Three experiments carried out in the southeast of Mexico (Yucatan) are reported. In the first, yield of P. purpureum increased from 3,760 to 14,526 kgDM/ha with age 6 weeks (young) and 28 weeks (mature). Maturity increased lignin from 43 to 108g/kgDM. Potential degradabilities of leaf and stem were 788g & 782g/kgDM with young, and 725 & 403g/kgDM with mature. Young yielded more potentially degradable DM (70 & 35kgDM/ha/d) than mature. In the second, molasses urea block (MUB) supplementation of bulls grazing during the dry season, did not improve the potential degradability of pasture (525g/kgDM). Estimated pasture intake was 68gDM/kgW0.75 /d, and measured rumen pool size of grazing bulls was 79 gDM/kgW 0.75. Intake of MUB was low (236gDM/d) and only increased rumen NH 3-N from 100 to 128mg/l. Availability of pasture was 255kg DM/animal. It is suggested that need of supplementation could be low if there is sufficient pasture to allow selective grazing. In the third, hay diets of young or mature P. purpureum were studied in six zebu (Bos indicus) bulls fed ad libitum. Intakes were, 91 and 44gDM/kgW0.75/d, digestibilities, 591 and 453g/kgDM, estimated energy intakes 768 and 307kJME/kgW0.75/d and Metabolizable Protein, 4.1 and 1.3g/kgW0.75/d with young and mature forages respectively. Forage maturity resulted in negative N balance (352 vs -113mgN/kgW0.75/d), decreased potential (756 vs 568g/kgDM) and fractional rate (0.07 vs 0.03%) of rumen DM degradation, but gave higher DM degradabilities of the non-soluble fraction (378 vs 283g/kgDM). Forage maturity reduced rumen outflow rates of liquid (0.09 vs 0.05%), and solid (0.038 vs 0.015%) phases, increasing mean retention times of digesta (22 vs 65h), and the rumen pool size (84 vs 120gDM/kgW0.75) and reduced the eating (380 vs 273min) and rumination daily times (433 vs 398min). The Purine Derivatives (PD) excretion in urine reflected differences between diets (651 vs 354mMol/kgW0.75/d). However, rumen Microbial N Supply estimated by the PD method was very low in comparison with estimates from digestibility and N balance measurements. It is suggested this effect could be explained by greater recycling of PD to the rumen and a lower endogenous excretion by zebu cattle.

Submitted by Alisson Mota (alisson.davidbeckam@gmail.com) on 2015-06-25T20:22:59Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Carly Pinheiro Tindade.pdf: 30204953 bytes, checksum: 094a45b1c0e6c399e587da7249306fb8 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2015-06-29T15:47:30Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Carly Pinheiro Tindade.pdf: 30204953 bytes, checksum: 094a45b1c0e6c399e587da7249306fb8 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2015-06-29T15:49:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Carly Pinheiro Tindade.pdf: 30204953 bytes, checksum: 094a45b1c0e6c399e587da7249306fb8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-29T15:49:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Carly Pinheiro Tindade.pdf: 30204953 bytes, checksum: 094a45b1c0e6c399e587da7249306fb8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2002-04-01 / Não Informado. / The purpose of this study is based on a critical study of the agricultural sector recital - as an alternative and effective development possible for the state of Amazonas, with the case study of the city of Parintins. This sector focused on development of beef cattle has become quite important as an alternative and highly feasible in this context. Until the mid-sixties the development of the state of Amazonas was directed mainly to the primary sector, with the emergence of a free zone in Manaus, and the industrial park, the economy of the Amazon is no longer primarily agricultural and extractive to concentrate mainly in industry and services, to the point of agriculture and extraction plant, animal and mineral, represent less than 5% of GDP. The state has a deficit of animal units to the population of more than 4 million head of cattle in spite of having about 5.3 million ha suitable for cattle pasture. Between January 1996 and January 1997, the evasion of income with the purchase of red meat and white was R$ 112,527,318.40. This failure to state causes a social deficit even higher, because the production of cattle and the livestock-related industries could generate thousands of new jobs, presumably in equal or greater than the industrial district. It was observed that the lack of tradition in the farming activity in the population, especially the interior is one of the factors that delay the assertion of this