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Evidencia-se a necessidade de estudos sobre estratégias eficientes de controle das plantas daninhas, pois o aparecimento dessas, durante o ciclo vegetativo da cultura, implica em perdas na produção. À vista disso, o objetivo foi avaliar o efeito da interação entre a época de controle das plantas daninhas e o tipo de herbicida pós-emergente na produção de silagem de grão úmido de milho. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso em esquema fatorial 2 x 7, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram a combinação de duas épocas de controle das plantas daninhas (duas ou oito folhas expandidas do milho) com aplicação de herbicidas (atrazina, glifosato,nicosulfuron, atrazina+glifosato, atrazina+nicosulfuron, glifosato+nicosulfuron e testemunha com capina manual). A aplicação de glifosato e nicosulfuron, quando o milho estava em estádio V8, reduziu o comprimento da espiga e o número de grãos por espiga, respectivamente. No geral, o controle das plantas daninhas, quando o milho estava em estádio V3 aumentou em 2,59% o número de fileiras por espiga, em 5,70% o número de grãos por espiga e a produtividade de grãos em 6,31%. Portanto, a adequação da época de aplicação do herbicida, de acordo com o estádio da planta e o tipo de herbicida, reflete diretamente na produção da silagem de grãos úmidos.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of various dietary energy levels on the carcass and meat characteristics of feedlot-finished steers. A total of 27 purebred and crossbred Charolais and Nellore steers were used, with a mean initial age of 22 months and weight of 253 kg. The animals were allotted to a completely randomized design with three treatments and nine replicates each. Dietary treatments were arranged so that the average forage to concentrate ratio (FCR) was equivalent to that of a constant FCR treatment. The treatments consisted of CT (constant FCR at 60 to 40), CT5 (starting with 70: 30 FCR and finishing with 50: 50 FCR, that is, a mean overall FCR of 60: 40), and CT10 (starting with 80: 20 FCR and finishing with 40: 60, that is, a mean overall FCR of 60: 40). The dietary treatments did not affect slaughter weight, carcass weight, carcass conformation, physiological maturity, subcutaneous fat thickness, ribeye area, marbling score, and carcass measurements or the yield of commercial cuts. Chilling loss was higher in CT10 steers (2.41%) than in CT (2.26%) and CT5 (2.15%).

The research carried out intended to analyze the panorama of patents related to welfare in cattle. To this end, a search was carried out on the worldwide Questel Orbit patent registration database oriented toward the existence of terms associated with welfare in cattle in the documents of patent families. The investigation corresponded to the period from the beginning of the registrations in 1967 until August 2019. In this way, an initial portfolio was created of 272 registrations. Of these, 77 documents were related to cattle, with direct or indirect interventions in the optimization of the welfare. Data analysis took place in a quantitative way and through the classification of patent families in seven categories: nutrition, health, management, genetics, infrastructure/facilities, physiological and behavioral indicators, and traceability/certification. The largest number of patent families corresponded to the areas of rural facilities, animal nutrition, health, and new physiological and behavioral indicators, totaling 73%. The temporal distribution of these records shows that the interest of researchers in promoting technological innovations focused on well-being began in 1995, with expressiveness from 2013. It should also be noted that the largest registration of patent families comes from China (51%), followed by European countries, which account for 23%, and the United States (19%), while Brazil represents only 6% of the total documents. Despite the recent patent registrations related to cattle, there has been an increase in recent years, denoting the growth of efforts for technological innovation of this productive chain regarding animal welfare. RESUMO A pesquisa realizada objetivou analisar o panorama das patentes relacionadas a bem-estar em bovinos. Para tanto, realizou-se uma busca na base mundial de registro de patentes Questel Orbit, orientada para a existência de termos associados ao bem-estar em bovinos nos documentos de famílias de patentes. A investigação correspondeu ao período compreendido desde o início dos registros em 1967 até agosto de 2019. Dessa forma, obteve-se um portfólio inicial composto por 272 registros, e destes, 77 documentos eram concernentes a bovinos, com intervenções diretas ou indiretas na otimização do bem-estar. A análise dos dados ocorreu de forma quantitativa e por meio da classificação das famílias de patentes em sete categorias: nutrição, sanidade, manejo, genética, infraestrutura/instalações, indicadores fisiológicos e comportamentais e rastreabilidade/certificação. O maior número de famílias de patentes correspondeu às áreas de instalações rurais, nutrição animal, sanidade e novos indicadores fisiológicos e comportamentais, totalizando 73%. A distribuição temporal desses registros demonstra que o interesse dos pesquisadores quanto à promoção de inovações tecnológicas voltadas ao bem-estar iniciou-se em 1995, com expressividade a partir de 2013. Salienta-se ainda que o maior registro de famílias de patentes advém da China (51%), seguido dos Países Europeus que, em sua totalidade, respondem por 23% e pelos Estados Unidos (19%), ao passo que o Brasil representa apenas 6% do total dos documentos. Apesar dos recentes registros de patentes relacionados a bovinos, observa-se uma ascensão nos últimos anos, denotando o crescimento dos esforços para inovação tecnológica dessa cadeia produtiva acerca do bem-estar animal.

