The Canadian agricultural sector was recognised as a potential seller of carbon offset credits in the domestic emission trading system. A number of beneficial management practices may reduce GHG emissions while increasing production efficiency and profitability of agricultural activities. A contingent valuation survey was used to estimate the carbon offset price at which feedlot operators in Ontario would adopt two management practices that reduce GHG emissions: adding roasted soybean seeds to a cattle diet and increasing the intensity of feedlot operations. The value elicitation questions to estimate the mean WTA compensation were designed using a multiple bounded discrete choice format developed by Welsh and Poe (1998). / It was estimated that at a carbon offset price of $ 25.14/t CO2 e provided enough incentive for feedlot operators to intensify their operations and a price of $ 109.51/t CO2e to change their feeding strategies. The mean willingness to accept a cost to change a conventional practice to a greenhouse gas emissions reducing practice was estimated to be 62% of the carbon revenue. The regression analysis demonstrated that producers' willingness to accept compensation was influenced by the individual's characteristics, farm structure variables, and practice attributes. Policy makers may use these results in the design of greenhouse gas reduction strategies for the beef sector.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Gary M. Pierzynski / Soil chemical and physical properties beneath cattle feedlot pens are largely unstudied. This project was conducted to survey select soil chemical and physical properties of soil beneath active open air cattle feedlots. At four cattle feedlots in Kansas, the concentrations of NH4-N, organic-N, organic-C, Cl-, and P were high at the surface and rapidly decreased within 1.00 m. At three of the four feedlots, NO3-N was generally below background concentration (4.1 mg kg-1) while one feedlot had a >75 mg kg-1 increase in the top 1.00 m. Based on feeding data, only a small percent (7.9 to 1.2) of the total N deposited on the surface was found in the top 1.00 m below the pen surface for a range of 25 to 60 years of operation. While in use, these feedlots do not appear to have a high potential for groundwater pollution from NO3-N leaching. However, if they were to become inactive they may pose a severe threat to groundwater quality from organic-N mineralization and NH4-N nitrification. If feedlots were closed and the land could be largely remediated by removing a layer of soil, these feedlots would have an average 48% profile N removed in a 0.25 m thick layer. A chamber, a modified vacuum desiccator, was tested for the investigation of NH3 volatilization from soil in the laboratory. Ammonia volatilization at the soil surface is dependent on air flow, soil and air temperatures, soil water content, pH, the concentrations of NH3 and NH4+ in the air and soil solution, and factors affecting soil temperature including humidity. This chamber was built to control and/or quantify as many of these variables as possible. A technique for quantifying and predicting NH3 volatilization is important because AFOs are one of the largest contributors of NH3 to the atmosphere, which can cause acid precipitation and particulate matter deposition downwind from the operation. The chambers created allowed for repeated measurements with little error and appear to be a feasible, inexpensive apparatus to investigate NH3 volatilization mechanisms. Using synthetic urine as an N source, NH3 volatilization was affected by initial soil moisture content and soil texture and may be affected by initial soil pH. This chamber has promise to provide excellent data to assist the efforts being made to understand and model NH3 volatilization from feedlot pens.

