Orientador: Alessandro Francisco Talamini do Amarante / Banca: Cledson Augusto Garcia / Banca: Ivanete Susin / Banca: Kátia Denise Saraiva Bresciani / Banca: Reinaldo José da Silva / Abstract: Previous studies carried out in Brazil provided evidence that alternate grazing of a pasture by sheep and adult cattle can significantly reduce numbers of nematode parasites in sheep. An experiment was carried out from January/2004 to December/2005 in order to evaluate the control of sheep nematodes by using different alternate grazing strategies. An eight-paddock rotational grazing system was devised in which each paddock was grazed for 4 days, then spelled for 28 days. Six areas with 1.41 ha were subdivided into eight paddocks using electric fencing. Sixty six Ile de France ewes and 12 steers (more than 2-years-old) were randomly allocated in groups 1, 2 or 3 (22 sheep and 4 cattle per group). Three systems of grazing management were compared, each occupying two areas, a cattle area and a sheep area. In the systems 1, 2 and 3 the sheep and cattle were interchanged, respectively, every 32 days (animals of Group 1), every 96 days (animals of Group 2) or every 192 days (animals of Group 3). Monthly, faecal and blood samples were taken from each animal. Pasture samples were also collected from each paddock to determine the number of infective larvae per kg of dry matter (L3/kg DM). Tracer lambs were placed in each system to graze with the sheep of each group in three seasons of 2005 (summer, winter and spring). Then, these animals were slaughtered for identification of nematode species and estimation of worm burden. All cattle were also slaughtered with the same purpose. In the tracer lambs, Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis were the predominant nematodes, while in cattle, Haemonchus similis, Cooperia punctata and Oesophagostomum radiatum were the most important species. A considerable reduction in concentrations of third stage larvae on herbage occurred in areas that were grazed with cattle for 96 or 192 days. Cross infection between sheep... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Orientador: Ricardo Andrade Reis / Banca: Gustavo Resende Siqueira / Banca: Marco Antônio Alvares Balsalobre / Resumo: Objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar as características estruturais do dossel, o comportamento ingestivo e o desempenho de novilhos de corte, suplementados em pastagem de capim-xaraés, sob lotação contínua. Para isso realizou-se dois experimentos. No primeiro foram avaliadas quatro fontes lipídicas (óleo de palma, óleo de linhaça, soja grão e gordura protegida) e um tratamento controle com sal mineral mais uréia. No segundo experimento os mesmos tratamentos foram avaliados, e como controle, apenas o sal mineral. Observou-se que as estruturas do dossel são influenciadas apenas pelos períodos, onde a suplementação não interfere suas características. A suplementação tendeu a diminuir o tempo de pastejo, notadamente no suplementos com menor o grau de proteção da fonte lipídica (soja grão e linhaça). Concluiu-se que pastos de capim-xaraés sob lotação contínua, sob pastejo por novilhos em recria, podem propiciar ganhos satisfatórios quando bem manejados. A suplementação da dieta de animais em pastejo com fontes lipídicas pode proporcionar ganhos adicionais, mas o uso desta estratégia deve ser analisado cautelosamente / Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the structural characteristics of the pasture canopy, the intake and performance of supplemented steers maintained in palisade grass cultivar xaraés under continuous stocking. Two experiments were conducted. In the first were evaluated during the dry season, four fat sources (palm oil, linseed oil, soya beans and protected fat), and a control (mineral salt plus urea). In the second experiment, conducted during the rainy season, it were evaluated the same fat sources, and the control treatment (mineral). It was observed that the canopy structures are influenced only by the experimental periods, and supplementation does not affect these characteristics. Supplementation with lower the degree of protection lipid source tended to decrease grazing time. It was concluded that well managed xaraés grass pastures under continuous stocking, grazing by growing steers can produce satisfactory weight gains. The supplemental lipid sources can provide additional gains, but the use of this strategy should be considered cautiously / Mestre

Resumo: Objetivou-se com presente trabalho avaliar as características estruturais do dossel, o comportamento e o desempenho de novilhas de corte, suplementadas, em pastagem de capim-marandu submetidas à diferentes intensidade de pastejo, sob lotação contínua, assim como o efeito do histórico desses fatores sobre a fase de terminação. Para isso realizou-se quatro experimentos. No primeiro foram avaliadas três ofertas de forragem aliadas a dois tipos de suplementação, sal mineral e suplemento protéico energético. No segundo e terceiro experimentos os tratamentos foram três alturas do dossel aliados a três suplementos, sal mineral e dois suplementos protéicos energéticos. E no quarto foi estudado o efeito destes tratamentos sobre a terminação no confinamento ou no pasto. Observou que a altura do dossel influenciou todas as características estruturais do pasto. A suplementação não interferiu na estrutura do dossel, porém tendeu a reduzir o tempo de pastejo dos animais, principalmente nos períodos que antecederam o fornecimento do suplemento, contudo sem afetar o consumo de forragem. O uso de suplemento protéico energético aumentou o desempenho animal. Os fatores relacionado a fase de recria interferiram no período de terminação, porém não afetaram as características das carcaças. A terminação em confinamento aumentou a deposição de gordura nas carcaças e cortes cárneos. Concluiu-se que pastos de capim-marandu sob lotação contínua, sob pastejo por novilhas em recria, destinadas ao abate, podem ser manejados com alturas entre 15 a 35 cm, sendo a altura 25 cm a mais indicada. Suplementação protéica energética aumenta o desempenho animal e a produtividade do sistema / Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the structural characteristics of the canopy, grazing behavior, and performance of beef heifers supplemented at pasture of Marandu grass submitted to different grazing intensity under continuous stocking rate, and the effect of these historical factors on the finish of these, in different systems. Four experiments were conducted. The first evaluated three forage allowances combined with two types of supplementation, mineral and protein/energy supplement. In the second and third experiments the treatments were three canopy heights combined with three supplements: mineral and two protein/energy supplements. And in the fourth, studied the effect of these treatments on the finish system, feedlot or in pasture. It was observed that the height of the canopy affected all the structural characteristics of the pasture. Supplementation did not affect the structure of the pasture canopy, but tended to reduce the grazing time of the animals, especially in periods leading up to the supplement supply, however forage intake was not altered. Concentrate supplementation increased animal performance. At all the evaluated situations the animals' weight gain was limited by energy intake. Factors related to the growing phase interfered in the finishing period, but did not affect the heifers' carcass characteristics. The finishing in feedlot increased fat deposition in the carcasses and in the meat cuts. It was concluded that Marandu grass pasture under continuous stocking, grazing by growing beef heifers intended for slaughter, can be managed in heights between 15 and 35 cm height, and 25 cm appears to be most appropriate. Protein/energy supplementation increases animal performance and system productivity / Orientador: Ricardo Andrade Reis / Coorientador: Telma Teresinha Berchielli / Banca: Sila Carneiro da Silva / Banca: Marco Antonio Alvares Balsalobre / Banca: Flavio Dutra de Resende / Banca: Alexandre Amstalden Moraes Sampaio / Doutor