Effects of corn straw on meat characteristics of lambs in the Brazilian semi-arid region.

The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of increasing levels of corn straw replacement of sorghum silage on average daily gain, loin eye area, subcutaneous fat thickness, weight of commercial cuts, leg tissue composition, and physico-chemical characteristics of the meat from F1 Santa Inês × Dorper lambs maintained in a feedlot system. Treatments consisted of 0, 33, 66 and 100% corn straw replacement of sorghum silage. There were thirty-six 150-day-old male lambs. Corn straw replacement of sorghum silage in lamb feed reduced the average daily gain and weight of the ribs, besides promoting a quadratic influence on leg fat content. However, there was no influence on commercial carcass cuts, leg muscle index, leg tissue composition, and physico-chemical characteristics of the meat. Thus, corn straw can be used as alternative feedstuff for sheep rations to improve the production of high-quality sheep meat in semi-arid regions.

Carcass characteristics and meat quality of goats fed increasing levels of crude glycerin.

Crude glycerin is a byproduct of the biodiesel industry and has been widely used in ruminant diets as a source of energy, usually in place of corn, primarily during periods of drought in tropical regions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of including levels of the crude glycerin of low purity (0, 6, 12 and 18%) replacing corn in the diets of goats on the carcass characteristics, tissue composition, meat cuts yield and physicochemical parameters of meat. Forty males castrated without defined racial pattern goats an initial average weight of 19.70 ± 2.30 kg were slaughtered after 86 days. Diets content 0 and 6% crude glycerin promoted similar responses to the analyzed variables, except for pH and breast weight. No differences were observed to total digestible nutrients, slaughter body weight, commercial cut yield leg tissue composition and physicochemical parameters of meat. Crude glycerin can be included up to 12% without losses on carcass weight and meat cuts, leg composition, and meat quality. The inclusion of crude glycerin containing 63.06% glycerol and 45.57% lipids could be effective in partial replacement of corn in diets for confined goats in tropical areas.

Prediction of carcass composition through measurements in vivo and measurements of the carcass of growing Santa Inês sheep.

In vivo and carcass measurements were evaluated to predict carcass physical and chemical composition and to list the measurements that best fit the prediction of the composition of growing Santa Inês sheep carcasses. Thirty-three animals were used to measure the loin eye area by ultrasound in vivo (LEAu) and in the carcass. We used 39 animals for biometric measurement in vivo and 42 sheep for morphometric measurement in the carcass. For the physical and chemical compositions of carcasses, dissection of the half left carcass was carried out in 42 animals. The data were submitted to Pearson's correlation analysis and t test. Simple and multiple linear regressions were performed using a stepwise procedure. All correlations between in vivo measurements and the physical and chemical compositions of carcasses (in kg) were significant, except for LEAu. Biometric measurements and hot (HCW) and cold (CCW) carcass weights were considered as predictors of the carcasses' physical and chemical compositions. Slaughter body weight (SBW) was the variable that most influenced the equations in the assessment of in vivo measurements and HCW and CCW most influenced the equations for measurements on carcasses. Biometric measurements of Santa Inês sheep can be used together with the SBW to estimate the physical and chemical compositions of carcasses, with emphasis on body compactness index, breast width, wither height, and croup height. The morphometric measurements can be used together with carcass weight to estimate the physical and chemical compositions of carcasses, with emphasis on croup width, carcass compactness index, croup perimeter, external and internal carcass lengths, chest width, and leg length and perimeter. The HCW can be used to predict the physical and chemical composition of carcasses without affecting the accuracy of the prediction model.

Carcass characteristics and meat quality of sheep fed alfalfa hay to replace Bermuda grass hay.