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) has emerged as one of the economically important pathogens in cattle populations with a worldwide distribution and causing a complex of disease syndromes. It is a single-stranded RNA virus of the genus Pestivirus in the family Flaviviridae. Two genotypes (1 and 2) of BVDV exist and can be distinguished on the basis of the 5' non-coding region (5' NCR) of the genome using real-time PCR. This technique is more sensitive, specific, less time consuming and has reduced risks of cross contamination of samples compared to a conventional PCR. Limited information exists on BVDV genetic subtypes in South Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the genotypes of BVDV currently circulating in South African feedlots. A total of 279 specimens (219 tissue samples, 59 trans-tracheal aspirates and one blood sample) were collected from dead and living cattle. Pooled homogenates from the same animals were prepared and total RNA was extracted from 200 μl of the homogenates using the RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen) as described by the manufacturer. A screening test was performed on the pooled samples and positive pools were investigated individually. The Cador BVDV Type 1/2 RT-PCR Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) was used for the real-time PCR assay. The PCR was performed on a Lightcycler® V2 (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) real-time PCR machine and the amplified products were detected via fluorescent dyes. The results were read at 530 and 640 nm for BVDV 1 and 2, respectively. Bovine viral diarrhoea virus was detected in a total of 103 samples that included 91 tissue samples, one blood sample and 11 trans-tracheal aspirates. Eighty five of the strains were genotype 1 strains and 18 were genotype 2. These results represent the first documented evidence for the presence of BVDV genotype 2 in South African cattle. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Veterinary Tropical Diseases / unrestricted

Dois experimentos foram conduzidos no Departamento de Zootecnia da ESALQUSP. No experimento 1, o objetivo foi avaliar o aumento do suprimento de proteína metabolizável (uréia x farelo de soja) para bovinos em crescimento, confinados com rações com teores altos de polpa cítrica. Foram utilizados 28 machos Nelore não castrados, com peso médio inicial de 293 kg e 14 meses de idade, agrupados em 14 baias. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos ao acaso. O período experimental teve duração de 93 dias, divididos em 3 sub-períodos de 31 dias. As rações com 16,5% de feno de Tifton e 83,5% de concentrado (%MS), foram isoprotéicas, formuladas utilizando o NRC (1996) Nível 1. Foram comparados 2 tratamentos. O tratamento U continha 2,3% de uréia na MS da ração e apresentava balanço positivo de PDR (proteína degradável no rúmen) e balanço negativo de PM (proteína metabolizável). O tratamento FS continha 6,61% de farelo de soja e 1,32% de uréia na MS da ração e apresentava balanços positivos de PDR e de PM. O ganho de peso diário (1,42 x 1,22 kg/cab) foi maior (P<0,05) para os animais do tratamento FS comparado com os do tratamento U. Houve tendência (P = 0,051) de maior consumo diário de MS (8,32 x 8,07 kg/cab) e tendência (P=0,058) de maior a eficiência alimentar (GPD/CMS) (0,172 x 0,153 kg) para os animais do tratamento FS em comparação com os do tratamento U. No experimento 2 o objetivo foi avaliar o aumento do suprimento de proteína metabolizável (uréia x farelo de soja) para bovinos em terminação, confinados com rações com teores altos de polpa cítrica. Foram utilizados 26 machos Canchim não castrados, com peso médio inicial de 351 kg e 14 meses de idade, agrupados em 14 baias. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos ao acaso incompletos. O período experimental teve duração de 93 dias, divididos em 3 sub-períodos de 31 dias. As rações com 16,5% de feno de Tifton e 83,5% de concentrado (%MS) foram isoprotéicas, formuladas utilizando o NRC (1996) nível 1. Foram comparados 2 tratamentos. O tratamento U continha 2,3% de uréia na MS da ração e apresentava balanços positivos de PDR (proteína degradável no rúmen) e de PM (proteína metabolizável). O tratamento FS continha 6,61% de farelo de soja e 1,32% de uréia na MS da ração e apresentava balanços praticamente nulo de PDR e positivo de PM. O consumo diário de MS (8,76 x 8,64 kg/cab), o ganho de peso diário (1,39 x 1,42 kg/cab) e a eficiência alimentar (GPD/CMS) (0,160 x 0,167 kg de GPD/kg MS) não diferiram (P>0,05) para os animais do tratamento FS em comparação com os animais do tratamento U respectivamente. Houve interação significativa (P<0,05) entre tratamentos e períodos para as variáveis ganho de peso diário e eficiência alimentar. No primeiro período experimental, os animais do tratamento FS ganharam mais peso (1,56 x 1,29 kg/cab) com maior eficiência (0,179 x 0,156) que os do tratamento U. No terceiro período experimental, os