Context. Santa Fe is a model of integrated crop-livestock system in which grain crops and grasses are grown intercropped. After crop harvest, the pastures are grazed in the dry season and, after that, accumulate straw for no-till systems. In this way, protein and energy supplementation can contribute to finish steers on pastures, attending to the increasing demand from internal and external markets for sustainable high-quality red meat.Aim. The present study evaluated physical and chemical composition of the Longissimus dorsi meat of Nellore steers fed with increasing levels of energy and protein supplementation on Brachiaria ruziziensis pasture in Santa Fe integrated crop-livestock system.Methods. Forty chemically castrated steers were randomly assigned into four groups under a completely randomised design. Each group was supplemented one of four levels of a concentrate containing 17% crude protein and 75% of total digestible nutrients, at 0.98, 1.45, 1.86 and 2.02 kg/animal.day, representing 0.23%, 0.34%, 0.44% and 0.47% of bodyweight respectively. The experiment lasted 105 days, with trough supplementation once a day.Key results. As energy and protein increased in the diet, cooking loss decreased (P = 0.01) linearly and shearing force decreased quadratically (P = 0.02), with a strong correlation between them (r = 0.93). Subcutaneous fat thickness showed a quadratic increase (P = 0.03), with its maximum point at the concentrate supplementation level of 1.55 kg/animal.day, with a thickness of 3.36 cm and a high Pearson's correlation with the loin eye area (r = 0.94). There was a quadratic increase in C18:2n6 (P = 0.05) and a linear increase in C22:6n3 (P = 0.04) polyunsaturated fatty acids. The fatty acids of the w3 series increased indifferently to the total fat and saturated fatty acids.Conclusions. Supplementing Nellore steers with energy and protein in this integrated crop-livestock system improved meat quality, as indicated by tenderness and marbling, and changed the fatty acid profile in a way that would be more attractive to consumers.Implications. The results of the experiment will guide ruminant nutritionists to define a supplement plan for finishing steers in Santa Fe integrated crop-livestock systems targeting healthier, high-quality, and sustainable meat markets.

Objetivou-se diagnosticar a qualidade sanitária do leite cru, proveniente das propriedades rurais do município de Almenara-MG. As amostras eram coletadas em horário de ordenha em cada propriedade, onde os testes de CMT (California Mastitis Test) e Alizarol eram realizados. Todas as propriedades visitadas e analisadas neste trabalho apresentaram animais com mastite subclínica. Faz-se necessária a assistência técnica aos produtores para que problemas como esse não venham acarretar prejuízos econômicos e prejuízos para a sanidade humana e animal.

This trial evaluated concentrate supplementation on grazing behavior, growth performance, carcass yield and economic analysis of off-season steer production in an integrated crop-livestock system (ICL). A randomized block design with the pastures (modules) as blocks, with 4 treatments, 4 groups of animals per treatment and 3 animals per group (N=48, 395±16 kg) was used to evaluate increasing levels of concentrate supplementation (1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 kg/animal/day) containing 17% crude protein and 76% total digestible nutrients. The steers were kept in "Santa Fé" ICL Urocloa ruziziensis pastures during the dry season. Concentrate intake was 0.98, 1.45, 1.86, and 2.02 kg/animal/day, representing 0.23, 0.34, 0.44, and 0.47% of BW. Supplementation did not affect grazing time (P = 0.66); however, linearly decreased rumination time (P = 0.025) and increased idling (P = 0.043) and trough (P = 0.034) times. Average daily gain, carcass weight, dressing percentage and beef productivity linearly increased (P < 0.01) with increasing concentrate in the diets. All the supplementation levels were profitable, but the profit margin was greater in the highest level of concentrate supplementation. Concentrate supplementation to produce off-season Nellore steers in ICL was an efficient and profitable way to enhance growth performance and carcass yield without compromising grazing activity.

The objective was to evaluate the nutritive value of plants and silage of seven genotypes of sorghum (Podium, Formoso, BRS-610, IPA-1011, IPA-467, SF-15 and SS-318). A RBD with three replications was used to evaluate nutritive value of the plants cultivated in the municipalities of Barreiras and Muquem do Sao Francisco/BA, Brazil, while a CRD with three replications was used to evaluate the nutritive value of the silages from the plants cultivated in Barreiras. Chemical composition of forage and silage varied according to the genotype. However, the most remarkable effects were on CP, NDF, ADF and IVDMD. The best sorghum genotypes in terms of nutritive value were Podium, IPA-1011 e BRS-610.