The objective of this study was to evaluate carcass characteristics, meat quality, and organ and viscera weight of forty male sheep, not castrated, initially weighed 26.5 ± 1.85 kg, and confined for 100 days (44 days for the adjustment period and 56 days of the experimental period). The treatments were four levels of replacement of Bermuda grass hay with alfalfa hay (0, 200, 400, and 600 g/kg, based on dry matter). The design was randomized blocks (one lighter group and other heavier group) with 10 animals in each treatment. There were no effects on weight gain or carcass parameters. However, an increase was observed on dry matter intake (g/day), crude protein intake (g/day), empty body weight (kg), and subcutaneous fat thickness (mm). There was also an increase in total organ weights in kg and g/kg. The tissue composition of the leg had a quadratic effect on the bone tissue weight (g) and linear effect on adipose tissue relative (g/kg) and muscle-fat relations. There was also a quadratic effect on bone tissues (g/kg) and muscle-bone relations. Likewise, there was a quadratic effect on the qualitative characteristics of meat (measure of luminosity), with the replacement of Bermuda grass hay with alfalfa hay in sheep feed. The replacement of Bermuda grass hay with alfalfa did not change carcass characteristics and meat quality.

Different roughage:concentrate ratios with and without liquid residue of cassava for lambs.

This aim of this study was to evaluate the intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients, ingestive behavior, blood parameters, and performance of lambs fed two roughage:concentrate (R:C) ratios, with or without liquid residue of cassava (LRC). Forty lambs (19.5 ± 1.45 kg body weight) were distributed in a completely randomized 2 × 2 factorial design. The intake of dry matter (1311 g/day) and total digestible nutrients (755 g/day), and the intake (172 g/day) and digestibility (552 g/kg) of crude protein were higher for lambs fed R:C of 40:60. The R:C ratio of 80:20 promoted a higher intake (585 g/day) and digestibility (461 g/kg) of neutral detergent fiber. There was an intake of LRC of 1.37 L/day for lambs fed R:C of 80:20 and 0.42 L/day for lambs fed R:C of 40:60. The lambs fed R:C of 80:20 spent more time in feeding (326 m/day) and rumination (530 m/day). The metabolic profile and performance of lambs were not affected by LRC inclusion. The body weight gain (220 g/day) was higher in lambs fed R:C of 40:60. A roughage:concentrate ratio of 40:60 is recommended for lambs because it resulted in the best performance, regardless of supplementation with liquid residue of cassava.

Can the body composition of crossbred dairy cattle be predicted by equations for beef cattle?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of the Hankins and Howe (HH46), Valadares Filho (V06), and Marcondes (M12) equations for predicting the physical and chemical composition of dairy crossbred bulls carcasses, as well as the chemical composition of their empty bodies. METHODS: This study was conducted using 30 dairy crossbred bulls. One group of five animals was slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment, and the remaining were slaughtered 112 days later. Animals were distributed in a completely randomized design into treatments consisting different levels of concentrate (0%, 17%, 34%, 51%, and 68%). The physical and chemical compositions of the cattle were obtained from the right half of the carcass and using samples taken between the 9th and 11th ribs of the left half of the carcass. The estimated and experimentally determined values were compared using the correlation and concordance coefficient, as well as the mean square error of prediction (MSEP) and its components. RESULTS: The HH46 equations were better at estimating the amount of muscle plus fat in the carcass. The amount of bone in the carcasses could not be well estimated by the HH46 and M12 models. The M12, HH46, and V06 equations were worst at estimating the amounts of protein, ether extract, and water in the carcass, respectively. In the empty body, the amounts of protein and water were well estimated by the HH46 equations. Protein, ether extract, and water were accurately estimated by the V06 equations, and ether extract by the M12 equations. CONCLUSION: The physical and chemical composition of dairy crossbred bull carcasses, as well as the chemical composition of their empty bodies, can be predicted using the equations tested here. The amount of bone in these carcasses could not be accurately predicted.