activity. The use of outdated technology, and the reluctance to absorb new technologies and little benefit to livestock are other factors that contribute to this activity did not develop and successfully operated in the Amazon. / A proposta deste trabalho se fundamenta em um estudo crítico do setor agropecuário considerando – o como uma alternativa de desenvolvimento real e possível para o Estado do Amazonas, tendo como estudo de caso o município de Parintins. Este setor, voltado para o desenvolvimento da pecuária de corte, já se apresenta como uma alternativa importante e bastante viável dentro deste contexto. Até a metade da década de sessenta o desenvolvimento do Estado do Amazonas estava direcionado principalmente para o setor primário. Com o surgimento da Zona Franca em Manaus, e do parque industrial, a economia do Amazonas deixou de ser fundamentalmente extrativista e agrícola para concentrar – se, principalmente, na indústria e serviços, a ponto da agricultura, pecuária e extrativismo vegetal, animal e mineral, representarem menos de 5% do PIB. O estado apresenta um déficit de unidades animais de mais de 4 milhões de cabeças de gado em relação à população , apesar de possuir cerca de 5,3 milhões de hectares indicados para a formação de pastagens. No período de janeiro de 1996 e janeiro de 1997 a evasão de renda com a compra de carnes vermelhas e brancas foi de R$ 112.527.318,40. Esta insuficiência para o Estado ocasiona um déficit social ainda maior, pois a produção de gado de corte, bem como as indústrias ligadas a pecuária, poderiam gerar milhares de novos empregos, supostamente em número igual ou maior que o Distrito Industrial. Foi observado que a falta da tradição na atividade da pecuária por parte da população, principalmente do interior, é um dos fatores que atrasam a afirmação desta atividade. A utilização de tecnologias ultrapassadas, bem como a resistência a absorver novas tecnologias e o pouco subsídio à pecuária, são outros fatores que contribuem para que esta atividade não tenha seu desenvolvimento e sucesso assegurados no Amazonas.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology / Robert L. Larson / Bradley J. White / Utilization of data analytics allows for rapid and real-time decision making in the food animal production industry. The objective of my research was to implement and utilize different data analytic strategies in multiple sectors of the beef cattle industry in order to determine management, health, and performance strategies. A retrospective analysis using reproductive and genomic records demonstrated that a bull will sire a larger number of calves in a multiple sire-pasture compared to other bulls in the same pasture. A further study was performed to determine if behavior differences existed among bulls in a multiple-sire pasture, and the ability of accelerometers to predict breeding behaviors. Machine learning techniques used classifiers on accelerometer data to predict behavior events lying, standing, walking, and mounting. The classifiers were able to accurately predict lying and standing, but walking and mounting resulted in a lower predictable accuracy due to the extremely low prevalence of these behaviors. Finally, a new form of meta-analysis to the veterinary literature, a mixed treatment comparison, was able to accurately identify differences in metaphylactic antimicrobials on outcomes of bovine respiratory disease morbidity, mortality, and retreatment morbidity. The meta-analysis was not successful in determining the effects of metaphylactic antimicrobials on performance outcomes.

Beef cattle production in the southeastern United States differs in size, practice, and production type from other U.S. regions. Smaller, cow-calf type operations dominate in this region because the climate, forage availability, and other land use practices of farmers make this type of cattle operation more ideal for the Southeast. This research summarizes the current practices and characteristics that define the Southeastern cow-calf operation of today’s market and operating environment; it also examines the factors that influence the variability of beef production in these operations. Results indicate the following major points: 1.) 53.0% of respondents with commercial cows have fewer than 50 head. 2.) Weaning weight and its variability tend to increase as calves get older. 3.) Calves on seedstock operations wean heavier than those typical of cow-calf operations. 4.) Operators that are more financially invested in their operation seem to be more attentive to outcomes of their production process.

