ABSTRACT The use of agroindustrial byproducts in cattle diets, such as castor-bean (Ricinus communis L.) meal, is a more sustainable practice because it does not compete with human food and reduces the volume of organic waste deposited in the environment. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of replacing soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) meal with castor-bean meal on the intake, digestibility, feeding behavior and performance of crossbred steers supplemented while on Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R.D. Webster ‘Marandu’ pasture. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete design with 40 animals, which started the experiment weighing 227.1 kg, at 10 mo of age, and were divided into four treatment groups. Castor-bean meal was added to replace soybean meal at the levels of 0, 90, 180, and 280 g kg-1 in the supplement, which was supplied at the rate of 0.4% of body weight. Total DM, pasture DM and neutral detergent fiber intakes did not change (P > 0.05) with the castor-bean levels added to the supplement. Ether extract intake and digestibility decreased linearly (P < 0.05). The animals showed no differences (P > 0.05) in production performance (average daily gain), which averaged 0.65 kg d-1. Grazing, idle, and rumination times were not influenced (P > 0.05) by the treatments. Castor-bean meal can be included up to 280 g kg-1 in the total diet without changing the performance of crossbred steers finished on tropical pasture.

Abstract A new approach to meat color and shelf-life assessment is reported here for hamburgers mixed with goji berry. Samples with powdered or aqueous extract of goji berry were monitored, compared with hamburgers without the additive for ten days and its L*, a* and b* properties were determined by computer vision using a homemade setup. Noteworthy results, in particular the luminosity, for all samples with goji berry – only or with salt and pepper – were perceived, and predictive mathematical models for these food mixtures are here presented. The addition of goji berry in hamburgers, pioneered in this study, present advantageous characteristics both in terms of storage time and a positive effect on human health owing to the polyphenols in the natural additive. This study also offers insights into a low-cost and reliable method for the quality control of meat with potential application in the food industry.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos de tratamentos silviculturais sobre o crescimento de uma floresta natural de terra firme explorada usando técnicas de impacto reduzido. A pesquisa foi conduzida na Área de Manejo Florestal (AMF) da Fazenda Rio Capim, pertencente à empresa Cikel Brasil Verde Madeiras Ltda., localizada no município de Paragominas, Estado do Pará. A área experimental correspondeu a 500 ha, nos quais foram estabelecidos cinco tratamentos (100 ha cada) com quatro repetições (25 ha cada) seguindo um delineamento completamente ao acaso. As repetições foram distribuídas aleatoriamente na amostra de 500 ha na AMF. Foram avaliados os seguintes tratamentos: T1 - exploração de impacto reduzido (EIR) + desbaste de liberação clássico e corte de cipós; T2 - EIR + desbaste de liberação modificado e corte de cipós; T3 - EIR + corte de cipós; T6 - apenas EIR; T7 - floresta não explorada (testemunha). Nos quatro anos de monitoramento da floresta, após a colheita de madeira e aplicação dos tratamentos silviculturais, T2 e T3 tiveram as maiores taxas de crescimento em diâmetro. Contudo, o período de quatro anos não é suficiente para indicar o tratamento "mais adequado", com base no crescimento em diâmetro, em resposta à anelagem de árvores e corte de cipós. Em nível de espécie, o crescimento variou entre e dentro dos tratamentos experimentais. Em geral, as menores taxas de crescimento em diâmetro ocorreram na floresta não explorada (T7).

This paper deals with the effects of silvicultural treatments on growth rates of a terra firme natural forest after reduced impact logging (RIL). The study was carried out in the Rio Capim Forest Management Unit, which belongs to Cikel Brasil Verde Madeiras Ltda., located in the municipality of Paragominas, PA. The experimental area comprised 500 ha, where five treatments (100 ha each) each with four replications (25 ha each) were established. The replications were randomly distributed in the 500 ha sample area. The following treatments were applied: T1 - RIL + classical liberation thinning (girdling of competing trees) and climber cutting; T2 - RIL + modified liberation thinning (girdling of competing trees) and climber cutting; T3 - RIL + climber cutting; T6 - only RIL; T7 - unlogged forest (control). In the four years of monitoring forest, after logging and silvicultural treatments, T2 and T3 had the highest diameter growth rates. But the four-year period is not enough to suggest the best treatment, based on diameter growth rate, in response to girdling trees and climber cutting. At species level, growth rate varied between treatments and within treatments. In general, the lower diameter growth rates were observed in the unlogged forest.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as correlações existentes entre a ingestão de nutrientes e comportamento ingestivo de novilhos mestiços na fase pós-desmame em pastagem de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, durante o período chuvoso. Vinte e dois animais foram distribuídos em um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com dois tipos de suplemento e onze repetições, administrados sob pastejo rotacionado, em uma área de 6,5 ha. A análise de correlação linear de Pearson foi realizado entre as variáveis de comportamento e os valores das variáveis de desempenho. Os coeficientes de correlação foram testados pelo teste de t. O ganho de peso médio diário (GMD) apresentou correlação positiva com os tempos passados em ruminação, comendo no cocho e tempo de mastigação total. Foi observada uma correlação positiva entre o tempo ocioso e conversão alimentar (CA). A taxa de bocados e o número de bocados por dia apresentaram correlações positivas com GMD. Foram encontradas correlações positivas entre as variáveis eficiência ruminação da matéria seca (MS) e da fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) com GMD. O comportamento ingestivo tem uma influência direta sobre o desempenho produtivo de novilhos mestiços desmamados em pasto durante o período chuvoso. A eficiência de ruminação melhorou quando os animais foram alimentados com suplementação proteica, o que levou a uma melhor utilização do alimento ingerido.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlations existing between nutrient intake and ingestive behavior of crossbred steers in the post-weaning phase on Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, during the rainy period. Twenty-two steers were distributed into a completely randomized design, with two types of supplement and eleven replications, managed under rotational grazing, in a 6.5 ha area. Pearson's Linear Correlation analysis was performed between the behavior variables and the performance variables values. The correlation coefficients were tested by the t test. The average daily gain (ADG) showed positive correlation with the times spent ruminating and eating at the trough and total chewing time. Positive correlation was observed between the idle time and feed conversion (FC). The bite rate and the number of bites per day presented positive correlations with ADG. Positive correlations were found between the variables rumination efficiency of dry matter (DM) and of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) with ADG. The ingestive behavior has a direct influence on the productive performance of crossbred steers post-weaned on pasture during the rainy period. Rumination efficiency improved when the animals were fed protein supplementation, which led to better utilization the ingested feed.