Three environmental dimensions of beef cattle in tropical feedlot: Water, nutrients and land.

This study aims to evaluate water, land, and nutrient efficiencies in a tropical beef feedlot system by providing artificial shading and considering local conditions and feed cultivation. The study was conducted at the Experimental Feedlot of Embrapa Southeast Livestock in Brazil. Forty-eight Nellore bulls were divided into two groups, with one group having shade (GS) and the other without shade (GWS). The animals' body weights, water intake, and dry matter intake were recorded. The water footprint was calculated using a product-focused assessment, considering water consumed in feed production and animal drinking. The nutrient balance and land footprint were also assessed. To both treatments, the crop scenario with soybean and corn first crop produced in Maringa resulted in the lowest water and land footprint values. Corn was the main contributor to green water consumption. The efficiency in water use for corn decreased between the first and second crops. The water footprint of soybean meal varied between production locations. GWS had slightly higher average blue water consumption than GS. In terms of nutrient balance, the GS treatment exhibited lower nitrogen and phosphorus balance values, indicating higher efficiency in the use of these elements. The provision of artificial shading was found to reduce the water footprint and improve nutrient use efficiency. The location of grain production and the timing of corn planting were identified as key factors influencing water and land footprint values.

Thermal comfort provided by different shading structures in free-range systems in Brazilian savanna.

This work aimed to evaluate the thermal comfort provided by shading structures in free-range systems under a tropical environment, based on microclimate variables of nets with different materials. During the experiment, the unshading area; the natural shading of a native tree species to the Brazilian Savanna; and the artificial 80% shadings nets: black polypropylene, heat-reflective aluminized, and association of both were evaluated. The shading structures were analyzed in paddocks at the Água Limpa Farm from the University of Brasília, where dry-bulb, wet-bulb, black globe temperatures, and wind speed were collected for the micrometeorological characterization from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. From the temperatures, the vapor pressures and the humidities were calculated. The shortwave radiation was calculated through the sum of direct, diffuse, and reflected radiations. The mean radiant temperature, radiant heat load, and black globe temperature and humidity index were calculated. The internal and external surface temperatures of the nets and the soil temperature were measured every 30 min. The data were analyzed with aid of the statistical analysis system. The air temperature varied according to the shortwave radiation, from 25.6 °C at 8:00 am to 29.6 °C at 1:00 pm, with a decrease over the hours. Despite the air temperature of the trees showed the lowest average, the nets association structure was the most reduced all the thermal comfort indexes. The heat-reflective net presented the lowest soil temperature at all hours (under 26.1 °C). In general, the shadings proved to be efficient in promoting thermal comfort in free-range systems.

Thermal environment in mobile shelters with different cover types used for chicken housing at the semi-extensive rearing system.

In tropical climate countries, animal production faces a huge challenge, being the high solar irradiation levels an important factor that negatively influences the welfare and animal performance. The purpose of this research was to check the environment inside mobile shelters with different kinds of cover materials. This research has been developed at the State University of Goiás, Brazil, being used four different cover materials: DFPC, double-faced plastic canvas; PVC, polyvinyl chloride; VFB, tiles made with vegetable fiber and bitumen; and VFBW, tiles made with vegetable fiber and bitumen being the outer face painted white. Covers were placed up mobile shelters with the following dimensions: 1 m length × 1 m width × 1 m height and cover pitch of 30°. The environment was evaluated through thermal comfort indexes: enthalpy (H), temperature and humidity index (THI), black globe and humidity index (BGHI), mean radiant temperature (MRT) and thermal heat load (THL), and the measurement of thermal environmental variables (temperature of external (EST) and internal (IST) surface of the cover, dry bulb temperature (Tdb), black globe temperature (Tbg), relative humidity (RH), and wind speedy (WS)). Data analysis was performed using PROC MIXED of SAS® by analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Tukey test, at 5% of significance level. There was observed beneficial effect of the usage of shading, with a decrease in air temperature and thermal comfort indexes when compared with the unshaded environment. The materials presented different thermal behavior, with better results for PVC and VFBW, that presented lower internal (IST) and external surface temperature (EST), in addition to lower black globe temperature, thermal heat load, and black globe and humidity index. PVC and VFBW were the best types of covers evaluated, with significant decreased thermal comfort indexes.

