Performance and behaviour of Nellore steers on integrated systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 920 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. F. Domiciano ◽  
M. A. Mombach ◽  
P. Carvalho ◽  
N. M. F. da Silva ◽  
D. H. Pereira ◽  
...  

This study aimed to evaluate performance and behaviour of Nellore steers (Bos taurus indicus) in integrated systems. Treatments consisted of three different systems: livestock; crop-livestock; and livestock-forestry, with triple rows of eucalyptus trees. The experiment was carried out in Sinop, MT, Brazil, in a randomised complete block design with four replicates, during two seasons (dry-rainy transition and rainy). The experimental period was from 19 September 2015 to 10 January 2016. Nellore steers used in the experiment had an average initial weight of 344 kg ± 11 kg, in continuous stocking and variable stocking rate. Forage mass accumulation rate was evaluated and, independently of the system, had the highest values recorded during the rainy season. Microclimate was evaluated through temperature and humidity index, black globe temperature and humidity index and radiant heat load. Highest values were obtained from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the dry-rainy transition period for all systems. Animal behaviour was assessed every 10 min from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and averages were calculated for every 2 h. The longest grazing period was recorded from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and then after 3:00 p.m., regardless of the system. Rumination occurred more frequently from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the rainy season, and also in the shade for the livestock-forestry system. Highest weight gains per area were recorded during the rainy season and for the crop-livestock system. It is concluded that the highest yields can be achieved with the inclusion of the crop component in livestock production systems, and that Nellore steers in silvopastoral systems prefer to ruminate and stay idle in the shade.

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pryanka Thuyra Nascimento Fontes ◽  
Douglas Baracho Oliveira Santos ◽  
Jailson Lara Fagundes ◽  
Alfredo Acosta Backes ◽  
Bráulio Maia de Lana Sousa ◽  
...  

The digit grass is a highly cultivated species in Northeast Brazil, especially in Sergipe and Alagoas. However, research related to the management of fertilization of this specie is incipient. This experiment was carried out to examine the productive potential of digit grass and its morphological changes in response to nitrogen fertilization. The experimental period was from August 2014 to July 2015. Treatments consisted of five levels of nitrogen fertilization (0, 50, 100, 300 and 600 kg ha-1) arranged in a randomized-block design with four replicates. Urea was used as a source of nitrogen. Height, light interception (LI), leaf area index (LAI), total tiller density (TTD), basal tiller density (BTD) and total (TDM), leaf (LDM) and stem dry matter (SDM) accumulations were influenced (P0.05) by the nitrogen doses, fitting a positive quadratic equation. Nitrogen fertilization did not influence (P0.05) dead material accumulation rate or aerial tiller density. Overall, the increasing nitrogen doses culminated in increased canopy height, LI and LAI as a result of the increase in TTD and BTD, which in turn elevated TDM, LDM and SDM. The herbage yield potential of digit grass can be increased with the application of 478 kg N ha-1, enabling its use as an alternative in intensive animal production systems.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 401-402
Author(s):  
Felipe A Nascimento ◽  
Laura F Prados ◽  
Luciana M Sousa ◽  
Ivanna M Oliveira ◽  
Flávio D Resende ◽  
...  

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the best nutritional strategy for weaned calves at dry-to-rainy transition and rainy season and their effects on the growing phase. One hundred sixteen Nellore weaned males (initial BW of 173±23 kg; 10 months) were used in a randomized complete block design (blocked by BW) in a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments (divided in 12 lots with 9 or 10 animals/lot). Factor 1 was the strategy in the dry-to-rainy season transition (period I; pasture vs. drylot) and factor 2 was the strategy for the rainy season [period II; mineral salt ad libitum (MS) vs. supplement 3 g/kg BW]; consisting of four treatments: pasture in period I and MS in period II; pasture in period I and protein-energy supplement in period II (PEII); drylot in period I and mineral salt in period II; drylot in period I and PEII. At period I, all animals received a protein-energy supplementation (5 g/kg BW). The experiment lasted 244 days. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED of SAS. In period I, animals from drylot had highest final BW and ADG (P < 0.01; Table 1). There was no interaction among factors (P ≥ 0.772) in period II. In period II, ADG and carcass gain were highest from pasture animals (P < 0.01). Final BW and HCW were similar (P >0.788) at the end of period II, showing that animals recovery BW. Among strategies at rainy season, animals fed PEII had greater final BW and ADG (P < 0.01). Overall growing phase, HCW and carcass gain were greater for animals fed PEII (P < 0.01). Regardless of the strategy used in the dry-to-rainy season transition, animals were able to equalize final BW at the end of growing phase. In addition, protein-energy supplement at rainy season improves animal performance at the end of growing phase.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1826-1832
Author(s):  
André Brugnara Soares ◽  
André Luis Finkler da Silveira ◽  
Tangriani Simioni Assmann ◽  
Daniel Schmitt