animais do tratamento U ganharam mais peso (1,31 x 1,00) com maior eficiência (0,143 x 0,110) que os do tratamento FS. / Two trials were conducted at the Animal Sciences Department, ESALQ/USP. Trial 1: The objective was to evaluate the increase in metabolizable protein supply (urea vs soybean meal) for feedlot growing bulls, fed diets high in citrus pulp. Twenty-eight Nellore bulls, averaging 293 kg of body weight and 14 months of age, were grouped in randomized blocks. Animals were housed in 14 pens (4x7m), and experimental period lasted 93 days, divided in three 31 days sub periods. Diets were isonitrogenous and contained 16.5% Tifton hay and 83.5% concentrate (%DM), formulated using NRC (1996) Level 1. Treatment U contained 2.3% urea in ration dry matter, with positive RDP (rumen degradable protein) balance and negative MP (metabolizable protein) balance. Treatment FS contained 6.61% soybean meal and 1.32% urea in ration dry matter, with positive RDP and MP balances. Average daily gain (1.42 x 1.22 kg) was highest (P<0.05) for animals in the FS treatment. There was a tendency (P = 0.051) for highest daily dry matter intake (8.32 x 8.07 kg) and a tendency (P= 0.058) for highest feed efficiency (ADG/DMI) (0.172 x 0.153) for animals in the FS treatment. Trial 2: The objective was to evaluate the increase in metabolizable protein supply (urea vs soybean meal) for feedlot finishing bulls, fed diets high in citrus pulp. Twenty-six finishing Canchim bulls, averaging 351 kg of body weight and 14 months of age, were grouped in randomized incomplete blocks. Animals were housed in 13 pens (4x7m), and experimental period lasted 93 days, divided in three 31 days sub periods. Diets were isonitrogenous and contained 16.5% Tifton hay and 83.5% concentrate (%DM), formulated using NRC (1996) Level 1. Treatment U contained 2.3% urea in ration dry matter, with positive RDP (rumen degradable protein) and MP (metabolizable protein) balances. Treatment FS contained 6.61% soybean meal and 1.32% urea in ration dry matter, with null RDP balance and positive MP balance. Daily dry matter intake (8.76 x 8.64 kg), average daily gain (1.39 x 1.42 kg) and feed efficiency (ADG/DMI) (0.160 x 0.167) were not different (P>0.05) for FS and U treatment respectively. There were significant interactions (P<0.05) between treatments and periods for average daily gain and for feed efficiency. In the first sub period, animals in treatment FS gained more weight (1.56 x 1.29 kg) with greater feed efficiency (0.179 x 0.156) than animals in treatment U. On the other hand, in the third sub period, animals in treatment U gained more weight (1.31 x 1.00 kg) with greater feed efficiency (0.143 x 0.110) than animals in treatment FS.

No presente trabalho estudou-se a substituição de uma fonte de proteína verdadeira (farelo de soja) por uma fonte de nitrogênio não protéico (uréia), em combinação com duas fontes de amido, o milho moído fino e o sorgo moído fino, em rações para bovinos terminados em confinamento. Foram utilizados 24 machos não castrados, sendo 16 garrotes Nelore e 8 Canchim, com peso médio inicial de 417 kg e 15 meses de idade. O experimento foi conduzido nas instalações do Departamento de Zootecnia da USP-ESALQ. Os animais foram alojados individualmente em 24 baias (3x11 m) cobertas, com piso de concreto, durante 90 dias. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos ao acaso. Os animais foram alimentados com rações contendo 20% de feno de tifton e 80% de concentrado. Foram comparados 4 tratamentos: MFS (milho moído fino + farelo de soja), MU (milho moído fino + uréia), SFS (sorgo moído fino + farelo de soja) e SU (sorgo moído fino + uréia). De acordo com o NRC (1996), todos os tratamentos apresentavam balanços positivos de proteína metabolizável (PM). Não houve efeito de fonte energética no desempenho animal. Os animais suplementados com farelo de soja tiveram ganho de peso e eficiência alimentar maiores que os suplementados com uréia. / In this study it was evaluated the replacement of a true protein source (soybean meal) by a non protein nitrogen source (urea) in combination with two starch sources, fine ground corn and fine ground sorghum grains, in diets for feedlot finishing cattle. Twenty four yearling bulls (16 Nellore and 8 Canchim), averaging 417 kg initial live weight and 15 months old were used. Trial was conducted at the Animal Sciences Department, ESALQ/USP. Animals were housed in 24 individual concrete floor pens for 90 days. Randomized complete blocks were use for the statistical design. Rations contained 20% Tifton hay and 80% concentrate. Treatments were fine ground corn + soybean meal (MFS), fine ground corn + urea (MU), fine ground sorghum + soybean meal (SFS), fine ground sorghum + urea (SU). According to NRC (1996) all treatments presented positive metabolizable protein balances. There were no effects of the energy sources on animal performance. Animals fed soybean meal had greater ADG and feed efficiency than those fed urea.

