Feeding behavior of post-weaned crossbred steers supplemented in the dry season of the year.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feeding behavior of grazing steers supplemented in the dry season of the year. Thirty-two castrated crossbred (½ Holstein-Zebu) steers with an average initial weight of 378 ± 7.54 kg, aged 14 months, were distributed into four treatment groups in a completely randomized design with eight replicates. The animals were managed in an area covered with a pasture of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, in a rotational grazing system. The supplement was formulated so that the animals in the different treatment groups would ingest the same amount of crude protein (CP) daily. Thus, the treatments consisted of increasing levels of supplementation, based on the animals' body weight (BW), as the protein content of the supplement was reduced. The following treatments (dry matter basis) were tested: T2, supplement at 0.2% BW, with 50% CP; T4, supplement at 0.4% BW, with 25% CP; T6, supplement at 0.6% BW, with 16.67% CP; and T8, supplement at 0.8% BW, with 12.5% CP. Forage dry matter intake decreased linearly (P < 0.05), characterizing a substitution effect. The increasing supplementation levels influenced the animals' feeding behavior, especially grazing time, total feeding time, number of grazing bouts, and number of bites per day, which showed a positive quadratic response (P < 0.05), and rumination time, number of rumination bouts, number of cuds ruminated per day, and number of chews per ruminated cud, which exhibited a negative quadratic behavior (P < 0.05). Dry matter and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) feed efficiencies and dry matter and NDF rumination efficiencies responded quadratically (P < 0.05). In conclusion, concentrate supplementation at up to 0.8% BW improves the feeding behavior of grazing steers in terms of the intake of concentrate supplement and forage as well as the feed and rumination efficiencies.

Principais aspectos considerados por consumidores na aquisição e consumo de carne suína em colônia do Piauí-PI / Key aspects considered by consumers in the purchase and consumption of pork in colônia do Piauí-PI / Principales aspectos considerados por consumidores en la adquisición y consumo de carne porcina en la ciudad de colonia del Piauí-PI

Objetivou-se avaliar o perfil do consumidor, da carne suína, quanto aos aspectos importantes considerados para o consumo, na cidade de Colônia do Piauí-PI. A pesquisa foi feita em forma de questionários com perguntas objetivas, sendo abordados nas residências da cidade, no interior e também nos estabelecimentos comerciais. As informações coletadas foram processadas pelo programa computacional Excel®. Foram entrevistadas 100 pessoas, sendo 38% homens e 62% mulheres. Constatou-se que 95% dos entrevistados consomem a carne suína, dando preferência a carne bovina citada por 42%. A maior frequência de consumo da carne suína foi considerada mensalmente por 36% dos entrevistados. Na região, 77% dos entrevistados consomem a carne suína mais sobre a forma in natura apresentando maior preferência pelo corte cárneo, costela com 35,8% dos consumidores e dentre os industrializados a linguiça liderou em consumo (48%). Possibilitou-se verificar que 86% afirmaram nunca ter visualizado propaganda de incentivo ao consumo de carne suína. Os entrevistados acreditam que os animais que passam menor desconforto na produção e no abate são as aves e peixes, ambos com 37% das opiniões. Percebe-se que o principal entrave para consumo da carne suína em Colônia do Piauí-PI pode estar atrelado à falta de esclarecimento sobre os benefícios de que a carne suína pode trazer, e de investimentos em marketing que desmistifiquem os problemas relacionados às questões sanitárias e ao teor de gordura. A frequência de consumo pode ser aumentada, já que o preço não foi o fator limitante para o consumo.(AU)

The purpose of this study was to assess the profile of pork consumers regarding key aspects considered for the consumption in Colônia do Piauí ­ PI. The survey was developed through questionnaires containing closed-end questions applied to residents at their homes and also at stores in the city. The data were processed using Microsoft Excel®. A total of 100 people were interviewed, being 38% men and 62% women. The results showed that 95% of the respondents consume pork, although 42% preferred beef. The highest frequency of pork consumption was considered on a monthly basis by 36% of the respondents. In the region, 77% of the respondents consume pork mostly in natura, expressing preference for pork rib cuts, with 35.8% of consumers; sausage was the most frequently consumed item among industrialized goods, with 48%. The main reason for not consuming pork more often was the idea that the meat had high cholesterol levels, answer provided by 55.8% of the respondents. It was also possible to verify that 86% said they had never viewed any advertising encouraging the consumption of pork. Respondents believe that animals that provide the lowest levels of discomfort in the production and slaughter are birds and fish, both with 37% of the answers. It can be concluded that the main obstacle to the consumption of pork in Colônia do Piauí ­ PI may be linked to a lack of awareness about the benefits pork can bring, and of marketing investments to clarify the sanitary and fat content issues. The consumption frequency can be increased, since price was not the limiting factor for consumption.(AU)

