Fabiano Ferreira da Silva

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary glycerin levels on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, milk yield and composition, nitrogen balance, microbial production, and eating behavior in confined lactating cows.Methods: Eight crossbred cows (Holstein×Zebu) with an average of 90±10 days in milk, milk production of 21.3±0.47 kg/day, and body weight of 570±51 kg were used. The cows were assigned to two 4×4 Latin squares with the following treatments: Control (G0), no glycerin inclusion; G6, 6% glycerin inclusion in the total dietary dry matter (DM); G12, 12% glycerin inclusion; and G18, 18% glycerin inclusion.Results: Glycerin inclusion linearly decreased DM intake (p<0.001), crude protein (CP) intake (p = 0.004), and neutral detergent fiber intake (p<0.001). On the other hand, the digestibility coefficients of DM (p = 0.001), CP (p = 0.007), non-fiber carbohydrates (p<0.001), and total digestible nutrients (p = 0.013) increased linearly. Milk yield (p = 0.046) and 3.5% fat-corrected milk (p = 0.013) decreased linearly.Conclusion: Despite increasing the digestibility of nutrients, the inclusion of glycerin in diets for feedlot dairy cows resulted in a significant reduction in DM intake, which compromised total energy intake and, consequently, milk production. Therefore, while semirefined glycerin is an attractive byproduct because of its availability and energy content, it should be used with caution as an energy replacement in the diets of lactating cows at the proportions studied so as not to impair their productivity.

We hypothesize that the substitution of up to 20% of the protein source does not affect feed intake, digestibility, or feeding behavior in dairy heifers. Twenty 15-month-old dairy heifers were allocated to one of four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Experimental diets consisted of a corn-soybean meal-based concentrate (control); inclusion of 20% cottonseed cake on a dry matter basis; inclusion of 20% sunflower meal on a dry matter basis; and inclusion of 20% castor cake on a dry matter basis. Dry matter intake and feeding behavior of the heifers were not affected by diets containing protein sources. Likewise, nutrient digestibility was not affected by the treatments. Based on the analyzed nutritional parameters, the alternative protein sources-cottonseed cake, sunflower meal, or castor cake-can be included up to 20% of diet dry matter without affecting feed intake, digestibility, or feeding behavior of dairy heifers.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of concentrate supplementation on intake, apparent digestibility, feeding behavior, performance, carcass traits, centesimal composition, and fatty acid profile of meat from Girolando steers finished on tropical pasture during the dry season. Twenty castrated Girolando steers, aged 24 ± 2 months and weighing 371 ± 13.02 kg, were distributed in a completely randomized design. The animals were kept under intermittent grazing on Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu for 135 days on 7.0 ha, divided into 14 paddocks. The animals received concentrate supplement at 3 g kg-1 or 6 g kg-1 of body weight (BW). Crude protein intake increased by 38% (P<0.05), and non-fiber carbohydrate intake increased by 15% with the increase in supplementation from 3 to 6 g kg-1 BW at finishing. Chewing time and the number of chews per cud were lower (P<0.05) in steers supplemented at 6 g kg-1 BW during finishing. Daily weight gain was 29% higher (P0.05) the weight, yield, or carcass fatness parameters of the steers. The 6 g kg-1 level resulted in meat with lower (P<0.05) levels of C15:0 and C14:1, as well as higher (P<0.05) proportions of n-6 fatty acids and a higher n-6:n-3 ratio. We recommend a concentrate supplementation level of 3 g kg-1 BW for steers finished on tropical pasture.

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of three supplementation strategies on intake, apparent digestibility, feeding behavior, performance, carcass traits, proximate composition, and the fatty acid profile of meat from steers on tropical pasture during the post-weaning and finishing stages. The experiment involved 33 1/2 Holstein × 1/2 castrated Zebu steers weighing 335 ± 42.90 kg, aged 22 ± 2 m. The animals were managed on Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu using an intermittent grazing system with continuous stocking and variable stocking rates for 310 days. The supplementation strategies were as follows: MS/US (mineral salt/urea supplementation): mineral salt in the rainy season and mineral salt with urea in the dry season; US/PS1 (urea supplementation/protein supplementation): mineral salt with urea in the rainy season and protein supplement at 1 g/kg body weight (BW) in the dry season; and PS1/PS2 (protein supplementation 1/protein supplementation 2): protein supplement at 1 g/kg BW in the rainy season and 2 g/kg BW in the dry season. The dry matter intake did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between strategies. However, the post-weaning PS1/PS2 strategy resulted in higher (p < 0.05) crude protein intake. The final body weight did not differ (p > 0.05) between the strategies, but the average daily gain in post-weaning and finishing was higher (p < 0.05) for MS/US (restricted) animals. Carcass weight, subcutaneous fat thickness, and lipid content in meat were significantly higher (p < 0.05) for steers in the PS1/PS2 group. Steers finished on MS/US produced meat with a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids and ω-3 fatty acids (p < 0.05). Concentrate supplementation at 1 g/kg BW during the rainy season and 2 g/kg BW during the dry season is recommended for post-weaning and finishing steers on tropical pasture.

