Uso de veículo aéreo não tripulado na avaliação de forragem e enzimas fibrolíticas em suplemento para bovinos a pasto

Abstract

The hypothesis of this study is that there are alternatives to improve the use of forage as the main food for beef cattle herds. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are tools that can help in forage planning and fibrolytic enzymes can be used in order to increase the digestibility of forages. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the use of UAVs as a tool for forage monitoring and the supply of fibrolytic enzymes to increase fiber digestibility in pasture beef cattle diets. To evaluate the UAV as an alternative for forage evaluation, images were collected at different flight heights and image overlays. These data were later submitted to analysis of variance and prediction models were created. The fibrolytic enzymes were evaluated in beef cattle kept on pasture receiving protein-energy supplement. Two fibrolytic enzymes were evaluated, being supplied either individually or combined to form a fibrolytic enzyme blend. Regarding the results obtained in the evaluation of the UAV, no effects of the flight height on the results obtained in up to 72 meters were observed. Front/side image overlay does not influence the results observed by UAV in forage monitoring. Regarding the study of fibrolytic enzymes, there was no effect on the intake, digestibility and nitrogen metabolism of cattle kept on pasture receiving protein-energy supplement. In fact, there are alternatives to improve the use of forage as the main feed for beef cattle. The use of UAVs is an excellent alternative to assist in forage planning. However, fibrolytic enzymes do not alter the intake and forage digestibility of beef cattle supplemented on pasture.