Energy and protein requirements of crossbred cattle in feedlot / Exigências energéticas e proteicas de bovinos mestiços em confinamento

The objective of this study is to predict the energy and protein requirements of crossbred dairy cattle in feedlot. The study was conducted at the Unidade Acadêmica de Serra Talhada, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Brazil with 30 bulls with a body weight of 339.1 ± 35.4 kg. Five animals were slaughtered at the end of the adaptation period to serve as the reference group; the remainder of the animals was slaughtered after 112 days. The latter group was randomly allocated to receive five treatments: 0, 17, 34, 51 and 68% of concentrate in the feed using a completely randomized design. The dietary intake of the animals that were not given concentrate was restricted to 1.5% of their body weight; these animals composed the group fed for maintenance. The body composition and empty body weight (EBW) were estimated by means of the comparative slaughter method and full dissection of a half-carcass. The results showed that for crossbred dairy bulls in confinement, the net and metabolizable energy requirements were 86.49 and 138 kcal EBW-0.75 day-1, respectively, and the efficiency of use of metabolizable energy for maintenance and gain were 62.67% and 31.67%, respectively. The net energy (NEg) and net protein (NPg) requirements for gain can be estimated using the following equations, respectively: NEg= 0.0392*EBW0.75*EBWG1.0529 and NPg= 242.34 x EBWG - 23.09 x RE. The efficiency of use of metabolizable protein for gain was 25.8%, and the protein requirement for maintenance was 2.96 g EBW-0.75 day-1. The rumen degradable protein can supply 62.44% of the crude protein requirements of feedlot dairy crossbred bulls with a body weight of 450 kg while gaining 1 kg day-1.(AU)

Com o objetivo de predizer as exigências energéticas e proteicas de bovinos mestiços leiteiros em confinamento, este trabalho foi conduzido na Unidade Acadêmica de Serra Talhada da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. Foram utilizados 30 machos não castrados, com peso corporal inicial de 339,1 ± 35,4 kg. Cinco animais foram abatidos após período de adaptação, compondo o grupo referência, e o restante foi abatido após 112 dias. Os remanescentes foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em cinco tratamentos: 0, 17, 34, 51 e 68% de concentrado na ração, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Os bovinos que não receberam concentrado tiveram seu consumo restrito para 1,5% do seu peso corporal, compondo o grupo de animais alimentados ao nível de mantença. A composição corporal e o peso de corpo vazio (PCVZ) foram obtidos pela técnica do abate comparativo e dissecação completa da meia carcaça. Para bovinos mestiços leiteiros, não castrados, confinados, as exigências líquida e metabolizável de energia para mantença foram de 86,49 e 138 kcal PCVZ-0,75 dia-1, respectivamente, enquanto que as eficiências de utilização da energia metabolizável (EUEM) para mantença e ganho foram de 62,67 e 31,67%, respectivamente. Já as exigências líquidas de energia (ELg) e proteina (PLg) para ganho, podem ser estimadas a partir das seguintes equações: ELg = 0,0392*PCVZ0,75*GPCVZ1,0529e PLg = 242,34 × GPCVZ - 23,09 × ER, respectivamente. A eficiência do uso da proteína metabolizável para ganho foi de 25,8% enquanto que as exigências de proteína para mantença foram 2,96 g PCVZ-0,75 dia-1. A proteína degradável no rúmen pode suprir 62,44% das exigências em proteína bruta de bovinos mestiços leiteiros, machos não castrados, em confinamento, com peso corporal de 450 kg e ganho de 1 kg dia-1.(AU)

Energy and protein requirements of crossbred cattle in feedlot / Exigências energéticas e proteicas de bovinos mestiços em confinamento

The objective of this study is to predict the energy and protein requirements of crossbred dairy cattle in feedlot. The study was conducted at the Unidade Acadêmica de Serra Talhada, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Brazil with 30 bulls with a body weight of 339.1 ± 35.4 kg. Five animals were slaughtered at the end of the adaptation period to serve as the reference group; the remainder of the animals was slaughtered after 112 days. The latter group was randomly allocated to receive five treatments: 0, 17, 34, 51 and 68% of concentrate in the feed using a completely randomized design. The dietary intake of the animals that were not given concentrate was restricted to 1.5% of their body weight; these animals composed the group fed for maintenance. The body composition and empty body weight (EBW) were estimated by means of the comparative slaughter method and full dissection of a half-carcass. The results showed that for crossbred dairy bulls in confinement, the net and metabolizable energy requirements were 86.49 and 138 kcal EBW-0.75 day-1, respectively, and the efficiency of use of metabolizable energy for maintenance and gain were 62.67% and 31.67%, respectively. The net energy (NEg) and net protein (NPg) requirements for gain can be estimated using the following equations, respectively: NEg= 0.0392*EBW0.75*EBWG1.0529 and NPg= 242.34 x EBWG - 23.09 x RE. The efficiency of use of metabolizable protein for gain was 25.8%, and the protein requirement for maintenance was 2.96 g EBW-0.75 day-1. The rumen degradable protein can supply 62.44% of the crude protein requirements of feedlot dairy crossbred bulls with a body weight of 450 kg while gaining 1 kg day-1.