The objective of this study was to analyze different forms of supplementation for beef calves, considering the relationship between consumption and cost-benefit, aiming at weaning performance. High concentrate levels may reduce forage consumption, which is undesirable as supplementation should increase the efficiency of forage and milk use. The ideal amount of concentrate is 0.5% of the calves' body mass, without changing feed and milk consumption. The supplement must contain between 8% and 30% protein to avoid metabolic disorders and ensure good performance. Adding 10% salt to the concentrate increases economic viability, even with lower consumption, resulting in greater gains and profitability. Adequate supplementation guarantees greater mass at weaning and better daily gain, as long as nutritional management is balanced and economically viable.

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of the increasing levels of inclusion of palm kernel cake (PKC) in the diet on the performance of feedlot heifers. Forty-eight Nelore heifers with an initial weight of 274 ± 4.58 kg, at 24 months of age, were confined for 98 days in a feedlot. The animals were allocated to the four treatments in a completely randomized design. Treatments consisted of PKC levels of 0 (control), 10, 20, and [...] ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to examine the effect of the increasing levels of inclusion of palm kernel cake (PKC) in the diet on the performance of feedlot heifers. Forty-eight Nelore heifers with an initial weight of 274 ± 4.58 kg, at 24 months of age, were confined for 98 days in a feedlot. The animals were allocated to the four treatments in a completely randomized design. Treatments consisted of PKC levels of 0 (control), 10, 20, and

Purpose: This study investigates whether women in top management positions decrease the likelihood of financial problems.Method: The company's sample comprises Brazilian companies listed on B3, from 2010 to 2018. Altman's (1979) financial problems prediction model was used, and thus the variables of interest related to diversity were regressed of gender in senior management positions via the econometric logit model. To ensure robust results, a recent technique was used to balance companies that had women in top management with their peers via PSM and entropy. Results: We find that women avoid financial problems only when women take over as chairman of the company board two years before the company experiences financial problems. Contributions: To better understand how gender diversity can contribute to the management of Brazilian companies, mostly family companies or with high shareholding concentration, in situations of crisis and financial difficulties, given the recurrent political and health crises that impacted the Brazilian economy in this last decade.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the first and last stocking strategies combined with a partial substitution of the protein from the supplement for urea nitrogen on nutrient intake and digestibility, milk composition, and nitrogen balance of primiparous Girolando cows. The cows were allocated to a double 4 × 4 Latin square composed of four animals and four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Supplements were formulated to provide an intake of 0.6% body weight, with and without the inclusion of 21% urea nitrogen in their composition. The first stocking management method improved nutrient intake and digestibility. Supplementation with urea led to a 47% higher excretion of urine N (g/day) than the urea treatment. The combination of the supplement without urea and the first stocking provided higher intake and retention of nitrogen and higher retained-N levels (%digested N). The combination of a supplement containing 21% urea nitrogen and the first stocking can be used without compromising the nutritional and productive parameters of the cows.

Resumo Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos dos manejos do pastejo ponta e repasse combinados a substituição parcial da proteína do suplemento por nitrogênio ureico sobre o consumo e digestibilidade dos nutrientes, composição do leite e balanço de nitrogênio de vacas primíparas da raça Girolanda. As vacas foram alocadas em dois quadrados latinos 4 x 4 compostos de quatro animais cada e quatro tratamentos em um esquema fatorial 2 x 2. Os suplementos foram formulados para um consumo de 0,6% do peso corporal: sem utilização de nitrogênio ureico; ou com 21% de nitrogênio ureico em sua composição. O manejo do pastejo de ponta melhorou o consumo e a digestibilidade dos nutrientes. O suplemento contendo ureia excretou 47% a mais de N urina (g/dia) em comparação ao suplemento sem ureia. A combinação entre o suplemento sem ureia e o manejo de pastejo ponta apresentou maior ingestão e retenção de nitrogênio e maior N retido (%N digerido). A combinação entre o suplemento contendo 21% de nitrogênio ureico e o pastejo de ponta pode ser utilizada sem prejuízos aos parâmetros nutricionais e produtivos das vacas.

This study aimed to evaluate nutrient intake and digestibility, performance and economic viability of steers during the rearing phase in Brachiaria brizantha cultivar Marandu graze and in feedlot. Were used fifty crossbred steers in the rearing phase, with a mean weight of 275 ± 8.18 kg, distributed in a completely randomized design with ten replications per treatments: Mineral supplementation, nitrogen supplementation, Concentrate supplementation in the order of 1 and 2 g/kg body weight and total feedlot. The total dry matter intake and body weight showed a difference (P<0.05) for animals in feedlot. Crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber corrected for ashes and protein, non-fibrous carbohydrates, total digestible nutrients showed differences for the animals that received mineral supplementation in comparison to the other managements adopted. The same performance was observed for animals in feedlot. The digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, non-fibrous carbohydrates and total digestible nutrients showed a difference (P<0.05) for the animals that received mineral supplementation, in comparison to the other managements adopted. (P<0.05). The mean daily gain was lower (P<0.05) for animals receiving mineral supplementation. The gross margin was higher (P<0.05) for animals handled in feedlot. Considering the obtained results, it was possible to observe that the animals kept in graze with good availability of dry matter presented satisfactory performance. It is feasible to confine the animals in rearing, since it shortens the production cycle, generating favorable economic results.