The methods commonly used to predict animal behavior as a function of feeding management, are in a process of change. The systems currently used for estimating the animal requirements based on static algebraic equations have begun to be replaced by dynamic simulation models capable of characterizing animal response for a much wider range of conditions to that used in traditional systems. In this article models are ...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of stocking rate on the diurnal feeding behavior and productive performance of fattening steers. The research was carried out over 107 days, from July until October 2010, at the Turipaná research center of Corpoica (Cereté, Colombia). Beef cattle commercial zebu with an average weight of 314 ± 29 kg grazed in a pasture of Guinea cv. Mombasa (Panicum maximum) grass. ...

Cattle are used to convert forages, feed grains, and food byproducts into human food under production conditions that vary in soil, climate, feed composition and types of cattle. An analysis of our data base and our piblished data with lactating dairy cows indicate cattle performance is restricted to the level allowed by the most limiting nutrient, and that energetic efficiency is influenced by amino acid balance. The ...

Genetic variability is of great importance when analyzing the conservation of genetic resources and also constitutes the basis for the process of genetic selection and improvement. The main objective of this study was to determine the genetic variability of the Colombian breed Romosinuano through molecular techniques. This study used 12 microsatellite markers to determine the genetic diversity and population structure ...

Seasonal climates affect the supply of nutrients in livestock systems. In search of different strategies for feeding livestock, we evaluated the effect of nitrogen fertilization of four cut grasses on yield and feed quality in dual purpose cows in Valle del Cesar. Two phases were developed, the first was the assessment of the performance and quality of feed, where the data were analyzed by a randomized block design ...

Because of the limitations of direct methods for the diagnosis of trypanosomes in small quantities, molecular methods which allow identification of the species with a small amount of parasite DNA were analyzed. A study was conducted at the Carimagua Experimental Station, located in the flat high plains of Orinoco Colombia. From 500 'Sanmartinero' and 'Zebú' breeding cattle, native to the area, 70 clinically healthy ...

One of the factors that significantly limits the competitiveness and sustainability of the livestock sector in the Caribbean region is the degradation of soils and pastures. The objective of this study was to assess, on farms engaged in the production of meat in the Atlántico department, the effect of pasture renewal technologies, such as mechanical intervention with vertical tillage, establishment of a new grass, ...

In a Romosinuano native Colombian conservation herd, estimated genetic values (Expected Progeny Differences, EPD) of productive traits (birth, weaning and yearling weights and cow weights at calving and at calf weaning); and reproductive behavior (age at first calving and calving interval) were calculated. Among bulls with the higher and lower genetic potential, EPD’s for birth, weaning and yearling weights of ...