This study was conducted aiming at measuring the performance and behavior of beef cattle surgically castrated, immunocastrated or non-castrated, finished at 18 months old in Aruana pasture and with energy supplementation. Thirty-nine male bovines with an initial average body weight and age of 284.1 ± 31.4 kg and 14 months old, respectively, were used. The bromatological composition analysis and productive parameters of the pasture did not differ between treatments. The performance of young cattle was not changed by the sexual condition. When evaluating the agonistic behavior, the non-castrated bovine presented a higher number of activities, such as threats and fights, in relation to those immunocastrated. The time spent on the feeder by non-castrated young cattle (56.20 minutes) was higher than that observed for surgically castrated or immunocastrated (41.43 and 32.38 minutes, respectively). The combination between the correct management of Aruana pasture and use of supplementation showed to be promising for finishing bovines. Both surgically castrated and immunocastrated steers demonstrated to be equivalents in the performed evaluations. Therefore, if the farmer chooses castration, the use of immunocastration is suggested. This practice is less invasive, preserves animal welfare more than surgical castration, and has a lower cost. Objetivou-se mensurar o desempenho e comportamento de bovinos de corte, castrados cirurgicamente, imunocastrados ou não castrados, terminados aos 18 meses em pastagem de Aruana, recebendo suplementação energética. Foram utilizados trinta e nove bovinos machos, com peso corporal e idade iniciais médios de 284,1 ± 31,4 kg e 14 meses, respectivamente. A análise da composição bromatológica e os parâmetros produtivos da pastagem não diferiram entre tratamentos. O desempenho dos novilhos não foi alterado pela condição sexual (P > 0,05). Ao avaliar o comportamento agonístico, verifica-se que os não castrados apresentaram maior número de atividades, como ameaças e brigas, em relação aos imunocastrados. O tempo de permanência no comedouro dos não castrados (56,20 minutos) foi superior ao detectado para castrados cirurgicamente ou imunocastrados (41,43 e 32,38 minutos), respectivamente. A combinação entre o correto manejo da pastagem de Aruana e o uso de suplementação se mostrou promissora para a terminação de bovinos. Quando compara-se os novilhos castrados cirurgicamente e os imunocastrados ambos demostraram ser equivalentes nas condições do presente estudo. Portanto, se o produtor optar pela castração sugere-se a imunização contra o fator de liberação de gonatrofinas. Essa prática é menos invasiva, preserva o bem-estar animal mais do que a castração cirúrgica e tem menor custo.

