Under conditions of high temperature, humidity, and incidence of solar radiation, dairy cows use behavioral changes as a strategy to decrease the metabolic heat production at pasture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavioral and physiological responses of Gyr and Girolando (5/8 Holstein 3/8 Gyr, and ½ Holstein ½ Gyr) dairy cows submitted to environments with and without shade. The experiment was conducted at Embrapa Cerrados (Technology Center for Dairy Zebu breeds—CTZL), Brasilia, Distrito Federal—Brazil, with 48 Gyr and Girolando cows total in the lactation group, with low to medium milk production, in full sun or shade with Eucalyptus urograndis (267 plants/ha⁻¹). The physiological and behavioral characteristics evaluated were panting score, superficial temperature, and time spent grazing, ruminating, and lying down. Other traits included skin and coat thickness, hair diameter, density and length, and predominant coat color. In addition, body measurements, such as body length, the height of withers, chest circumference, and shin circumference, were measured. Shaded cows had 34% longer rumination times than cows in full sun (p = 0.01). With a temperature-humidity index ranging from 79 to 83, the rumination time was 1.7 times higher in cows under shade (p = 0.01) during a 24-h period of observation. There were no significant differences in the grazing time between the environments, but lying time was 23% longer in cows under the sun (p = 0.01). The panting score was not influenced by the environment (p = 0.17). Girolando cows had a 35% higher panting score than Gyr cows (p = 0.01) regardless of the environment. The panting score increased two and a half times during the afternoon compared with the morning (p = 0.01). The surface and rectal core temperatures had significant differences between treatments and time of the day. Body measurements were not different between cows in both environments, but there was a difference between breeds. The use of trees in pastures with a silvopastoral system for dairy zebu cows is indicated to improve grazing behavior, as well as time spent ruminating and lying down.

A silagem de milho é um dos alimentos conservados mais utilizados na produção animal durante a seca. Objetivou-se avaliar a composição química da silagem de milho com diferentes aditivos. O delineamento foi casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3x3 (três valores de adição do coproduto farelo úmido de glúten de milho e dois aditivos + um sem aditivo), com três repetições, totalizando 27 unidades experimentais. Foi utilizada análise de variância com 5% de significância e teste de Scott-Knott para os dados obtidos. Os valores de nutrientes digestíveis totais e de matéria seca aumentaram proporcionalmente às inclusões do coproduto nas silagens com aditivos. As variáveis proteína bruta e fibra em detergente neutro apresentaram o mesmo comportamento, enquanto os valores de fibra em detergente ácido sofreram redução nas silagens com 30% do coproduto. Silagens tratadas com benzoato apresentaram maiores teores de cinzas. Menores valores para o teor de extrato etéreo foram encontrados nas silagens sem inclusão do coproduto. O uso de 15 e 30% de farelo úmido de glúten de milho não teve efeito sobre a composição química da silagem.

Different heights of forage management modify the plant architecture, changing the proportion of young and mature tissues and its nutritional value. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the tissue composition of leaves of hybrid Urochloa cv. Mulato II (syn. Brachiaria) kept under four management conditions simulating continuous grazing in the rainy and dry seasons. In addition, the effect of the variation of the percentage of tissues in the leaf on its digestibility was carried out based on the contents of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). Four stocking levels were evaluated simulating continuous grazing, with a canopy height of 10, 20, 30, and 40 cm. It was found that the pastures with 10 and 20 cm had the lowest percentage of lignified tissues in the rainy and dry seasons, which consequently resulted in greater tissue disappearance, mainly of the mesophyll. Pastures with 10 cm had higher CP contents, lower NDF and ADF contents, and consequently higher IVDMD. Therefore, the Mulato II grassland managed with 10 cm had greater degradability of the leaf tissues, due to the higher percentage of rapidly digestible tissues.

The objective this study was to identify differences in the morphogenic patterns of four Urochloa brizantha cultivars (marandu, piatã, xaraés and paiaguás grasses) during the stockpiling period. A completely randomized design was used, with three replications, in experimental plots of 9m². The evaluations took place over 2 years. The grasses were stockpiled for 92 (Year 1) and 95 (Year 2) days. The leaf appearance rate of paiaguás grass was higher, compared to other grasses. In Year 1, the stem elongation rate of xaraés grass was higher than other grasses. At the end of stockpiling period of Year 1, the tiller population density (TPD) was higher in the paiaguás grass, intermediate in the xaraés and marandu grasses and lower in the piatã grass. At the end of the stockpiling period in Year 2, TPD was higher in the paiaguás grass canopy, intermediate in the marandu and piatã grasses canopies, and lower in the xaraés grass canopy. Paiaguás grass has greater leaf growth during the stockpiling period and is therefore suitable for use under stockpiled grazing. Xaraés grass has high stem elongation during the stockpiling period, which is why its use under stockpiled grazing must be accompanied by adjustments in pasture management.

Detecting and monitoring pregnancy in cattle is essential and can be achieved through various methods. In recent years, new technologies have been explored to better understand reproductive phenomena, with particular attention given to non-invasive approaches. This study reports thermographic and clinical findings of two Zebu cows (Cow 1: spontaneous abortion; and Cow 2: pregnant) at 236 days of gestation. Eight hours after abortion, thermal imaging and rectal temperature were recorded (First Trial) and compared with the pregnant cow, kept under the same housing and dietary conditions. A second evaluation was conducted five days later (Second Trial). No clinical abnormalities or fever were observed in either cow. In both trials, the pregnant cow consistently showed a 0.9°C higher average abdominal temperature compared with the cow that experienced spontaneous abortion. This difference may be related to increased blood flow and metabolic activity in the uterus during gestation, resulting in greater heat conduction to the body surface. Despite the short interval post-abortion, thermography detected temperature differences suggestive of reproductive status. These findings support the potential of infrared thermography as a non-invasive tool for assessing reproductive status and thermal physiology in cattle.