RELATO DE EXPERIÊNCIA: CONFINAMENTO DE NOVILHAS PROVENIENTES DE CRUZAMENTO INDUSTRIAL

Abstract

Beef cattle farming is a key activity in Brazilian agribusiness, notable for its significant contribution to meat production and the increasing adoption of technologies aimed at improving production efficiency. In this context, feedlot systems have gained importance by allowing for greater control over animal nutrition and management. The objective of this study was to report on activities carried out during an internship at the Beef Cattle Laboratory of IF Goiano – Rio Verde Campus. The primary activity involved monitoring a feedlot operation for heifers resulting from industrial crossbreeding, used to test the efficacy of a vanilla-based palatability enhancer in the cattle diet. The study involved 22 F1 Angus × Nelore heifers assigned to two treatments: a diet containing the palatability enhancer and a control diet. During the internship, activities included feed management, facility cleaning, animal weighing, blood sample collection, recording of zootechnical data, and assistance with laboratory tasks. Productive performance parameters—such as average daily gain, dry matter intake, and feed conversion—were evaluated, alongside blood biochemical profiles. It was concluded that, under the conditions evaluated, the use of the palatability enhancer did not increase dry matter intake and had no effect on the performance of the confined ½ Angus × Nelore heifers; however, it did alter the blood biochemical profile. The internship demonstrated the importance of integrating theory and practice in academic training, providing hands-on experience in confined cattle management, exposure to scientific research, and the development of technical skills essential for the professional practice of an animal scientist.