The objective of this work was to analyze the effects of immunocastration on the performance and carcass quality of steers in the finishing phase, compared with non-castration and surgical castration. Data from ten studies with records of 1,261 male bovines were analyzed. The studies included in the meta-analysis necessarily contained treatments with immunocastration specifically against the gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Each study was considered as a random effect in the statistical model used. The data were tested for homogeneity of variances and residue normality, and then subjected to the analysis of variance. Means were compared by Student’s t-test. Non-castrated steers showed greater daily weight gain, feed efficiency, slaughter and hot carcass weights, and loin eye area, besides lower fat thickness than surgically-castrated animals and the lowest a* and b* meat coloration values. Overall, immunocastrated steers were inferior to the non-castrated ones, but superior to those surgically-castrated. Immunocastrated steers present performance and carcass traits superior to those of surgically-castrated animals, but similar meat quality.

The objective of this study was to quantify the non-carcass components of steers and heifers finished in feedlot and fed with high grain diets. Altogether, 45 Charolais and Nellore crossbred cattle of two categories, 21 heifers with an initial age of 32 months and 24 steers with an initial age of 20 months, were used. The animals were fed with diets of 100% concentrate and divided in groups according to the energy source used in the form of rice, white oat, or corn; each diet group had seven heifers and eight steers. The experimental design was completely randomized with a factorial 3 ´ 2 arrangement, using P

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of cow's weight variation during gestation on the development and productive characteristics of the carcass and the meat of heifers slaughtered at 18 months of age. Thirty - five cows and their progeny were used. The evaluated treatments were determined according to the matrix weight variation during gestation, expressed as a percentage of the live weight of the matrix at the end of the breeding period. Treatments were: G10, cows that gained from 0.1 to 10.0% of live weight during gestation; P10, cows that lost 0.1 to 10.0% of live weight during gestation; P20, cows that lost from 10.1 to 20.0% of live weight during gestation. Data were analyzed statistically through multivariate analysis and the main components technique. The variables PNAS, PAJDESM, PAJ365, PAJ420, PAJ540, GMD, RCQ, RCF, AOL, GORD, ICC, DIAN, COST, CON, MAT and EGS of heifers were not influenced by maternal performance during gestation. The PCQ, PCF, MUSC, OSSO, TRAS and MARM presented significant correlation with two main components. The G10 treatment presented higher values for PCQ, PCF, TRAS, MUSC and MARM, being located in the I quadrant. Treatment P10 presented a greater amount of OSSO in the carcass, in the IV quadrant. On the other hand, the P20 treatment was located in the II quadrant, presenting the worst values for these variables. The variation in the weight of the cow during pregnancy does not influence the development of the progeny, but it does impact the carcass and meat characteristics.

Resumo Objetivou-se avaliar as características dos componentes do corpo vazio que não integram a carcaça de novilhos castrados cirurgicamente ou imunologicamente. Foram utilizados 48 bezerros Aberdeen Angus, monitorados a partir de idade média inicial de seis meses e peso médio inicial de 160 kg. Os animais foram distribuídos nos seguintes tratamentos: castrados cirurgicamente ao nascimento; castrados cirurgicamente à desmama; imunocastrados com três doses de vacina (6º, 9º e 14º meses de idade dos animais) e imunocastrados com quatro doses (6º, 7º, 10º e 15º meses de idade dos animais). O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado. Durante o abate, todos os componentes internos e externos do corpo do animal foram separados e pesados individualmente. O total de órgãos internos expressos em percentual do peso de corpo vazio diferiu entre os dois protocolos de imunocastração, com superioridade quando aplicou-se quatro doses (3,61 vs. 3,39 kg). Novilhos castrados ao nascer depositaram mais gordura cardíaca, renal e pélvica, e gordura do trato gastrintestinal que imunocastrados com três doses, independentemente da forma como foi expressa. A castração cirúrgica ao nascimento promove maior deposição de gordura visceral, em novilhos abatidos em idade jovem, em relação à imunocastração com dosagem definitiva com nove meses de idade. Abstract The objective was to evaluate the characteristics of empty body components that are not part of the carcass of steers surgically or immunologically castrated. Forty-eight Aberdeen Angus calves were used and monitored since six months of age and 160 kg of average weight. The animals were divided into the following treatments: surgically castrated at birth; Surgically castrated at weaning; Immunocastrated with three doses immunocastrated of vaccine (6th, 9th and 14th months of age of the animals) and immunocastrated with four doses (6th, 7th, 10th and 15th months of age of the animals). The experimental design used was the completely randomized. During the slaughter, all internal and external components of animal body were separated and weighed individually. The total internal organs, expressed in percentage of empty body weight, differed between the two protocols of immunocastration, with superiority when it was applied four doses (3.61 vs. 3.39 kg). Steers castrated at birth deposited more cardiac, kidney and pelvic fat, and fat of the gastrointestinal tract that immunocastrated with three doses, regardless of how it was expressed. Surgical castration at birth promotes greater deposition of visceral fat at the slaughtered in young steers in relation to immunocastration with definitive dosage at nine months of age.