Productivity and morphological composition of Xaraés palisade grass under three light intensities / Produtividade e composição morfológica do capim-xaraés em três intensidades luminosas

The adaptation of Urochloa brizantha to Brazilian ecosystems and the use of artificial shading in low light production studies are important tools to obtain productive responses and to know the behavior of plants when used in integration with arboreal components. The experiment was conducted at the FMVZ - UNESP in Botucatu city, São Paulo state, Brazil. The study aimed to evaluate the yield of U. brizantha (syn Brachiaria brizantha) cv. Xaraés (Xaraés palisade grass) under three light intensities and four cuts. The experimental design was a randomized block with three treatments (natural luminosity, 30% light reduction, and 60% light reduction), three replicates and four cuts. The following morphological components were determined: leaf area index (LAI), forage accumulation rate (FAR), total forage mass (TFM), stem yield (SY), leaf yield (LY), and dead material yield (DMY). Light intensity influenced grass productivity, and the best performance was reached under 60% shading, which had higher values of TFM, LY, SY, LAI, and FAR if compared to natural luminosity. Thus, a reduction of 60% in light intensity showed to be the most productive and the best alternative under those conditions.

A adaptação da Urochloa brizantha aos ecossistemas brasileiros e a utilização de sombreamento artificial em estudos de produção sob baixas luminosidades são ferramentas importantes para se obter respostas produtivas e conhecer o comportamento das plantas quando utilizadas em integrações com componentes arbóreos. O experimento foi conduzido na FMVZ UNESP Botucatu, com objetivo de avaliar a produtividade da cultivar de Urochloa brizantha (syn Brachiaria brizantha) cv. Xaraés submetida a três intensidades luminosas e quatro cortes. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, sendo os tratamentos: luminosidade natural, redução de 30% e 60% de luz, com três repetições e quatro cortes. Foi realizada a separação morfológica, índice de área foliar e a taxa de acúmulo, também foi calculada a produção de massa seca total, colmo e folhas, além da produção de material morto. A produtividade foi influenciada pelos níveis de intensidade de luz, sendo o melhor desempenho obtido no tratamento com 60% de sombreamento, que apresentou maior produção de massa seca total, de folha e colmo, índice de área foliar e maior taxa de acúmulo em comparação ao pleno sol. O tratamento com 60% de redução de luminosidade foi o mais produtivo, sendo o melhor tratamento nestas condições.

Productivity and morphological composition of Xaraés palisade grass under three light intensities / Produtividade e composição morfológica do capim-xaraés em três intensidades luminosas

The adaptation of Urochloa brizantha to Brazilian ecosystems and the use of artificial shading in low light production studies are important tools to obtain productive responses and to know the behavior of plants when used in integration with arboreal components. The experiment was conducted at the FMVZ - UNESP in Botucatu city, São Paulo state, Brazil. The study aimed to evaluate the yield of U. brizantha (syn Brachiaria brizantha) cv. Xaraés (Xaraés palisade grass) under three light intensities and four cuts. The experimental design was a randomized block with three treatments (natural luminosity, 30% light reduction, and 60% light reduction), three replicates and four cuts. The following morphological components were determined: leaf area index (LAI), forage accumulation rate (FAR), total forage mass (TFM), stem yield (SY), leaf yield (LY), and dead material yield (DMY). Light intensity influenced grass productivity, and the best performance was reached under 60% shading, which had higher values of TFM, LY, SY, LAI, and FAR if compared to natural luminosity. Thus, a reduction of 60% in light intensity showed to be the most productive and the best alternative under those conditions.(AU)

A adaptação da Urochloa brizantha aos ecossistemas brasileiros e a utilização de sombreamento artificial em estudos de produção sob baixas luminosidades são ferramentas importantes para se obter respostas produtivas e conhecer o comportamento das plantas quando utilizadas em integrações com componentes arbóreos. O experimento foi conduzido na FMVZ UNESP Botucatu, com objetivo de avaliar a produtividade da cultivar de Urochloa brizantha (syn Brachiaria brizantha) cv. Xaraés submetida a três intensidades luminosas e quatro cortes. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, sendo os tratamentos: luminosidade natural, redução de 30% e 60% de luz, com três repetições e quatro cortes. Foi realizada a separação morfológica, índice de área foliar e a taxa de acúmulo, também foi calculada a produção de massa seca total, colmo e folhas, além da produção de material morto. A produtividade foi influenciada pelos níveis de intensidade de luz, sendo o melhor desempenho obtido no tratamento com 60% de sombreamento, que apresentou maior produção de massa seca total, de folha e colmo, índice de área foliar e maior taxa de acúmulo em comparação ao pleno sol. O tratamento com 60% de redução de luminosidade foi o mais produtivo, sendo o melhor tratamento nestas condições.(AU)

Valor nutritivo do capim-xaraés em três intensidades luminosas / Nutritive value of xaraés palisade grass in three light intensities