Important implications of the study are: beef cow-calf production is competitive over a wide range of beef prices and it may increase farm returns to feed small amounts of corn silage rather than grow additional pasture even when the weaned steer calf-corn ratio is quite low. / Master of Science

Master of Science / Department of Journalism and Mass Communications / Wes Wise / Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) contamination has been a long-existing concern for those engaged in cattle production, often causing negative public health and economic consequences. The existence of pre-harvest practices that reduce E. coli contamination creates the opportunity to support human health by focusing on modifying behaviors in cattle production through educational communication. It is vital to consider how the communication can be modified to persuade the audience. This study examined the effects of different sources, such as a veterinarian or a cattle producer, presenting the educational message in a training video. An experimental design was used to examine how the information source used in a video relates to the source’s credibility, as well as testing concepts related to the theory of planned behavior. A link to a video and an online questionnaire were distributed to cattle producers through the weekly news e-mail distributed by several beef industry organizations. The data analysis of 106 complete questionnaires found that no matter how a presenter was described in a training video there was no difference in the perceived credibility of the presenter. Also, no matter how the source was identified there was no difference in the variables related to the theory of planned behavior and possible behavior adoption. In addition to these results, this study found that no matter how the source was labeled, higher perceived credibility correlated with more positive attitudes, perceived norms, perceived behavior control and reported intention to adopt the suggested behaviors. This pattern provides evidence for credibility’s relationship with possible behavior adoption, indicating that credibility of the source is an important consideration when message designers are constructing training videos.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A survey to assess the sustainability and marketing opportunities for smallholder cattle production systems was conducted by consulting with a total of 95 smallholder cattle producers in Ncorha and Gxwalibomvu communities in the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) of South Africa. In addition, a total of 18 surrounding beef retailers, 5 abattoirs that supplied beef to these retailers and 155 beef consumers who bought beef from these retailers between February 2013 and February 2014 were also interviewed using pretested structured questionnaires. The surveys established the perception of beef traders and consumers on the development of a Natural beef (NB) brand and indicated the willingness of participants to support the development of a NB brand. The results indicated that a smallholder beef cattle production system was socially and environmentally conditionally sustainable but economically not sustainable. Overall, the system was conditionally sustainable. Cattle herd size was bigger in Ncorha than in Gxwalibomvu (13.7±1.9 vs. 11.3 ± 1.9 heads of cattle, respectively). Smallholder producers from both sites sold an average of two cattle per year. Young farmers (<40 years old), Christians and small households (<5 members) had a greater potential to sell cattle than adults (>40 years old), traditionalists and larger households (>5 members). Similarly, households with access to extension services, owners of smaller cattle herds (<10 cattle) and from a lower income bracket (<R3000) had a bigger potential to sell cattle. More than 70% of consumers were willing to buy a NB brand once it is available on the market but were not willing