This study was undertaken to examine biometric measurements during the growth phase of male and female Santa Inês sheep reared in Brachiaria brizantha pastures in northeastern Brazil. The experiment involved 24 castrated males and 24 females at an initial age of 90 days, with an average body weight of 19.04 ± 0.96 kg. Treatments consisted of the effect of four cultivars (Marandu, Xaraés, Piatã and Paiaguás) and two sexes. Six animals were used per treatment, in a randomized-block experimental design. The following characteristics were evaluated: abdominal circumference (AC), body condition score (BCS), body length (BL), body weight (BW), body capacity 1 (BC 1 ), body capacity 2 (BC 2 ), chest width (CW), heart girth (HG), leg circumference (LC), leg length (LL), rump height (RH), rump width (RW) and withers height (WH). Data were subjected to descriptive analysis, Pearson’s correlation, ANOVA and Tukey’s, Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. Univariate and multiple regressions were applied to estimate BW with a maximum error level of 5%. Significant differences were observed for the biometric measurements between sexes and cultivars (p<0.05). Body weight was highly correlated (>70%) with AC, WH, CG, RW, BC 1 and BC 2 . The male sheep grazed on cultivars Piatã showed the best values for BW (40.43 kg), HG, RW, WH, LL, LC (102.46; 20.8; 65.23; 60.44; 42.54 cm respectively) and BC 1 (4.25 kg/cm). Females grazed on cultivar Marandu had higher values for RW, CW, LL (17.26; 20.1; 75.98 cm respectively), BC 1 (6.03 kg/cm) and BC 2 (0.422 kg/cm). The equations that best estimated live weight were BC 1 and HG. In male and female Santa Inês sheep, biometric parameters grow differently depending on the cultivar where they are grazed during the growth phase. Cultivars Marandu and Piatã are the most recommended for sheep production, as they provided the best performance and body development in those animals.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of different mathematical models to describe the growth of lambs during the pre-weaning phase and the effect of sex on their growth curve. Data from 51 lambs (26 males and 25 females) with a genetic constitution of at least 50% Santa Inês breed were used. Lamb weight was monitored during the entire pre-weaning phase (91 days) by weighing the animals weekly on a scale suitable for sheep, to draw the body-weight growth curve. The adequacy of the models was evaluated by the coefficient of determination, simultaneous F-test for parameter identity, concordance correlation coefficient, root mean square error of prediction and decomposition of the mean square error of prediction. Pairwise mean square error of prediction analysis and delta Akaike information criterion were used to compare the models in terms of accuracy and precision. The evaluation of the adequacy of the tested models showed that the data predicted by the linear, quadratic and exponential models were similar (P > 0.05) to the observed data. In contrast, the monomolecular model generated predictions that could not be accepted as true. The linear and quadratic models showed better accuracy and precision. The first-degree linear model should be preferred over the other studied models to describe growth of sheep in the preweaning phase. Males and females exhibited distinct growth patterns.

The objective of this study was to analyze colostrum and milk compositions of ewes kept in pasture receiving different types/levels of supplementation and to analyze milk composition variation throughout the initial third lactation period. After confirmation of pregnancy, 54 ewes were kept in pasture and supplemented from the final third of gestation until weaning with multiple mixture or concentrate (0.4% or 0.8% of body weight). Milk collections were carried out in the postpartum period to collect colostrum (day 0), and on the seventh, 14th, 21st and 28th milking days. Samples were obtained by manual milking and analyzed for protein, fat, casein, lactose, total solids and defatted dry extract. No effects from the different types of supplementation were observed on the colostrum composition or in relation to milk composition. An effect of supplementation was only found for lactose contents, which were higher for animals that consumed a higher level of supplementation. In relation to the milking days, a linear decrease in protein, casein, total solids and defatted dry extract contents was observed between the seventh and the 28th day of lactation. No interaction between type of supplementation and the milking days was observed. The different types of supplementation did not alter the colostrum composition of Santa Inês crossbred ewes, however they had an influence on milk composition. Protein, casein, total solids and defatted dry extract decrease linearly between the seventh and the 28th day of lactation.

This study aimed to assess nutrient intake, performance, intake behavior, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of sheep managed on Masai grass pastures along with intermittent concentrate supplementation, in addition to the economic impacts of applying that strategy. A sample of 24 Santa Inês sheep (12 males and 12 females) was kept for 80 days on Panicum maximum cv. Massai pastures and was supplemented daily or every other day. The voluntary intake of dry matter and nutrients was estimated. Mean daily weight gain and total weight gain were calculated and intake behavior parameters were assessed. The males were slaughtered and the weight and yield of the carcasses and meat cuts were assessed. The meat was analyzed for cooking losses, shear force, and color. The gross margin of the system was estimated from the difference between total income and operational cost. No effect was seen of the interaction between supplementation frequency and sex for any parameter assessed (p > 0.05). Intermittent supplementation of Santa Inês sheep managed with Masai grass is recommended since the strategy does not impact nutrient intake, performance, intake behavior, carcass characteristics, or meat quality, but lowers the costs of producing 1 kg of meat by 15%.

Avaliou-se o consumo de nutrientes e o desempenho produtivo de ovinos submetidos a dietas com níveis crescentes de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN): 30; 34; 40 e 48%. Vinte e quatro animais foram distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, sendo o peso inicial utilizado como covariável. Durante 70 dias de confinamento, os cordeiros tiveram os pesos corporais aferidos e as coletas de sobras permitiram a determinação da ingestão de alimentos e nutrientes. O consumo de matéria seca (g/dia; %PV e kgPV 0,75) apresentou efeito quadrático, com pontos de máxima de 897,0 g/dia; 3,7% PV e 8,18 kgPV 0,75 para os níveis 37,83%, 39,97% e 40,01% de FDN, respectivamente. O incremento nos níveis de FDN na dieta ocasionou aumento linear no consumo de FDN e FDA, enquanto reduziu linearmente o consumo dos demais nutrientes e o desempenho dos animais. O nível de 34% de FDN permite melhor desempenho e conversão alimentar dos animais.