espanolRESUMEN El tomate (Solanum lycopersicum L.) es una de las hortalizas mas cultivadas y consumidas en el mundo. La disponibilidad hidrica puede ser considerada uno de los factores mas importantes que afectan la productividad del tomate, pues la produccion de frutos esta limitada por el deficit y exceso de agua. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar la influencia de cinco tensiones de agua en el suelo (15, 20, 30, 45 y 60 kPa) durante el estadio productivo del tomate cultivado en casa vegetacion. Las mayores plantas fueron obtenidas utilizando la tension de 23,64 kPa. Para las variables numero de frutos producidos por planta, productividad, masa y diametro de frutos, los mayores resultados fueron obtenidos en la tension de 15 kPa. La productividad en la tension de 15 kPa fue de 6,11 kg por planta, mientras que a 60 kPa fue de 3,45 kg por planta, lo que corresponde al 43,5% mas en productividad utilizando la menor tension estudiada. Por lo tanto, diferentes tensiones de agua en el suelo pueden influenciar directamente el estadio de desarrollo productivo del tomate, con mejores resultados en la tension de 15 kPa. EnglishABSTRACT Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most cultivated and consumed fruit in the world. Water availability is one of the most important factors affecting tomato productivity, as fruit production is limited by water deficit and excess. Our objective was to evaluate the influence of five soil water tensions (15, 20, 30, 45 and 60 kPa) during the productive stages of tomato plants grown in a greenhouse. The largest plants were obtained under the tension of 23.64 kPa. For variables such as the numbers of fruits produced per plant, productivity, mass, and fruit diameter, the highest results were obtained with 15 kPa tension. The productivity under 15 kPa tension was 6.11 kg/plant, while that under 60 kPa was 3.45 kg/plant, which corresponded to 43.5% more productivity than the lowest tension applied in the study. Therefore, soil water tensions can directly influence the productive development stage of tomato, with better results obtained under 15 kPa tension.

This study aimed to assess the probability of meat tenderness in confined cows. For this purpose, CAPES and SciELO platforms were searched for papers under this subject published in Brazil between 2000 and 2015. A total of 43 articles were found, of which eleven were used. Those selected approached the finishing of confined cows and specified animal genetic group, breed, and age at experiment start. Moreover, all these studies evaluated sensory and organoleptic characteristics of meat, following the same method. Each variable was analyzed by logistic regression, using the LOGISTIC procedure of SAS. The factors were evaluated by odds ratio (OR), in which changes in the probability of meat tenderness were estimated by means of an add-on function in regression variable units. Animal age at the beginning of termination, percentages of zebuine blood and heterozygosity, and marbling score are factors that affect (p < 0.30) the chance of beef tenderness. The probabilities of obtaining a tender meat increase when age at termination beginning and zebuine genotype participation are reduced, as well as when heterozygosity (via crosses) and meat marbling score increases.