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o valor nutritivo e a força de cisalhamento da cultivar de Urochloa brizantha (syn Brachiaria brizantha) cv Xaraés submetida a três intensidades luminosas e quatro cortes. O experimento foi conduzido na FMVZ - Unesp de Botucatu, com delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso, sendo os tratamentos: luminosidade natural, redução de 30% e 60% de luz, com quatro cortes e três repetições. As análises realizadas foram: composição bromatológica, digestibilidade e a força de cisalhamento. Não houve diferença na digestibilidade entre os tratamentos em nenhum dos cortes, mas a qualidade forrageira foi influenciada pelos níveis de intensidade de luz, tendo o tratamento com 60% de redução de luminosidade apresentado maiores concentrações de proteína bruta e cinzas, menores teores de fibra em detergente neutro, hemicelulose, celulose e força de cisalhamento. Em relação aos cortes estudados, o primeiro teve o menor intervalo de corte e produziu forragem com qualidade superior em comparação ao último, pois obteve menor teor de fibra em detergente ácido, lignina, hemicelulose, celulose e consequente menor força de cisalhamento. Portanto, a redução de 60% de luminosidade é benéfica à qualidade e à força de cisalhamento da cultivar Xaraés.(AU)

This study aimed to evaluate the nutritive value and shear strength of the Xaraés grass (Urochloa brizantha) under the three intensities of light and four cuts. The experiment was conducted at FMVZ - UNESP, Botucatu, with a randomized block design, with the following treatments: natural luminosity, 30% and 60% light reduction, with four cuts and three replications. The analyzes were bromatological composition, digestibility, and shearing strength. There was no difference in digestibility between the treatments in any of the cuts, forage quality was influenced by the light intensity levels, and the treatment with 60% of light reduction produced higher concentrations of crude protein and ash, lower levels of neutral detergent fiber, hemicellulose, cellulose and shear strength. According to the studied cuts, the first one had the lowest cut interval and produced superior forage compared with the last one, as it obtained lower fiber content in acid detergent, lignin, hemicellulose, cellulose and consequent lower shear force. Therefore, the reduction of 60% of luminosity is beneficial to the quality and shear force of the Xaraés palisade grass.(AU)

Valor nutritivo do capim-xaraés em três intensidades luminosas / Nutritive value of xaraés palisade grass in three light intensities

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o valor nutritivo e a força de cisalhamento da cultivar de Urochloa brizantha (syn Brachiaria brizantha) cv Xaraés submetida a três intensidades luminosas e quatro cortes. O experimento foi conduzido na FMVZ - Unesp de Botucatu, com delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso, sendo os tratamentos: luminosidade natural, redução de 30% e 60% de luz, com quatro cortes e três repetições. As análises realizadas foram: composição bromatológica, digestibilidade e a força de cisalhamento. Não houve diferença na digestibilidade entre os tratamentos em nenhum dos cortes, mas a qualidade forrageira foi influenciada pelos níveis de intensidade de luz, tendo o tratamento com 60% de redução de luminosidade apresentado maiores concentrações de proteína bruta e cinzas, menores teores de fibra em detergente neutro, hemicelulose, celulose e força de cisalhamento. Em relação aos cortes estudados, o primeiro teve o menor intervalo de corte e produziu forragem com qualidade superior em comparação ao último, pois obteve menor teor de fibra em detergente ácido, lignina, hemicelulose, celulose e consequente menor força de cisalhamento. Portanto, a redução de 60% de luminosidade é benéfica à qualidade e à força de cisalhamento da cultivar Xaraés.(AU)

This study aimed to evaluate the nutritive value and shear strength of the Xaraés grass (Urochloa brizantha) under the three intensities of light and four cuts. The experiment was conducted at FMVZ - UNESP, Botucatu, with a randomized block design, with the following treatments: natural luminosity, 30% and 60% light reduction, with four cuts and three replications. The analyzes were bromatological composition, digestibility, and shearing strength. There was no difference in digestibility between the treatments in any of the cuts, forage quality was influenced by the light intensity levels, and the treatment with 60% of light reduction produced higher concentrations of crude protein and ash, lower levels of neutral detergent fiber, hemicellulose, cellulose and shear strength. According to the studied cuts, the first one had the lowest cut interval and produced superior forage compared with the last one, as it obtained lower fiber content in acid detergent, lignin, hemicellulose, cellulose and consequent lower shear force. Therefore, the reduction of 60% of luminosity is beneficial to the quality and shear force of the Xaraés palisade grass.(AU)

Sombreamento de cafeeiros durante o desenvolvimento das gemas florais e seus efeitos sobre a frutificação e produção / Shading of coffee plants during floral buds development and its effects on fructification and production

