ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to identify types of production system and their main indicators on bioeconomic efficiency, using qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate beef cattle farms in the western region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. A survey was carried out with 43 farmers operating in the western region of that state. All farms operated with complete cycle production systems in areas larger or equal to 900 ha. A qualitative questionnaire with binary answers and a quantitative questionnaire with numerical answers were applied. Technology and Management drivers were used for the calculation of the efficiency index of farmers obtained by both questionnaires. Farmers were divided into three clusters: low-efficiency level (LEL), intermediate-efficiency level (IEM), or high-efficiency level (HEL), as a result of the comparison of the scores obtained for the analyzed parameters. Subfactors resulting from each comparison (LEL × IEL; LEL × HEL, and IEL × HEL) were different as a function of the comparison and of the methods applied. Low-efficiency level farmers need to improve essential production processes, such as technology and management, as well as health management practices together with the financial management of the production system. Intermediate-efficiency level farmers need to improve their routine animal management, pasture management, and calculation of financial indicators to become highly efficient. The quantitative method allowed to identify underestimation (39.3%) or overestimation (24.2%) when farmers were are classified in clusters. Different methods may be used, but those based on quantitative information have stronger discrimination power to identify different types of farmers.

The objective of this study was to determine the main causes of failure in bull breeding using a soundness evaluation in Rio Grande do Sul State/Brazil. We evaluated 19,836 bulls from 15 different breeds with ages ranging from two to eight years. The failures of bulls in each step were analyzed by logistic regression. The binary logistic regression was applied because the response variable had only two responses: Success (1) and Failure (0). Older bulls are more likely to be rejected than are younger bulls, regardless of their genetic group. Depending on the step of the assessment, one or another group is rejected. All steps of bull breeding soundness evaluation (BBSE) are important, with special attention to the failures of the behavioral evaluation (libido and physical ability). A BBSE performed before the breeding season reduces the risk of sub-fertile bulls in the herd.

The complexity of the consumers' behavior has taken the food industry to a new level of dynamism. Therefore, understanding the factors that influence this behavior is decisive for the differentiation of products to niche markets and even to adjust the supply according to consumers' expectancy. This article proposes a conceptual model to identify the factors influencing beef consumption in Brazil. The methodological approach was characterized by a systematic review through a synthesis of research related directly to this topic. Therefore, 76 papers published during the 2000-2014 period, including official documents (statistics), full research papers, abstracts, proceedings, and reports, were selected. Four main factors were related to influences in consumer behavior and/or directly in beef consumption: sociocultural, economic, health/food, and environmental. Among these dimensions, there was an emphasis on recent publications related to health/food and the environment. The compilation and analysis of these papers enabled the conception of the proposed model and suggests the consideration of four main dimensions in beef consumption.

O objetivo deste experimento é a identificação das demandas de melhorias para fazendas com diferentes níveis de competitividade no Oeste do RS. Entrevistaram-se 63 produtores grandes (área= +900 ha) por meio de um questionário semi-estruturado, dividido em quatro direcionadores: tecnologia (TEC), gestão (MAN), relações de mercado (MR) e ambiente institucional (IE). Utilizou-se o software SAS 2002, versão 9.0, para realização da análise de cluster, realizando a tipologia dos produtores. Nesta análise, formaram-se aleatoriamente três clusters, sendo denominados de baixo nível de competitividade (LCL), médio nível de competitividade (MCL) e alto nível de competitividade (HCL). Dividiram-se as 29 variáveis (subfatores) avaliadas na análise de cluster de acordo com nível de impacto na competitividade das fazendas de bovinos de corte, sendo classificadas em variáveis de alto, médio ou baixo impacto. Esta estratificação do ranking de demanda de melhorias foi realizada a partir dos pesos atribuídos pelos especialistas aos subfatores. Os pecuaristas com baixo nível de competitividade apresentaram status desfavorável para MAN, enquanto os pecuaristas pertencentes aos clusters MCL e HCL apresentaram, respectivamente, status neutro e favorável para o mesmo direcionador. Portanto, a gestão é determinante para definir o nível de competitividade das fazendas entrevistadas

The aim of this experiment was to identify improvement demands for farms with different levels of competitiveness in the west of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. A total of 63 owners of large farms were interviewed (farms with an area greater than 900ha) by applying a semi-structured questionnaire, guided by four drivers: technology (TEC), management (MAN), market relations (MR) and the institutional environment (IE).It was used the Statistical Analysis System 9.2 software to perform the cluster analysis and identify farmers' characteristics. Three random clusters with different levels of competitiveness were observed: low competitiveness level (LCL), middle competitiveness level (MCL) and high competitiveness level (HCL). The 29 variables (sub factors) were evaluated in the cluster analysis according to level of impact on competitiveness, being classified into variables of high, medium or low impact. Stratification was carried out, ranking demands for improvements from aspects attributed by experts in relation to sub factors. The farmers with low competitiveness level (LTL) had an unfavorable status for MAN, while the farmers belonging to clusters MCL and HCL have, respectively, favorable and neutral status for the same driver. The management characteristics determined the level of competitiveness of the farms surveyed