The effect of termination of steers in a feedlot using the total substitution of soybean meal by slow-release or agriculture urea on the non-carcass components was evaluated. Twenty-seven purebred and Charolais × Nellore castrated crossbred steers (mean age 20 months, mean initial weight 293 kg) were allocated to received concentrates containing slow degradation urea, soybean meal, or agricultural urea. The experimental design was in randomized blocks (breed predominance), with three treatments and nine replicates, with the animal being the experimental unit. Diets did not lead to significant differences in empty body weight (EBW). The similarity between treatments was also verified in relation to EBW/slaughter weight, with mean values of 0.87 for treatments containing urea and 0.88 for soybean meal treatment. The gastrointestinal contents, both in absolute weight and in relation to EBW, were similar between the rations evaluated, with mean values of 54.33 kg and 13.52%, respectively. Steers fed with slow-release urea had a 32.8% higher weight of omasum relative to 100 kg of EBW (P < 0.05) compared to the animals fed with soybean meal.

Production parameters of intercropped pastures of oat and rye grass managed with beef heifers supplemented with brown rice meal and/or protected fat were evaluated. Twenty-eight Charolais × Nellore crossbred heifers at initial average age of 18 months and initial average live weight of 274.9 kg were utilized in the experiment. Animals were kept on oat + rye grass pastures and distributed in the following treatments: no-supplementation (NS): heifers kept only in pastures; Megalac (MEG): supplementation with protected fat; brown rice meal (BRM): supplementation with BRM; BRM + MEG: supplementation with BRM plus protected fat. The greater participation of oat leaf was from July 5th to August 10th, 2009 and of rye grass, from August 30th to September 26th, 2009. The crude protein content increased until the 55th day (225.1 g/kg). Pasture total digestible nutrients presented a cubic behavior, with an average of 722.0 g/kg. The highest supply of leaf blades, 5.17 kg of dry matter/100 kg of live weight, was found in the second period. Pasture intake increased throughout the periods. Forage mass and support capacity of the animal did not differ between treatments, presenting means of 1245.02 kg of dry matter/ha and 882 kg of live weight/ha, respectively. Stoking rate, forage loss and pasture intake were not affected by the treatments. Supplementation of beef heifers with rice meal and/or protected fat did not change production parameters of oat + rye grass pastures or pasture intake. Increase in daily accumulation rate of dry matter and supporting capacity of the animals increases forage losses.

Carcass characteristics of small and medium-frame Aberdeen Angus young steers, finished in feedlot and slaughtered with similar subcutaneous fat thickness are evaluated. The average age and live weight at the start of feedlot were respectively 298 days and 202 kg. The steers were confined during 158 days, and slaughtered with average subcutaneous fat thickness of 6.4 mm. The feed consisted of sorghum silage and concentrate at 60:40 ratio of dry matter during the first 63 days and 50:50 afterward. The frame was calculated by formula F =-11.548 + (0.4878xh) - (0.0289xID) + (0.0000146xID²)+(0.0000759xIDxh), where h is the height and ID the age, in days. Steers with medium frame showed superiority in important marketing aspects such as warm (p < 0.0001) and cold carcass (p < 0.0001) weights. Muscularity measurements such as longissimus dorsi area in relation to cold carcass (p = 0.0477) and empty body (p = 0.0419) weights were lower for medium-frame steers. Carcass conformation, longissimus dorsi area and cushion thickness were similar in both frame. The commercial cuts, forequarter (p < 0.001), flank (p = 0.009) and saw cut (p = 0.0003) in kg were higher for medium-frame steers. Saw cut decreased 0.18% with an increase in frame (p = 0.0404). Weight of the carcass tissues increased with the steers frame, whereas the percentage of muscle tissue decreased 0.57% (p = 0.0410).