The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of pasture height at pre-grazing of Massai grass on the quality of available forage, forage intake and the performance of lambs raised for meat production. The treatments consisted of four pre-grazing canopy heights (35, 40, 45 and 50 cm). Pastures were managed by the intermittent stocking method and 32 sheep were used. Dry matter intake (DMI) was estimated by Lipe® indicator. Green forage allowance was not affected by pre-grazing heights. There was no effect of heights on the chemical composition of the stem or the leaf blades, except for crude protein content of leaf blades, which showed an inverse linear effect. Grazing time had a quadratic response in function of canopy height. The minimum point was at 42.6 cm, with 502.9 min/day. DMI increased linearly with increasing pasture height. Average daily weight gain (ADG) and stocking rate (SR) responded linearly to pre-grazing heights. Weight gain per hectare was not affected by height as a result of the compensation between SR and ADG. The increase from 35 to 50 cm in Massai grass canopy height reduces its nutritional value and individual performance and increases DMI of sheep intended for meat production.

As amostras analisadas eram de oito marcas comerciais diferentes de leite pasteurizado comer-cializado na Cidade de Natal, RN. Para cada marca foram coletadas amostras de três diferentes datas de processamento, totalizando vinte e quatro amostras, sendo uma marca do tipo A, três do tipo B e quatro do tipo C. Foram realizadas análises microbiológicas (bactérias aeróbias mesófilas, coliformes totais e coliformes termotolerantes) e físico-químicas, estas através do aparelho de análise ultrassônica de leite, Ekomilk Total®, sendo determinadas: gordura, extrato seco desengordurado, densidade, proteína, ponto crioscópico e lactose. As amostras do leite tipo A apresentaram resultados fora dos padrões nas análises microbiológicas e físico-químicas. O leite pasteurizado tipo B obteve duas marcas com contagens microbiológicas em desacordo com a legislação. O leite pasteurizado tipo C foi o que apresentou os melhores resultados nas análises, embora três marcas tenham apresentado valores de coliformes totais acima do determinado pela legislação.

Eight different commercial brands of milk sold in Natal, state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, were sampled and evaluated. Each brand was sampled based on 3 different processing dates, and a total of 24 samples were collected for 1, 3, and 4 brands of type A, B, and C milk, respectively. Analyses were carried out for microbiological measures (total mesophilic aerobic bacteria, total coliforms and thermo-tolerant coliforms) and physicochemical (Ekomilk Total® ultrasonic milk testing device) determinations were made for fat, nonfat dry extract, density, protein, cryoscopy point, and lactose. The results showed that type A pasteurized milk was the worst in terms of microbiological and physical-chemical properties. Two brands of type B pasteurized milk had microbiological counts violating the law. The type C milk had the best results in this trial although 3 out of 4 brands presented total coliform values above the Brazilian legislation.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produção diária, a qualidade microbiológica e físico-químicas do leite das cabras participantes de Torneios Leiteiros no Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Foram analisadas 111 amostras de leite de 106 cabras (39 Saanen, 6 Toggenburg e 61 mestiças) agrupadas em categorias pela ordem de parto (primíparas e pluríparas) e estágio de lactação [inicial (0 a 30 dias), pico (30 a 45 dias) e pós-pico (mais de 45 dias)], utilizando o delineamento inteiramente casualisado. As cabras pluríparas apresentaram maiores médias de produção no início (4,41 kg/dia) e no pico (5,42 kg/dia) de lactação. Entre raças não houve diferença para produção media (4,62 kg/dia), ponto de congelamento (-0,488º C), pH (6,64), densidade (1,030 g/L), gordura (3,60%), proteína (2,90%), lactose (4,89%), extrato seco desengordurado (8,41%) e extrato seco total (12,06%). As análises microbiológicas revelaram a presença de mesófilos e coliformes fecais, sem diferença entre as ordens de parto ou entre raças. Cabras pluríparas apresentaram maiores produções de leite, mas não diferiram das primíparas quanto à composição, características físicas e microbiota do leite. As amostras de leite dos três genótipos (Saanen, Toggenburg e mestiças) analisados mostraram características físico-químicas, microbiológicas e de produção semelhantes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the average daily production, the physicochemical components and microbiological agents in milk of primiparous and multiparous dairy goats that participate in dairy tournaments in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Analyses were carried out on 111 samples of goat milk from 106 goats (39 Saanen, 6 Toggenburg and 61 crossbred) grouped into categories by number of parity (primiparous and multiparous) and stage of lactation [initial (0 to 30 days), peak (30 to 45 days) and decrease (over 45 days)]. The data were analyzed in a completely randomized design. The multiparous goats had higher average production at the beginning (4.41 kg/day) and peak (5.42 kg/day) of lactation. Between breeds there was no difference for average production (4.62 kg/day), freezing point (-0.488º C), pH (6.64), density (1.030 g/L), fat (3.60%), protein (2.90%) lactose (4.89%), dry extract (8.41%) or total solids (12.06%). Mesophiles (log CFU/mL) and fecal coliforms (log MPN/mL) were found in milk from goats, but no difference was observed between the orders of parity or between breeds. Multiparous goats had higher milk production, but did not differ from the primiparous goats regarding the composition, physical characteristics and microbiology of milk. The milk of 3 breeds (Saanen, Toggenburg and crossbred) presented similar physico-chemical, microbiological and production characteristics.