Mixing annual ryegrass and black oat can improve forage production in subtropical and temperate areas with integrated crop-livestock systems. Thus, we evaluated the forage production dynamics of mixed annual ryegrass-black oat pastures under different management strategies based on canopy height and supplement level. Pastures were continuously stocked with Boer goats at two grazing heights (12 or 21 cm); animals received or did not receive energy supplements (0 and 15 g kg-1 of body weight). These treatments were applied using a factorial scheme (2 × 2) and randomized block design with three replications. We evaluated the herbage accumulation rate (kg of DM h-1 day-1) using the exclusion cage technique, herbage mass (HM, kg of DM ha-1) using the double sampling technique, and botanical and plant-part composition (%) of destructive samplings. Supplementation had no effect on the parameters measured (P ≤ 0.05). Annual ryegrass become the predominant species during the experimental period and mainly at the lowest canopy height. Total herbage production during the 131 days of pasture utilization was 10,280 kg of DM ha-1. The herbage accumulation rate was similar between the two canopy heights; however, it varied throughout experimental period. Leaf lamina mass was lower in treatments 12 cm up to 102 after sowing; after that, they were equivalent. At the end of the study, herbage mass was 2720 kg DM ha-1 with the 21-cm treatment and 2170 kg DM ha-1 with the 12-cm treatment. It is recommended to maintain mixed annual ryegrass-black oat pastures at 12 cm in height. Reasons are discussed throughout the text.


2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Garner ◽  
M. Douglas ◽  
S. R. O. Williams ◽  
W. J. Wales ◽  
L. C. Marett ◽  
...  

The objective of the present research was to describe the physiological and production responses of lactating dairy cows during and after sudden exposure to temperate-climate heat-wave conditions, compared with cows in thermoneutral conditions. Twelve lactating multiparous Holstein–Friesian dairy cows were housed in controlled-climate chambers for 4 days. Six were exposed to a short-term temperature and humidity challenge (THc, diurnal temperature and humidity fluctuations inducing moderate heat stress; temperature humidity index 74–84) and six cows were exposed to thermoneutral conditions (THn, temperatur humidity index 55–61). Cows were also measured during a 7-day pre-experimental and 14-day post-experimental period. Physiological indicators of heat stress were measured, including rectal and vaginal temperature and respiration rate, which indicated that the THc in controlled-climate chambers induced moderate heat stress. The cows exposed to the 4-day THc reduced their milk yield by 53% and their dry-matter intake by 48%, compared with the cows in the THn treatment. Milk yield of THc cows returned to pre-experimental milk yield by Day 7 and dry-matter intake by Day 4 of the post-experimental period. The short-term heat challenge induced metabolic adaptations by mobilising adipose tissue, as indicated by increased non-esterified fatty acids, and amino acids from skeletal muscle, as indicated by increased urea nitrogen to compensate for reduced nutrient intake and increased energy expenditure. Endocrine responses included greater prolactin concentrations, which is associated with thermoregulation and water metabolism. The cows exposed to THc displayed production and physical responses that facilitated lower metabolic heat production and greater heat dissipation in an attempt to maintain homeostasis during the short-term heat exposure. These results indicated that the conditions imposed on the cows in the controlled-climate chambers were sufficient to induce heat-stress responses and adversely affected production in the lactating dairy cow, and the delay between the return to normal feed intake and milk yield following the heat challenge suggests a period of metabolic recovery was occurring.