Com o objetivo de predizer as exigências energéticas e proteicas de bovinos mestiços leiteiros em confinamento, este trabalho foi conduzido na Unidade Acadêmica de Serra Talhada da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. Foram utilizados 30 machos não castrados, com peso corporal inicial de 339,1 ± 35,4 kg. Cinco animais foram abatidos após período de adaptação, compondo o grupo referência, e o restante foi abatido após 112 dias. Os remanescentes foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em cinco tratamentos: 0, 17, 34, 51 e 68% de concentrado na ração, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Os bovinos que não receberam concentrado tiveram seu consumo restrito para 1,5% do seu peso corporal, compondo o grupo de animais alimentados ao nível de mantença. A composição corporal e o peso de corpo vazio (PCVZ) foram obtidos pela técnica do abate comparativo e dissecação completa da meia carcaça. Para bovinos mestiços leiteiros, não castrados, confinados, as exigências líquida e metabolizável de energia para mantença foram de 86,49 e 138 kcal PCVZ-0,75 dia-1, respectivamente, enquanto que as eficiências de utilização da energia metabolizável (EUEM) para mantença e ganho foram de 62,67 e 31,67%, respectivamente. Já as exigências líquidas de energia (ELg) e proteina (PLg) para ganho, podem ser estimadas a partir das seguintes equações: ELg = 0,0392*PCVZ0,75*GPCVZ1,0529e PLg = 242,34 × GPCVZ - 23,09 × ER, respectivamente. A eficiência do uso da proteína metabolizável para ganho foi de 25,8% enquanto que as exigências de proteína para mantença foram 2,96 g PCVZ-0,75 dia-1. A proteína degradável no rúmen pode suprir 62,44% das exigências em proteína bruta de bovinos mestiços leiteiros, machos não castrados, em confinamento, com peso corporal de 450 kg e ganho de 1 kg dia-1.

Desenvolvimento fetal e composição corporal de cabras Moxotó em gestação

Objetivou-se avaliar o consumo, digestibilidade, desenvolvimento fetal e composição corporal de cabras da raça Moxotó em gestação. Este trabalho foi conduzido na Estação Experimental de São João do Cariri-PB. Oito cabras não prenhes foram abatidas para representar a composição corporal inicial. Um grupo de cabras aptas à reprodução foi submetido à sincronização de cio, mediante aplicação de hormônios e, aquelas que apresentaram cio foram cobertas, por meio de monta natural controlada. Trinta dias após o primeiro acasalamento, foi realizado o diagnóstico de gestação e a contagem do número de fetos, por meio da técnica de ultrassonografia. Após confirmada a gestação e determinados o número de fetos, as cabras foram agrupadas conforme o dia de gestação (50, 100 e 140 dias), o tipo de gestação (simples ou gemelar) e o nível de restrição (0%, 20% e 40% de restrição). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 3x2x3 (dia gestacional, número de fetos e nível de restrição). As cabras permaneceram em baias individuais, com 3,75 m2 e piso de chão batido durante todo período experimental. As cabras que foram abatidas aos 140 dias, foram colocadas em gaiolas para ensaio de metabolismo nas diferentes fases avaliadas (50, 100 e 140 dias) e permaneceram nestas por um periodo de 15 dias, 10 para adaptaçao e 5 para coleta de material. Os abates foram realizados aos 50, 100 e 140 dias após a última cobertura, através de concussão cerebral e posterior sangria. O sangue foi colhido e pesado, bem como o trato gastrintestinal (antes e após retirada do conteúdo) e todos os órgãos individualmente. O úbere e o útero grávido (útero, fetos, estruturas e líquidos fetais) foram removidos, pesados e congelados. As amostras congeladas foram serradas, moídas e homogeneizadas e novamente congeladas, após congelamento foi feita a liofilização e as análises laboratoriais. Os resultados apontaram que as cabras elevaram o consumo de nutrientes e energia no período final da gestação, mas não modificaram a digestiblidade dos nutrientes, por aumentarem as perdas de energia nas fezes e na forma de gases. A restrição alimentar melhorou a digestibilidade da fibra e diminuiu as perdas de nitrogênio e energia, não afetando o crescimento fetal. Fetos oriundos de gestações duplas são menos desenvolvidos individualmente que fetos simples. O acúmulo de nutrientes nos fetos acompanha seu ganho em peso. A fase de gestação é determinante de primeira ordem nas mudanças ocorridas no organismo materno e no desenvolvimento dos conceptos e da glândula mamária, mas as mudanças mais significativas ocorrem somente no terço final desta fase. A restrição alimentar durante a fase gestacional promove modificações na composição corporal materna, no intuito de garantir o desenvolvimento dos tecidos prioritários, sem que ocorram alterações na composição química destes tecidos.

