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Context Dairy operations have adopted benchmarking as a methodology to rank farms and establish target indexes; however, a connection between benchmarking and farms in the tropics is still warranted. Aims To evaluate the technical and economic quartiles based on farm return on assets (ROA) of three regions (Centre, South and Triangle) of Minas Gerais state, Brazil, and use them to establish benchmarks for dairy farms. Methods We collected data from 128 dairy farms (from January to December of 2019). All properties were part of the Educampo® project/Sebrae-MG. Farms were grouped into the Centre, South and Triangle regions, and subdivided into three groups within each region according to their ROA, where 25% of the farms that presented the lowest ROA were classified as the first quartile, 50% of farms were classified as interquartile and the 25% remaining farms were classified as the fourth quartile. Data were analysed as a randomised block design in a split-plot scheme, where the production systems were blocks, the regions were the main plots and the groups were the split plots. Differences were declared when P ≤ 0.10. Key results Total operating cost ($/L; $ – this currency is in US dollars and it applies throughout the paper); accrual operating cost ($/L); production costs, such as roughage ($/L), hired labour ($/L), percentage of concentrate and hired labour in accrual operating cost (%), were affected by regions and groups. The South and fourth quartile had the greatest total operating cost (0.24 $/L; 0.26 $/L) and accrual operating cost (0.27 $/L; 0.30 $/L), respectively. The majority of economic indexes were higher for Triangle than South and Centre, respectively. The fourth quartile had the greatest net margin (0.09 $/L), profit (0.07 $/L), return on assets (2%) and assets turnover rate (24%). Conclusions We suggest that benchmarks should be established by region, as there were too many variations among regions. In addition, this study demonstrated the importance of understanding the behaviour of the technical and economic indicators to stratify farms based on their return on assets. Implications We evaluated technical and economic indexes from three regions and stratified by ROA. Then, we established benchmarks by regions to better guide the producer in decision-making in dairy operations.

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of replacing corn with by-product from biscuit manufacture (BBM) on feed intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance, ingestive behavior, and growth performance of pure or crossbred Morada Nova sheep. Twenty-four non-castrated male lambs from two genetic groups (GG) were used: purebred red-coated Morada Nova (RMN) and red-coated Morada Nova x white-coated Morada Nova. Each GG had 12 lambs with an initial body weight (BW) of 15.0±0.84 and 18.8±0.88 kg for RMN and crossbred lambs, respectively. Treatments were distributed in a completely randomized design, according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, as follows: two genetic groups (RMN and crossbred) and two diets (ground corn and by-product from biscuit manufacture-BBM) with six replicates. There was no effect (p0.05) of GG on feed intake (g/day and as a fraction of BW). Lambs fed BBM had a lower feed intake (p0.05) than corn-fed lambs, except for the non-fibrous carbohydrate intake, which did not differ among diets (p0.05). No effects (p0.05) of GG or diets were observed on apparent digestibility, except for organic matter, which was higher for BBM-fed lambs (p0.05). Intake and N urinary excretion were lower (p0.05) for BBM-fed lambs when compared to corn-fed lambs. There was no effect (p0.05) of GG on growth performance. On the other hand, lambs fed BBM diet had a higher (p0.05) feed efficiency than corn-fed lambs. Total replacing corn with BBM in finishing lamb diets increases the efficiency of nutrient utilization, which results in higher feed efficiency. The crossbreeding between the red- and white-coated strains of Morada Nova sheep does not affect nutritional and growth performance.