to pay a premium for the beef brand. Consumers’ willingness to buy and pay a premium for a NB product was influenced by gender, age, income source, with meat preference and meat consumption frequency playing the biggest role in decision making. On the other hand, retailers were not willing to participate in the development of a NB brand. Beef traders, however, suggested that communal feedlotting, group marketing and characterization of beef from cattle fed natural pasture-based diets to identify unique quality attributes of such beef, can potentially improve offtake and economic sustainability of smallholder cattle production systems. The study concluded that smallholder cattle production systems in the ECP is conditionally sustainable, and opportunities for the integration of smallholder cattle producers into the formal beef market value chain lies in the characterization of natural pasture-fed beef, feedlotting and group marketing. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:'n Opname om die volhoubaarheid en bemarkingsgeleenthede vir kleinboer vleisbeesproduksiestelsels te evalueer, is deur middel van konsultasie met 'n totaal van 95 kleinboere vee produsente in Ncorha en Gxwalibomvu gemeenskappe in die Oos-Kaap Provinsie van Suid-Afrika, uitgevoer. Daarbenewens is altesame 18 omliggende vleis kleinhandelaars, 5 abattoirs wat beesvleis verskaf aan hierdie kleinhandelaars en 155 beesvleis verbruikers wat vleis gekoop het van die kleinhandelaars tussen Februarie 2013 en Februarie 2014, met behulp van vooraf-getoetste gestruktureerde vraelyste ondervra. Die opnames het die mening van beesvleis handelaars en -verbruikers oor die ontwikkeling van 'n natuurlike weiding-geproduseerde beesvleis (NPB) handelsmerk ingewin en ook die bereidwilligheid van die deelnemers om die ontwikkeling van 'n NPB handelsmerk te ondersteun, aangedui. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat 'n kleinskaalse vleisbees produksiestelsel sosiaal en omgewingsvriendelik voorwaardelik volhoubaar is, maar nie ekonomies volhoubaar is nie. In geheel is hierdie tipe produksiestelsel as voorwaardelik volhoubaar beskou. Beestrop grootte was groter in die Ncorha as in die Gxwalibomvu gemeenskappe (13.7 ± 1.9 beeste vs. 11.3 ± 1.9 beeste, onderskeidelik). Kleinboer produsente van beide areas het 'n gemiddeld van twee beeste per jaar verkoop. Jong boere (<40 jaar oud), Christene en klein huishoudings (<5 lede) het 'n beter potensiaal gehad om beeste te verkoop as volwassenes (> 40 jaar oud), tradisionele boere en groter huishoudings (> 5 lede). Net so het huishoudings met toegang tot voorligtingsdienste, eienaars van klein troppe (<10 beeste) en boere wat aan die laer inkomstegroep behoort het (<R3000), ʼn groter potensiaal gehad om vee te verkoop. Meer as 70% van verbruikers was bereid om vir 'n NPB produk te betaal sodra dit beskikbaar is op die mark, maar was nie bereid om 'n premie vir die NPB handelsmerk te betaal nie. Verbruikers se bereidwilligheid om NPB produkte te koop en ʼn premie te betaal vir die handelsmerk was deels beïnvloed deur geslag, ouderdom, bron van inkomste en die meeste deur vleis voorkeur en frekwensie van vleis verbruik. Kleinhandelaars was nie bereid om deel te neem aan die ontwikkeling van ʼn NPB handelsmerk nie. Bees handelaars het egter voorgestel dat kommunale voerkrale, groepsbemarking en karakterisering van vleis van beeste gevoer op natuurlike weiding om die unieke kwaliteitseienskappe van die tipe vleis vas te stel, potensieel afsette en ekonomiese volhoubaarheid van kleinboere produksie beeste stelsels kan verbeter. Die studie het bevind dat kleinboer veeproduksiestelsels in die Oos-Kaap Provinsie voorwaardelik volhoubaar is en dat geleenthede vir die integrasie van kleinboer beesprodusente in die formele vleisbeesmark waardeketting in die karakterisering van beesvleis geproduseer op natuurlike weiding, voerkrale en groepsbemarking, vervat is.

No description available.