Quality assessment of goat meat of breeds native fed diets with two levels of Maniçoba hay / Avaliação da qualidade da carne de cabritos nativos terminados com dietas contendo feno de Maniçoba

The effect of rest periods during seasons was evaluated on morphogenetic and structural characteristics and herbage accumulation of Panicum maximum cv. Mombaca established in Amazonia. We used a completely randomized design, with four replicates per treatment. Rest periods were 36 and 48 days, and height of cut was 25 cm. Leaf blade dry matter production did not increase as rest period increased. Dry matter production did not modify between rest periods, showing that in the lowest rest period lower production was compensated by higher number of cuts. Rest period did not influence the morphogenetic variable evaluated, except phyllocrono as higher average was obtained in lower rest period. For structural characteristics, effect of rest period was observed for leaf blade length, death leaves number and sheat-stem ration.

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar as características físico-químicas e sensoriais da carne de caprinos das raças Canindé e Moxotó, criados em sistema de confinamento e alimentados a base de dietas com dois níveis de feno de maniçoba (Maninhot glaziovii muell.) (35 e 70%). Utilizou-se 40 cabritos castrados, dos quais 20 da raça Moxotó e 20 da raça Canindé. Cabritos da raça Moxotó produziram carnes com maior umidade e suculência que os animais da raça Canindé. Foram encontrados na carne destes genótipos avaliados, expressivos teores de proteína e baixas concentrações de lipídeos totais, o que é desejável para consumidores que priorizam produtos saudáveis. Pode-se afirmar que as carnes procedentes de caprinos da raça Moxotó e Canindé classificam-se como macias, e que, o fornecimento de dietas com maiores níveis energéticos para caprinos da Raça Moxotó e Canindé, em confinamento, favorece a produção de carnes mais macias e suculentas.

Quality assessment of goat meat of breeds native fed diets with two levels of Maniçoba hay / Avaliação da qualidade da carne de cabritos nativos terminados com dietas contendo feno de Maniçoba

The effect of rest periods during seasons was evaluated on morphogenetic and structural characteristics and herbage accumulation of Panicum maximum cv. Mombaca established in Amazonia. We used a completely randomized design, with four replicates per treatment. Rest periods were 36 and 48 days, and height of cut was 25 cm. Leaf blade dry matter production did not increase as rest period increased. Dry matter production did not modify between rest periods, showing that in the lowest rest period lower production was compensated by higher number of cuts. Rest period did not influence the morphogenetic variable evaluated, except phyllocrono as higher average was obtained in lower rest period. For structural characteristics, effect of rest period was observed for leaf blade length, death leaves number and sheat-stem ration.