We aimed to characterize the energetic profile of hair sheep (Ovis aries) raised on pasture in a tropical climate country and verify it is influence on productive and reproductive parameters. A total of 68 non-pregnant adult ewes were randomly distributed into four genetic groups (GGs) according to coat color (Red-coated Santa Inês GG – 17, Black-coated Santa Inês GG – 13, White-coated Morada Nova GG – 28 and Red-coated Morada Nova GG – 10). We collected blood samples at the beginning and at the end of the breeding season. The reproductive efficiency of the ewes was evaluated by fertility, prolificacy, lamb survival rate, and lamb body weight at birth and weaning. We performed statistical analyses using the package PROC GLM and the chi-square (χ2) test from SAS software. The genetic group influenced serum glucose and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations, prolificacy, and lamb body weight. Male lambs were heavier than female lambs at birth and weaning. Twin lambs were lighter at birth and at weaning than were single lambs. The genetic group, lamb birth rank, and sex influenced the lamb body weight at birth and weaning. This study presents important information on the reproductive efficiency of these hair sheep that are relevant to tropical climate countries. The blood parameters found in this research show that there are important metabolic differences between hair sheep in the semi-arid region of Northeast Brazil. Morada Nova sheep with independent white coat color, higher reproductive performance in tropical conditions. El objetivo de este trabajo fue caracterizar el perfil energético de las ovejas de pelo (Ovis aries) criadas en pasturas en país de clima tropical y verificar la posible influencia en los parámetros productivos y reproductivos. Un total de 68 ovejas adultas no gestantes se distribuyeron aleatoriamente en cuatro grupos genéticos (GG) según el color del pelaje (Santa Inês GG - 17 con recubrimiento rojo, Santa Inês GG - 13 con recubrimiento negro, Morada Nova GG - 28 con recubrimiento blanco y Morada Nova GG - 10 con revestimiento rojo). Se recogieron muestras de sangre al principio y al final de la temporada reproductiva. La eficiencia reproductiva de las ovejas fue evaluada por fertilidad, prolificidad, tasa de supervivencia y peso corporal del cordero al nacer y al destete. Los análisis estadísticos se realizaron utilizando el paquete PROC GLM y la prueba de chi-cuadrado (χ2) del software SAS. El grupo genético de las ovejas influyó en las concentraciones séricas de glucosa y β-hidroxibutirato, la prolificidad y el peso corporal del cordero. Los corderos machos eran más pesados ​​que las hembras al nacer y al destete. Los corderos gemelos eran más ligeros al nacer y al destete que los corderos solos. El grupo genético, el rango de nacimiento del cordero y el sexo influyeron en el peso corporal del cordero al nacer y al destete. Este estudio presenta información importante sobre la eficiencia reproductiva de estas ovejas de pelo que son relevante para los países de clima tropical. Los parámetros sanguíneos encontrados en esta investigación muestran que existen importantes diferencias metabólicas entre ovejas de pelo en la región semiárida del noreste de Brasil. Oveja Morada Nova con pelaje blanco independiente, mayor rendimiento reproductivo en condiciones tropicales. O objetivo foi caracterizar o perfil energético de ovinos deslanados (Ovis aries), criados em pastagens em país de clima tropical, e verificar a possível influência sobre parâmetros produtivos e reprodutivos. Um total de 68 ovelhas adultas, não prenhes foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em quatro grupos genéticos (GGs), de acordo com a cor da pelagem (Santa Inês - 17 pelagem vermelha, Santa Inês - 13 pelagem preta, Morada Nova - 28 pelagem branca e Morada Nova - 10 pelagem vermelha). As amostras de sangue foram coletadas no início e no final da época de reprodução. A eficiência reprodutiva das ovelhas foi avaliada por fertilidade, prolificidade, taxa de sobrevivência e peso corporal dos cordeiros ao nascer e ao desmame. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas utilizando o pacote PROC GLM e o teste qui-quadrado (χ2) do software SAS. O grupo genético influenciou as concentrações séricas de glicose, β-hidroxibutirato, prolificidade e peso corporal de cordeiros ao nascimento e ao desmame. Os cordeiros machos foram mais pesados ​​que as fêmeas, ao nascimento e ao desmame. Os cordeiros gêmeos foram mais leves ao nascer e ao desmame, em comparação aos cordeiros únicos. O GG, classificação de nascimento e sexo influenciaram o peso corporal do cordeiro ao nascer e ao desmame. Os parâmetros sanguíneos encontrados neste estudo sugerem que existem diferenças metabólicas importantes entre ovelhas deslanadas criadas na região semi-árida do Nordeste do Brasil. Ovelhas Morada Nova de pelagem branca apresentaram maior desempenho reprodutivo em condições tropicais.