Darbo tikslas: Įvertinti įvairių pieninių veislių karvių reprodukcinių savybių, produktyvumo bei tešmens sveikumo rodiklius ir nustatyti jų tarpusavio ryšius. Darbo uždaviniai: 1. Įvertinti: a) karvių reprodukcines savybes; b) karvių produktyvumo rodiklius; c) karvių somatinių ląstelių skaičių piene; 2. Palyginti skirtingų karvių veislių reprodukcinių savybių, produktyvumo bei tešmens sveikumo rodiklius; 3. Nustatyti tirtų rodiklių koreliacijos koeficientus. Išvados: 1. Tirtos karvės buvo vidutiniškai 3,64±0,032 laktacijos, vidutinė laktacijos trukmė – 228,47±3,576 dienų, vidutinė veršingumo trukmė – 281,72±1,280 dienų, karvės vidutiniškai sėklintos 1,95±0,034 kartų, neveršingumo laikotarpis vidutiniškai truko 154,06±3,566 dienų ir laikotarpis tarp apsiveršiavimų – 448,76±3,156 dienų. Vidutinis pieno kiekis per laktaciją buvo 5046,8±73,817 kg, pieno riebumas – 4,35±0,016 proc., riebalų kiekis – 214,60 ±2,844 kg, baltymingumas – 3,23±0,007 proc., baltymų kiekis – 162,32±2,191 kg, SLS piene – 407,03±23,328 tūkst./cm3. 2. Išanalizavus atskirų veislių karvių reprodukcines savybes nustatyta, kad ilgiausia veršingumo trukmė buvo LŽ veislės karvių (285,14±2,040), trumpiausia – VJ veislės karvių (279,32±1,994). Mažiausiai kartų sėklintos VJ veislės karvės (1,80±0,197), daugiausiai – LŽ veislės karvės (2,02±0,086). Trumpiausias neveršingumo laikotarpis nustatytas LŽ veislės karvių (139,91±6,310), ilgiausias – SP veislės karvių (182,53±20,981). Ilgiausias laikotarpis tarp... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Aim of work: To evaluate the different breeds of dairy cow reproductive performance, productivity and udder health traits and to establish interrelationships between between them. Place of research: The work was carried out in the Departament of Animal Breeding and Genetics of Veterinary Academy and also in the dairy cow‘s farm during 2011 – 2013 years studies. The results of survey: Cows were on average 3.64 ± 0.032 lactation. The average duration of lactation - 228.47 ± 3,576 days. The average gestation period - 281,72 ± 1.280 days. Cows inseminated an average of 1.95 ± 0.034 times. The servis period lasted an average of 154.06 ± 3,566 days and the interval between calving - 448.76 ± 3.156 days. Average milk production per lactation was 5046.8 ± 73.817 kg, of milk fat - 4.35 ± 0.016 percent., fat - 214.60 ± 2.844 kg, protein - 3.23 ± 0.007 percent., protein - 162.32 ± 2.191 kg, milk SCC - 407.03 ± 23,328 thousand/cm3. The analysis of individual cows reproductive traits showed that the longest pregnancy lasted Lithuanian reds cows (285.14 ± 2.040), the shortest - German black & whites cows (279.32 ± 1.994). At least once inseminated German black & whites cows (1.80 ± 0.197), mainly - Lithuanian reds cows (2.02 ± 0.086). The servis period the shortest period of Lithuanian reds cows (139.91 ± 6.310), the longest - Simental cows (182.53 ± 20.981). The longest interval between calving the Holstein black & whites cows (496.14 ± 7.152), the shortest - Lithuanian black & whites... [to full text]

As inovações tecnológicas e os avanços das fronteiras agropecuárias promoveram para o Brasil uma posição de destaque no mercado internacional da carne bovina. Entretanto, no estado Rio Grande do Sul a produção de bezerros de corte apresenta baixos índices reprodutivos e financeiros. Deste modo, cabe ao pecuarista aprimorar sua capacidade tecnológica e gerencial para otimizar a produção. Nesse contexto, os programas de fomento à pecuária são desafiados a prestarem serviços de informação e alinhamento técnico para que os pecuaristas progridam na atividade. Esse trabalho está divido em dois objetivos centrais. Primeiramente, foram analisados os fatores que diferenciam os pecuaristas em relação à taxa de desmame e tecnologias adotadas. Participaram da pesquisa 73 pecuaristas e foram avaliadas 48 tecnologias. A metodologia estatística foi composta por análise multivariada de dados, constituída pelo procedimento GLIMMIX complementada pelo teste de Tukey, procedimento FASTCLUS, análise discriminante (DISCRIM e STEPDISC) e teste qui-quadrado (P<0.05). Foram formados três grupos de pecuaristas distintos entre si (R²= 0.9), nomeados como Baixa (BTD), Média (MTD) e Alta (ATD), Taxa de Desmame. Os pecuaristas BTD apresentaram maior taxa de adoção para a tecnologia sal comum em comparação com os grupos MTD e ATD (P<0.05). Os pecuaristas ATD demonstram maior taxa de adoção para as tecnologias sal