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar as características físico-químicas e sensoriais da carne de caprinos das raças Canindé e Moxotó, criados em sistema de confinamento e alimentados a base de dietas com dois níveis de feno de maniçoba (Maninhot glaziovii muell.) (35 e 70%). Utilizou-se 40 cabritos castrados, dos quais 20 da raça Moxotó e 20 da raça Canindé. Cabritos da raça Moxotó produziram carnes com maior umidade e suculência que os animais da raça Canindé. Foram encontrados na carne destes genótipos avaliados, expressivos teores de proteína e baixas concentrações de lipídeos totais, o que é desejável para consumidores que priorizam produtos saudáveis. Pode-se afirmar que as carnes procedentes de caprinos da raça Moxotó e Canindé classificam-se como macias, e que, o fornecimento de dietas com maiores níveis energéticos para caprinos da Raça Moxotó e Canindé, em confinamento, favorece a produção de carnes mais macias e suculentas.

Return of reproductive cyclic activity in Morada Nova sheep at metabolizable energy different levels / Retorno da atividade cíclica reprodutiva em ovelhas da raça Morada Nova submetidas a diferentes níveis de energia metabolizável

The objective, in this work, was to evaluate the effect of metabolizable energy offered on reproductive cyclic activity return of Morada Nova sheep, at different energy levels, during the lactation, since the pregnancy last third, 39 sheep, distributed in three treatments, during the rainy and dry season, were used. Experimental diets were formulated to meet a daily intake of 2.2, 2.8 and 3.4 Mcal of Metabolizable Energy (ME)/day and 150 g of crude protein, and the serum levels of progesterone and cortisol regarding, besides the reproductive performance, were evaluated. An entirely casualized design was used in a subdivided scheme for the hormone, and generalized linear models, by the Poisson distribution and binomial distribution in the non-parametric data. There was effect from interaction between period and treatment (P

Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da energia metabolizável ofertada sobre o retorno da atividade cíclica reprodutiva de ovelhas da raça Morada Nova, durante a lactação, que receberam diferentes níveis de energia desde o terço final da gestação. Foram utilizadas 39 ovelhas distribuídas em três tratamentos durante a época chuvosa e seca. As dietas experimentais foram formuladas para atender ingestão diária de 2,2; 2,8; e 3,4 Mcal de Energia Metabolizável (EM)/dia e 150g de proteína bruta, sendo avaliados os níveis séricos de progesterona e cortisol, além do desempenho reprodutivo. Utilizou-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, num esquema de parcelas subdivididas para os hormônios, e modelos lineares generalizados, mediante a distribuição de Poisson e distribuição binomial nos dados não paramétricos. Houve efeito da interação entre período e tratamentos (P

Return of reproductive cyclic activity in Morada Nova sheep at metabolizable energy different levels / Retorno da atividade cíclica reprodutiva em ovelhas da raça Morada Nova submetidas a diferentes níveis de energia metabolizável

The objective, in this work, was to evaluate the effect of metabolizable energy offered on reproductive cyclic activity return of Morada Nova sheep, at different energy levels, during the lactation, since the pregnancy last third, 39 sheep, distributed in three treatments, during the rainy and dry season, were used. Experimental diets were formulated to meet a daily intake of 2.2, 2.8 and 3.4 Mcal of Metabolizable Energy (ME)/day and 150 g of crude protein, and the serum levels of progesterone and cortisol regarding, besides the reproductive performance, were evaluated. An entirely casualized design was used in a subdivided scheme for the hormone, and generalized linear models, by the Poisson distribution and binomial distribution in the non-parametric data. There was effect from interaction between period and treatment (P

Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da energia metabolizável ofertada sobre o retorno da atividade cíclica reprodutiva de ovelhas da raça Morada Nova, durante a lactação, que receberam diferentes níveis de energia desde o terço final da gestação. Foram utilizadas 39 ovelhas distribuídas em três tratamentos durante a época chuvosa e seca. As dietas experimentais foram formuladas para atender ingestão diária de 2,2; 2,8; e 3,4 Mcal de Energia Metabolizável (EM)/dia e 150g de proteína bruta, sendo avaliados os níveis séricos de progesterona e cortisol, além do desempenho reprodutivo. Utilizou-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, num esquema de parcelas subdivididas para os hormônios, e modelos lineares generalizados, mediante a distribuição de Poisson e distribuição binomial nos dados não paramétricos. Houve efeito da interação entre período e tratamentos (P

