial. The remaining animals were divided in three diets (concentrate offer of 1 or 2% of body weight and maintenance). At the end of the experiment, all animals were slaughtered and their corporal composition and empty body weight (EBW) were determined. The metabolizable protein intake (MPI) was estimated by the mean digestible microbial protein summed to digestibile rumen undegradable protein. The net protein requirements were estimated as retained protein by the retained energy (RE) and empty body gain (EBG). The requirements of metabolizable protein for maintenance were estimated as the MPI as function of average daily gain, and the net requirements for maintenance as retained protein (RP) as a function of MPI. The genetic group influenced only the ratio among gains. There were no effects of genetic group on net protein requirements for gain, and the model RP = EBW × (238.5 - 16.73 × (RE/EBG)) is recommended to estimate them. Genetic group did not affect net or metabolizable protein requirement for maintenance, and the values obtained were 1.72 g/EBW0.75 and 3.09 g/BW0.75, respectively. Also, there were no genetic group effects on retained energy as protein, nor in metabolizable protein efficiency for gain, which is 37.5%.