Author(s):  
Francisca Gisele Rodrigues dos SANTOS ◽  
Ricardo Alves de ARAÚJO ◽  
Magno José Duarte CÂNDIDO ◽  
Marcos Cláudio Pinheiro ROGÉRIO ◽  
Clésio dos Santos COSTA ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the physiological parameters, the productive characteristics, structural and chemical composition of Urochloa Brizantha cultivars BRS and BRS Piatã submitted to two deferment periods and three using times. The experimental design was randomized complete block design in a factorial scheme 2 x 2 x 3, being two grass cultivars (Paiaguás grass and Piatã grass), two deferment periods (rainy season and dry-rainy transition) and three sealing times (40, 80 and 120 days). It was observed that, in the rainy season, the grasses had higher leaf transpiration rate when used for 40 days of deferment (1.66 µmol m2/s). During the rainy season, the Stomatal conductance was detected only in the grasses used with shorter seal, with an average of 0.07 µmol m2/s. In contrast, in the period of transition, the concentration decreased to 0.02 µmol m2/s. In a general way, the BRS Paiaguás presented lower content of NDF. The shorter cycle provided greater biomass production of total forage during the period of rain, approximately 2.78 times more than the same pasture grass deferred during the transition period. Generally, the periods of deferment and moments of use cause effects on structural characteristics of pasture, being that the period of deferment of the transition period and used for 40 and 80 days may be a strategy for keeping animals in critical periods.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 1577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilma Emanuela da Silva ◽  
Jacinara Hody Gurgel Morais Leite ◽  
Wallace Sóstene Tavares da Silva ◽  
Renato Diógenes Macedo Paiva ◽  
José Ernandes Rufino de Sousa ◽  
...  

The present study aimed evaluate possible modifications of thermoregulatory morphophysiological responses of Morada Nova sheep throughout the year in 4 properties of the nucleus of participatory genetic breeding. In the months of March, June, September and December, respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperatures (RT) and surface (ST) were recorded as well as the environmental variables air temperature (airT), relative humidity (RH) wind (Ws). Calculated the radiant heat load (RHL) and the Black Globe Humidity Index (BGHI). The coat thickness was measured and hair samples were collected and determined hair density, hair length and hair diameter. Blood collection was collected for determination of T3 and total T4 concentrations. In the rainy season, which includes the months of March and June, higher values of RR and RT, probably due to the combination of high RH, associated to RHL, BGHI and airT were recorded, as these hamper loss and heat. All values of RT independent of month and flocks remained within values considered normal for the species. September and December are inserted in the dry season, with a low RH factor that can facilitate heat loss through evaporation. In these months, lower values of RT and RR were observed when compared to the rainy season, lower values of RR were recorded between 40 and 60 mov.min-1 . The secretion of thyroid hormones was greater in the environmental conditions considered more comfortable. The homeothermia was maintained by Morada Nova sheep at different times evaluated as indicated by the normal physiological parameters. The rainy season was considered the most stressful for the animals, since they used a more intense set of variables in order to thermoregulate and maintain the homeothermia, which justifies the importance of providing shelters, with the objective of reducing the overheating, even in view of their great adaptive capacity, already demonstrated in previous studies. Changes in the coat characteristics were observed during all the months of the year, assisting for either physical protection or heat dissipation and could therefore be indicated as a thermotolerance phenotypic marker with the potential to be used as selection criteria in breeding programs and conservation of resistant animals to heat.


2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 206-214
Author(s):  
FERNANDO G. DE OLIVEIRA ◽  
WANESSA M. GODOI ◽  
ROBERTA PASSINI