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the fetal development of Santa Ines breed ovine / Avaliação ultra-sonográfica do desenvolvimento fetal de ovinos da raça Santa Inês

Aiming the accompaniment of the fetal development, the quantification of the fetus number and the establishment of the correlation between gestational age and fetal measures of the biparietal diameter (DBP) and abdominal diameter (DA) in sheeps of the Santa Ines breed, ultrasound exams (US) were carried out every two weeks, in 40 females, using transductors of 6 and 8 MHz, transrectal and transabdominal, according to the gestational phase. The results showed that the best period to evaluate fetal development through DBP and DA was between 80 and 129 days of gestation. When correlated with fetal age, the DBP presented R2 equal to 0.637 and 0.628 and the DA was R2 equal to 0.631 and 0.670 to the simple and double gestation, respectively (P 0,05). It was concluded that US is an essential tool for the evaluation of the fetal development, as well as the fetal measures can be used to predict gestational age.

Com o objetivo de efetuar o monitoramento do desenvolvimento fetal, quantificar o numero de fetos e estabelecer correlação entre a idade gestacional e as medidas fetais do diâmetro biparietal (DBP) e diâmetro abdominal (DA) em ovelhas da raça Santa Inês, foram realizados exames ultrassonográficos (US), quinzenalmente, em 40 fêmeas, utilizando transdutor de 6 e 8 MHz, por via endoretal e transabdominal, de acordo com a fase gestacional. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que o melhor período para avaliação do desenvolvimento fetal, através das medidas de DBP e DA, foi entre os dias 80 e 129 de gestação. Quando correlacionados com a Idade fetal, o DBP apresentou R2 igual a 0,637 e 0,628 e o DA obteve R2 igual a 0,631 e 0,670, para gestação simples e dupla, respectivamente (P 0,05). Conclui-se que a US é uma ferramenta imprescindível para o monitoramento do desenvolvimento fetal, bem como as medidas fetais podem ser utilizadas para predizer a idade gestacional.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the fetal development of Santa Ines breed ovine / Avaliação ultra-sonográfica do desenvolvimento fetal de ovinos da raça Santa Inês

Aiming the accompaniment of the fetal development, the quantification of the fetus number and the establishment of the correlation between gestational age and fetal measures of the biparietal diameter (DBP) and abdominal diameter (DA) in sheeps of the Santa Ines breed, ultrasound exams (US) were carried out every two weeks, in 40 females, using transductors of 6 and 8 MHz, transrectal and transabdominal, according to the gestational phase. The results showed that the best period to evaluate fetal development through DBP and DA was between 80 and 129 days of gestation. When correlated with fetal age, the DBP presented R2 equal to 0.637 and 0.628 and the DA was R2 equal to 0.631 and 0.670 to the simple and double gestation, respectively (P 0,05). It was concluded that US is an essential tool for the evaluation of the fetal development, as well as the fetal measures can be used to predict gestational age.

Com o objetivo de efetuar o monitoramento do desenvolvimento fetal, quantificar o numero de fetos e estabelecer correlação entre a idade gestacional e as medidas fetais do diâmetro biparietal (DBP) e diâmetro abdominal (DA) em ovelhas da raça Santa Inês, foram realizados exames ultrassonográficos (US), quinzenalmente, em 40 fêmeas, utilizando transdutor de 6 e 8 MHz, por via endoretal e transabdominal, de acordo com a fase gestacional. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que o melhor período para avaliação do desenvolvimento fetal, através das medidas de DBP e DA, foi entre os dias 80 e 129 de gestação. Quando correlacionados com a Idade fetal, o DBP apresentou R2 igual a 0,637 e 0,628 e o DA obteve R2 igual a 0,631 e 0,670, para gestação simples e dupla, respectivamente (P 0,05). Conclui-se que a US é uma ferramenta imprescindível para o monitoramento do desenvolvimento fetal, bem como as medidas fetais podem ser utilizadas para predizer a idade gestacional.