proteinado, inseminação artificial em tempo fixo, ultrassonografia, seleção dos bezerros pelo peso ao nascer, melhoramento do campo nativo e ajuste de carga animal, quando comparado com o grupo BTD (P<0.05). Os pecuaristas MDT e ATD adotam com maior frequência as tecnologias relacionadas com os aspectos nutricionais e reprodutivos do rebanho. Entretanto, 52% dos pecuaristas não realizam o gerenciamento econômico na fazenda. Em decorrência disso, o segundo objetivo central foi analisar as características dos 73 pecuaristas que afetam a adoção do gerenciamento econômico. A análise dos dados foi realizada através do modelo Probit. Os pecuaristas que possuem maiores áreas de terra destinadas à produção de bovinos de corte (P<0.10) e que apresentam uma produção agropecuária diversificada (P<0.05) são menos propensos em adotar. Por outro lado, os pecuaristas que acessam a Internet com maior frequência (P<0.10), participam de um maior número de associações de produtores (P<0.05), recebem assistência técnica com maior frequência (P<0.10), acasalam um maior número de vacas ao ano (P<0.05), possuem o sistema produção do tipo ciclo completo (P<0.05) e apresentam taxa de desmame igual ou maior que 70% (P<0.05) estão associados positivamente com a adoção. Estas informações podem ser utilizadas na formulação de programas de extensão, com o propósito de fomentar a adoção das práticas de gerenciamento econômico. Os pecuaristas mais propensos em adotar podem servir como agentes difusores, colaborando com a disseminação de tecnologias propícias para maximizar os lucros e minimizar os riscos enfrentados pela atividade. / Technological innovations and agricultural advances have included Brazil as a leading position in the international beef market production. However, in Rio Grande do Sul State, production of cow-calf have low reproductive and financial indexes. In this way, farmers should improve their technological and management capacity to optimize its production. Furthermore, programs to promote high livestock production are routinely challenged in beef cattle production to yield substantial information for farmers to be used form its well development in the system activity. This work is divided into two main goals. In the first study, factors that differentiate the farmers were compared in relation to weaning rate and to adopt technologies. This survey comprehends 73 farmers and 48 technologies. We used multivariate data analysis, comprising the GLIMMIX procedure, Tukey test, FASTCLUS procedure, discriminant analysis (DISCRIM and STEPDISC) and chi-square test to evaluate the collected data. The level of significance was set at P<0.05. Three distinct groups of farmers (R² = 0.9), named as Low (LWR), Medium (MWR) and High (HWR) Weaning Rate were formed. LWR presented higher adoption rate for common salt technology in comparison to MWR and HWR (P<0.05). HWR demonstrated higher adoption rate for protein salt technologies, artificial insemination, ultrasonography, selection of calves at birth weight, improving native pasture and adjusting stocking rate, when compared with the LWR group (P<0.05). MWR and HWR adopt more frequently the technologies related with nutritional and reproductive aspects of the herd in comparison to LWR (P<0.05). Furthermore, 52% of farmers do not adoption the economic management in farm. Due to this low adoption rate, the second objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics of the 73 farmers that affect the uses of economic management. Data analysis was performed by Probit model. Farmers with large size of the land (P<0.10) and diversity of the production system (P<0.05) are not likely to adopt an ideal economic management. On the other hand, farmers who access the Internet more frequently (P<0.10), participate in a greater number of associations (P<0.05), receive technical assistance more frequently (P<0.10), have a larger number of cows mated per year (P<0.05), possess a complete cycle system production (P<0.05), and have a weaning rate equal or greater than 70%, are positively associated with economic management in the farm (P<0.05). This information can be used to develop extension programs to promote new advances in the economy management of the production system. Farmers are more likely to adopt this approach to serve as diffusers agents, collaborating with the dissemination of key technologies to maximize profits and to minimize the risks faced by the activity.