Se ha buscado evaluar el perfil del consumidor de la carne porcina, en cuanto a los aspectos importantes considerados para el consumo, en la ciudad de Colonia del Piauí - Piauí. La investigación se hizo en forma de cuestionarios con preguntas objetivas, siendo abordados en las residencias de la ciudad, en el interior y también en los establecimientos comerciales. Las informaciones recopiladas fueron procesadas por el programa computacional Excel®. Se entrevistó a 100 personas, siendo 38% hombres y 62% mujeres. Se constató que el 95% de los entrevistados consumen la carne porcina, dando preferencia a la carne bovina citada por el 42%. La mayor frecuencia de consumo de la carne de cerdo fue considerada mensualmente por el 36% de los entrevistados. En la región, el 77% de los entrevistados consumen la carne porcina más sobre la forma in natura presentando mayor preferencia por el corte cárneo, costilla con 35,8% de los consumidores y entre los industrializados la longaniza lideró en consumo (48%). Se pudo verificar que el 86% afirmaron nunca haber visto propaganda de incentivo al consumo de carne porcina. Los entrevistados creen que los animales que pasan menos molestias en la producción y en el sacrificio son las aves y los peces, ambos con el 37% de las opiniones. Se percibe que el principal obstáculo para el consumo de carne de cerdo en Colonia del Piauí-PI puede estar vinculado a la falta de aclaración sobre los beneficios de que la carne de cerdo puede traer, y de inversiones en marketing que desmistifiquen los problemas relacionados con las cuestiones sanitarias y al contenido de grasa. La frecuencia de consumo puede ser aumentada, ya que el precio no fue el factor limitante para el consumo.(AU)

Comparison of protein and energy supplementation to mineral supplementation on feeding behavior of grazing cattle during the rainy to the dry season transition.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of protein-energy or mineral supplementation on the ingestive behavior of dairy steers on pasture in the post-weaning phase during the rainy to dry season transition. Twenty-two ½ Holstein-Zebu dairy steers with an average initial body weight of 234 ± 16 kg were distributed into a completely randomized design into two groups: protein-energy supplementation and mineral supplementation offered ad libitum. The steers receiving protein-energy supplementation showed higher (P < 0.05) intake of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) than those fed diets composed of mineral salt only. In addition, the animals that received protein-energy supplementation had longer period in grazing and spent on average more time per period eating at the trough (P < 0.05), however no significant differences were observed in the time per period in rumination and time per period in idle (P > 0.05). The supply of protein-energy supplement does not change the feeding behavior, except for an increase in the time spent feeding at the trough. The intake of protein-energy supplement improved the of DM and NDF feed efficiencies in grazing cattle during the rainy to the dry season transition.

Ingestive behavior of grazing steers fed increasing levels of concentrate supplementation with different crude protein contents.

This study aimed to evaluate the ingestive behavior of steers on Brachiaria brizantha pasture fed diets with increasing levels of concentrate supplementation. Thirty-two crossbred steers in the finishing phase with average weight of 420 ± 8 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and eight replicates per treatment. Their behavior was assessed every 5 min for 24 h, in the middle of the experimental period. Variance and regression analyses at 0.05 % probability were adopted. The times spent grazing and ruminating reduced linearly (P <0.05), whereas the times spent at the trough (eating) and on other activities increased linearly (P <0.05) as the supplementation levels were elevated. The total feeding and chewing times decreased linearly (P <0.05) as the concentrate levels in the diet were elevated. By increasing the supplementation levels, the number of bites per day decreased linearly (P <0.05), and the feed efficiency of dry matter increased quadratically. Rumination efficiency of dry matter increased linearly (P <0.05) with increasing levels of concentrate supplementation. Grazing and rumination activities are reduced when the time devoted to other activities and at the trough are increased, as a result of the substitution effect.