A jaguatirica (Leopardus pardalis) é uma das espécies de felídeos selvagens listadas no CITES e integrantes de planos de conservação que necessariamente envolvem o emprego de técnicas de reprodução assistida. Para isso, é fundamental o desenvolvimento de técnicas práticas, de alta repetibilidade e pouco invasivas, que permitam o estudo da fisiologia reprodutiva animal. Objetivou-se neste experimento comparar e validar os ensaios realizados com os conjuntos comerciais ImmuChem Double Antibody Corticosterone 125I RIE da ICN Biomedicals, Costa Mesa, CA, USA e Coat-a-count Cortisol 125I RIE da DPC, Los Angeles, CA, USA, na mensuração dos metabólitos de glicocorticóides das fezes de jaguatiricas por meio do desafio com ACTH. Para este estudo foram utilizadas amostras fecais de cinco indivíduos que se encontravam no Centro Brasileiro de Felinos Neotropicais, Associação Mata Ciliar, Pedreira, SP, Brasil, sendo que um destes animais foi escolhido como controle negativo. O experimento foi conduzido em um período de nove dias. No dia 0 foi administrada uma dose total de 100 UI IM de ACTH (hormônio adrenocorticotrópico). Imediatamente após a colheita, as amostras de fezes foram conservadas a -20ºC em sacos plásticos identificados e posteriormente os metabólitos hormonais foram extraídos e mensurados utilizando-se os dois conjuntos comerciais. Previamente foi realizado com o conjunto comercial da DPC um teste para comparar dois métodos de extração. Os dados foram analisados utilizando o programa The SAS System for Windows V8. A média ± erro padrão dos valores obtidos pela técnica de Schwarzenberger foi levemente superior à média dos valores obtidos pela técnica de Wasser (103.334,56 ± 19.010,37ng/g de fezes úmidas e 59.223,61 ± 12.725,36ng/g de fezes úmidas, respectivamente; P=0.0657). O conjunto comercial da ICN detectou com maior clareza o aumento das concentrações dos metabólitos de glicocorticóides. Os valores do dia 0 e do dia 1 para os conjuntos comerciais DPC e ICN foram respectivamente 66.956,28 ± 36.786,93ng/g de fezes úmidas e 92.991,19 ± 28.555,63ng/g de fezes úmidas; 205.483,32 ± 83.811,32ng/g de fezes úmidas e 814.578,75 ± 292.150,47ng/g fezes úmidas. Para o conjunto comercial da ICN a sensibilidade foi de 7,7ng/mL para 100% B/ Bo (25 ng/mL para 88%B/Bo) e para o conjunto comercial da DPC foi de 0,2ug/dL para 90,95% B/Bo (1ug/dL para 81,27% B/Bo). Confirmou-se, portanto, que a melhor técnica de extração foi a descrita por Schwarzenberger e que o conjunto comercial da ICN Biomedicals teve um melhor desempenho para a quantificação de metabólitos de glicocorticóides em fezes de jaguatiricas.

The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is included in list of wild felid species protected by CITES and is part of conservation strategies that necessarily involve the use of assisted reproduction techniques, which requires practical and minimally invasive techniques of high reproducibility that permit the study of animal reproductive physiology. The objective of this study was to compare and validate two commercial assays: ImmuChem Double Antibody Corticosterone 125I RIA from ICN Biomedicals, Costa Mesa, CA, USA; and Coat-a-Count Cortisol 125I RIA from DPC, Los Angeles, CA, USA, for assessment of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in ocelots submitted to ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) challenge. Fecal samples were collected from five ocelots kept at the Brazilian Center of Neotropical Felines, Associação Mata Ciliar, São Paulo, Brazil, and one of the animals was chosen as a negative control. The experiment was conducted over a period of 9 days. On day 0, a total dose of 100 IU ACTH was administered intramuscularly. Immediately after collection the samples were stored at 20C in labeled plastic bags. The hormone metabolites were subsequently extracted and assayed using the two commercial kits. Previously it was performed a trial with the DPC kit to check the best extraction method for hormones metabolites. Data were analyzed with the SAS program for Windows V8 and reported as means ± SEM. The Schwarzenberger extraction method was slightly better when compared with the Wasser extraction method (103,334.56 ± 19,010.37ng/g of wet feces and 59,223.61 ± 12,725.36ng/g of wet feces respectively; P=0,0657). The ICN kit detected an increase in glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in a more reliable manner. Metabolite concentrations (ng/g wet feces) on day 0 and day 1 were 66,956.28 ± 36,786.93 and 92,991.19 ± 28,555.63 for the DPC kit, and 205,483.32 ± 83,811.32 and 814,578.75 ± 292,150.47 for the ICN kit, respectively. The limit of detection for the ICN kit was 7.7 ng/mL for 100% B/Bo (25ng/mL for 88%B/Bo) and for the DPC kit it was 0.2ug/dL for 90.95% B/Bo (1ug/dL for 81.27% B/Bo). In conclusion it was confirmed that the Schwarzenberger extraction method and the ICN kit are superior for extracting and measuring fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in ocelot fecal samples.