Dois experimentos foram conduzidos no Departamento de Zootecnia da ESALQUSP. No experimento 1, o objetivo foi avaliar o aumento do suprimento de proteína metabolizável (uréia x farelo de soja) para bovinos em crescimento, confinados com rações com teores altos de polpa cítrica. Foram utilizados 28 machos Nelore não castrados, com peso médio inicial de 293 kg e 14 meses de idade, agrupados em 14 baias. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos ao acaso. O período experimental teve duração de 93 dias, divididos em 3 sub-períodos de 31 dias. As rações com 16,5% de feno de Tifton e 83,5% de concentrado (%MS), foram isoprotéicas, formuladas utilizando o NRC (1996) Nível 1. Foram comparados 2 tratamentos. O tratamento U continha 2,3% de uréia na MS da ração e apresentava balanço positivo de PDR (proteína degradável no rúmen) e balanço negativo de PM (proteína metabolizável). O tratamento FS continha 6,61% de farelo de soja e 1,32% de uréia na MS da ração e apresentava balanços positivos de PDR e de PM. O ganho de peso diário (1,42 x 1,22 kg/cab) foi maior (P<0,05) para os animais do tratamento FS comparado com os do tratamento U. Houve tendência (P = 0,051) de maior consumo diário de MS (8,32 x 8,07 kg/cab) e tendência (P=0,058) de maior a eficiência alimentar (GPD/CMS) (0,172 x 0,153 kg) para os animais do tratamento FS em comparação com os do tratamento U. No experimento 2 o objetivo foi avaliar o aumento do suprimento de proteína metabolizável (uréia x farelo de soja) para bovinos em terminação, confinados com rações com teores altos de polpa cítrica. Foram utilizados 26 machos Canchim não castrados, com peso médio inicial de 351 kg e 14 meses de idade, agrupados em 14 baias. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos ao acaso incompletos. O período experimental teve duração de 93 dias, divididos em 3 sub-períodos de 31 dias. As rações com 16,5% de feno de Tifton e 83,5% de concentrado (%MS) foram isoprotéicas, formuladas utilizando o NRC (1996) nível 1. Foram comparados 2 tratamentos. O tratamento U continha 2,3% de uréia na MS da ração e apresentava balanços positivos de PDR (proteína degradável no rúmen) e de PM (proteína metabolizável). O tratamento FS continha 6,61% de farelo de soja e 1,32% de uréia na MS da ração e apresentava balanços praticamente nulo de PDR e positivo de PM. O consumo diário de MS (8,76 x 8,64 kg/cab), o ganho de peso diário (1,39 x 1,42 kg/cab) e a eficiência alimentar (GPD/CMS) (0,160 x 0,167 kg de GPD/kg MS) não diferiram (P>0,05) para os animais do tratamento FS em comparação com os animais do tratamento U respectivamente. Houve interação significativa (P<0,05) entre tratamentos e períodos para as variáveis ganho de peso diário e eficiência alimentar. No primeiro período experimental, os animais do tratamento FS ganharam mais peso (1,56 x 1,29 kg/cab) com maior eficiência (0,179 x 0,156) que os do tratamento U. No terceiro período experimental, os animais do tratamento U ganharam mais peso (1,31 x 1,00) com maior eficiência (0,143 x 0,110) que os do tratamento FS. / Two trials were conducted at the Animal Sciences Department, ESALQ/USP. Trial 1: The objective was to evaluate the increase in metabolizable protein supply (urea vs soybean meal) for feedlot growing bulls, fed diets high in citrus pulp. Twenty-eight Nellore bulls, averaging 293 kg of body weight and 14 months of age, were grouped in randomized blocks. Animals were housed in 14 pens (4x7m), and experimental period lasted 93 days, divided in three 31 days sub periods. Diets were isonitrogenous and contained 16.5% Tifton hay and 83.5% concentrate (%DM), formulated using NRC (1996) Level 1. Treatment U contained 2.3% urea in ration dry matter, with positive RDP (rumen degradable protein) balance and negative MP (metabolizable protein) balance. Treatment FS contained 6.61% soybean meal and 1.32% urea in ration dry matter, with positive RDP and MP balances. Average daily gain (1.42 x 1.22 kg) was highest (P<0.05) for animals in the FS treatment. There was a tendency (P = 0.051) for highest daily dry matter intake (8.32 x 8.07 kg) and a tendency (P= 0.058) for highest feed efficiency (ADG/DMI) (0.172 x 0.153) for animals in the FS treatment. Trial 2: The objective was to evaluate the increase in metabolizable protein supply (urea vs soybean meal) for feedlot finishing bulls, fed diets high in citrus pulp. Twenty-six finishing Canchim bulls, averaging 351 kg of body weight and 14 months of age, were grouped in randomized incomplete blocks. Animals were housed in 13 pens (4x7m), and experimental period lasted 93 days, divided in three 31 days sub periods. Diets were isonitrogenous and contained 16.5% Tifton hay and 83.5% concentrate (%DM), formulated using NRC (1996) Level 1. Treatment U contained 2.3% urea in ration dry matter, with positive RDP (rumen degradable protein) and MP (metabolizable protein) balances. Treatment FS contained 6.61% soybean meal and 1.32% urea in ration dry matter, with null RDP balance and positive MP balance. Daily dry matter intake (8.76 x 8.64 kg), average daily gain (1.39 x 1.42 kg) and feed efficiency (ADG/DMI) (0.160 x 0.167) were not different (P>0.05) for FS and U treatment respectively. There were significant interactions (P<0.05) between treatments and periods for average daily gain and for feed efficiency. In the first sub period, animals in treatment FS gained more weight (1.56 x 1.29 kg) with greater feed efficiency (0.179 x 0.156) than animals in treatment U. On the other hand, in the third sub period, animals in treatment U gained more weight (1.31 x 1.00 kg) with greater feed efficiency (0.143 x 0.110) than animals in treatment FS.

No presente trabalho estudou-se a substituição de uma fonte de proteína verdadeira (farelo de soja) por uma fonte de nitrogênio não protéico (uréia), em combinação com duas fontes de amido, o milho moído fino e o sorgo moído fino, em rações para bovinos terminados em confinamento. Foram utilizados 24 machos não castrados, sendo 16 garrotes Nelore e 8 Canchim, com peso médio inicial de 417 kg e 15 meses de idade. O experimento foi conduzido nas instalações do Departamento de Zootecnia da USP-ESALQ. Os animais foram alojados individualmente em 24 baias (3x11 m) cobertas, com piso de concreto, durante 90 dias. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos ao acaso. Os animais foram alimentados com rações contendo 20% de feno de tifton e 80% de concentrado. Foram comparados 4 tratamentos: MFS (milho moído fino + farelo de soja), MU (milho moído fino + uréia), SFS (sorgo moído fino + farelo de soja) e SU (sorgo moído fino + uréia). De acordo com o NRC (1996), todos os tratamentos apresentavam balanços positivos de proteína metabolizável (PM). Não houve efeito de fonte energética no desempenho animal. Os animais suplementados com farelo de soja tiveram ganho de peso e eficiência alimentar maiores que os suplementados com uréia. / In this study it was evaluated the replacement of a true protein source (soybean meal) by a non protein nitrogen source (urea) in combination with two starch sources, fine ground corn and fine ground sorghum grains, in diets for feedlot finishing cattle. Twenty four yearling bulls (16 Nellore and 8 Canchim), averaging 417 kg initial live weight and 15 months old were used. Trial was conducted at the Animal Sciences Department, ESALQ/USP. Animals were housed in 24 individual concrete floor pens for 90 days. Randomized complete blocks were use for the statistical design. Rations contained 20% Tifton hay and 80% concentrate. Treatments were fine ground corn + soybean meal (MFS), fine ground corn + urea (MU), fine ground sorghum + soybean meal (SFS), fine ground sorghum + urea (SU). According to NRC (1996) all treatments presented positive metabolizable protein balances. There were no effects of the energy sources on animal performance. Animals fed soybean meal had greater ADG and feed efficiency than those fed urea.