Brazil is a country of tropical climate, a fact that hinders the poultry production in the aspect of thermal comfort. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the thermal environment in commercial poultry houses with different covers during the months of December 2012 to May 2013, in the municipality of Rio Verde, Goiás. The experimental design was completely randomized in split plots with factorial arrangement of treatments 2x3, being two shed models (thermal and aluminum roof tiles) and three sections within each shed (initial, central and final) for 182 days, having the days as replicates. The thermal environment was assessed through thermal comfort indices: Temperature and Humidity Index, Black Globe Temperature and Humidity Index, Radiant Heat Load and Enthalpy. The data was analyzed by SISVAR 5.1., through the analysis of variance, the Scott Knott test used to compare the means, considering a significance level of 1%. The results showed a significant statistical difference between the sheds and the points assessed (P < 0.05). The thermal shed had the lowest values for the environmental variables (Dbt and Bgt) and thermal indices studied, but larger values for the RH compared to the shed with aluminum covering. The use of thermal covers minimizes the difference in temperature range throughout various times of the day, being at 14:00 o'clock the prominence time to others.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
A. R. B. Zanco ◽  
A. Ferreira ◽  
G. C. M. Berber ◽  
E. N. Gonzaga ◽  
D. C. C. Sabino

The different integrated production systems can directly interfere with its bacterial community. The present study aimed to assess density, bacterial diversity and the influence of dry and rainy season in different integrated and an exclusive production system. The fallow and a native forest area was assessed to. Samples were collected in 2012 March and September. The isolation were carried out into Petri dishes containing DYGS medium. The number of colony forming units (CFU) was counted after 48 hours and. The bacterial density ranged between 106 and 107 CFU g-1 soil. The crop system affected the dynamics of the bacterial community only in the rainy season. The rainy season showed greater density of total bacteria when compared to the dry period regardless of the cropping system. The dendrograms with 80 % similarity showed thirteen and fourteen groups in the rainy and dry seasons. Isolates with the capacity to solubilize phosphate in vitro were obtained from all areas in the two seasons, but this feature has been prevalent in bacteria isolated during the rainy season


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
MARCOS DA SILVA BRUM ◽  
THOMAS NEWTON MARTIN ◽  
VINÍCIUS SANTOS DA CUNHA ◽  
LUIZ FERNANDO TELEKEN GRANDO ◽  
ALEX TAGLIAPIETRA SCHONELL

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the phytomorphological parameters of soybean in a crop-livestock system inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense. The experiment was conducted in Santa Maria, Brazil, for two agricultural years (2 Paper extracted from the doctoral thesis of the first author. 012/2013 and 2013/2014) in a randomized complete block design with three replications. In the winter, the black oat and ryegrass pasture was managed with sheep under different grazing systems: (I) - a conventional grazing (CG) system, where the animals remained in the pasture throughout the experimental period without any pasture height control; (II, III, and IV) - systems with post-grazing pasture heights of 10, 20, and 30 cm, respectively; and (NG) - one control without grazing. All treatments received two nitrogen doses (50 and 100 kg ha-1) and inoculation or no inoculation (A. brasilense). The soybean cultivar BMX Potência RR was sown using no-tillage on 16 November 2012 and 1 December 2013. In each plot, seven rows of plants with spacing of 0.45 m were used, and in four rows, the seeds were inoculated with the bacterium A. brasilense. The phytomorphological variables and grain productivity were evaluated. In a croplivestock system, soybean has better productivity when established on black oat and ryegrass pasture managed with post-grazing pasture heights of between 20 and 30 cm. Areas under conventional grazing in the winter led to smaller soybean plants with lower first and last pod heights. Inoculation with A. brasilense should not be used alone in soybean cultivation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 182
Author(s):  
Kanwar Priyanaka ◽  
Y. C. Gupta ◽  
S. R. Dhiman ◽  
R. K. Dogra ◽  
Sharma Madhu ◽  
...  

<p>The studies on heterosis were carried with four male sterile lines namely; ms<sub>7</sub>, ms<sub>8</sub>, ms<sub>9,</sub> ms<sub>10</sub> and 18 diverse pollinators as tester by using line × tester crossing programme. The 72 F<sub>1</sub> hybrids were produced and evaluated along with 22 parental lines during summer 2009 and rainy season 2009 in Randomized Block Design. Observations were recorded on nine quantitative traits during both the seasons. Highly significant variances for all the traits indicated the sufficient variability in the parental material for all the characters under study. The performance of F<sub>1</sub> hybrids was much better than the mean performance of parents during both the crop seasons. Appreciable heterosis was observed in all the characters, except flower weight in summer and plant height in rainy season.</p>


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