O objetivo neste trabalho foi avaliar a influência do sombreamento, durante o período de desenvolvimento de gemas florais, sobre o desenvolvimento e maturação dos frutos, produção e tamanho dos grãos de Coffea arabica L. O experimento foi conduzido com cafeeiros adultos no Município de Londrina, os quais foram sombreados nos meses de abril, maio, junho, julho e agosto de 2004, com malhas de sombrite com 50 por cento de sombreamento. As coberturas foram retiradas, simultaneamente, no início de outubro do mesmo ano. A interceptação de 50 por cento da radiação incidente sobre o dossel dos cafeeiros em diferentes épocas do desenvolvimento de gemas florais não alterou o crescimento e o desenvolvimento dos frutos. As altas temperaturas e a deficiência hídrica anteciparam a maturação dos frutos, porém sem diferenças significativas nos estádios de maturação entre os tratamentos. O sombreamento, em diferentes épocas, também não afetou a produção e o tamanho dos grãos.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the influence of shading during the period of floral buds development on the growth and maturation of coffee fruits, production and grain size of Coffea arabica L. The experiment was carried out in Londrina, PR, Brazil. Plots of adult coffee plants were shaded monthly in April, May, June, July and August of 2004 using shading screens with 50 percent of porosity. The coverings were removed simultaneously at the beginning of October of the same year. The interception of 50 percent of incident radiation over the coffee canopy in different periods of floral buds development did not alter fruit growth and development. Fruit maturation was anticipated due to high temperatures and water deficit, however without significant differences on maturation periods among treatments. Grain yield and size were not affected by shading in the different periods.

Sombreamento de cafeeiros durante o desenvolvimento das gemas florais e seus efeitos sobre a frutificação e produção

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the influence of shading during the period of floral buds development on the growth and maturation of coffee fruits, production and grain size of Coffea arabica L. The experiment was carried out in Londrina, PR, Brazil. Plots of adult coffee plants were shaded monthly in April, May, June, July and August of 2004 using shading screens with 50% of porosity. The coverings were removed simultaneously at the beginning of October of the same year. The interception of 50% of incident radiation over the coffee canopy in different periods of floral buds development did not alter fruit growth and development. Fruit maturation was anticipated due to high temperatures and water deficit, however without significant differences on maturation periods among treatments. Grain yield and size were not affected by shading in the different periods.

O objetivo neste trabalho foi avaliar a influência do sombreamento, durante o período de desenvolvimento de gemas florais, sobre o desenvolvimento e maturação dos frutos, produção e tamanho dos grãos de Coffea arabica L. O experimento foi conduzido com cafeeiros adultos no Município de Londrina, os quais foram sombreados nos meses de abril, maio, junho, julho e agosto de 2004, com malhas de sombrite com 50% de sombreamento. As coberturas foram retiradas, simultaneamente, no início de outubro do mesmo ano. A interceptação de 50% da radiação incidente sobre o dossel dos cafeeiros em diferentes épocas do desenvolvimento de gemas florais não alterou o crescimento e o desenvolvimento dos frutos. As altas temperaturas e a deficiência hídrica anteciparam a maturação dos frutos, porém sem diferenças significativas nos estádios de maturação entre os tratamentos. O sombreamento, em diferentes épocas, também não afetou a produção e o tamanho dos grãos.

Sombreamento de cafeeiros durante o desenvolvimento das gemas florais e seus efeitos sobre a frutificação e produção

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the influence of shading during the period of floral buds development on the growth and maturation of coffee fruits, production and grain size of Coffea arabica L. The experiment was carried out in Londrina, PR, Brazil. Plots of adult coffee plants were shaded monthly in April, May, June, July and August of 2004 using shading screens with 50% of porosity. The coverings were removed simultaneously at the beginning of October of the same year. The interception of 50% of incident radiation over the coffee canopy in different periods of floral buds development did not alter fruit growth and development. Fruit maturation was anticipated due to high temperatures and water deficit, however without significant differences on maturation periods among treatments. Grain yield and size were not affected by shading in the different periods.

O objetivo neste trabalho foi avaliar a influência do sombreamento, durante o período de desenvolvimento de gemas florais, sobre o desenvolvimento e maturação dos frutos, produção e tamanho dos grãos de Coffea arabica L. O experimento foi conduzido com cafeeiros adultos no Município de Londrina, os quais foram sombreados nos meses de abril, maio, junho, julho e agosto de 2004, com malhas de sombrite com 50% de sombreamento. As coberturas foram retiradas, simultaneamente, no início de outubro do mesmo ano. A interceptação de 50% da radiação incidente sobre o dossel dos cafeeiros em diferentes épocas do desenvolvimento de gemas florais não alterou o crescimento e o desenvolvimento dos frutos. As altas temperaturas e a deficiência hídrica anteciparam a maturação dos frutos, porém sem diferenças significativas nos estádios de maturação entre os tratamentos. O sombreamento, em diferentes épocas, também não afetou a produção e o tamanho dos grãos.