ABSTRACT.- Random-regression models (RRM) are used for dairy cattle genetic evaluations in many countries. The output of a genetic evaluation with RRM is an estimated breeding value (EBV) for a specific function of the additive genetic random regression coefficients, say, 305-d milk yield and its corresponding reliability. The reliability of an EBV in RRM is calculated from the inverse of the coefficient matrix of mixed model equations (MME). The objective of this study was to develop an efficient method to approximate reliabilities for RRM with ssGBLUP.

ABSTRACT.- Determining the optimal defoliation frequency is essential to increase the productivity of pasture-based dairy systems. An experiment was carried out to study the effect of the defoliation regimen around flowering time on the evolution of chemical composition and nutritional value of orchardgrass. The experiment was conducted on a 4-year-old orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata cv 'INIA Perseo') pasture at the experimental station "La Estanzuela" (INIA, Uruguay).

ABSTRACT.- Efficient pasture-based animal production systems require optimisation of forage production with the highest nutritive value. Increasing the defoliation regimen of pastures allows to improve the nutritive value of forage for ruminants but it can be detrimental for total biomass production. An experiment was carried out to study the effect of the defoliation regimen around flowering time on productivity, chemical composition and nutritional value of tall fescue.

ABSTRACT.- The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different factors on maternal protective behavior (MPB) of Nellore cows. A total of 3629 cows were evaluated around 24 h after calving, while their newborns were handled for navel care, ear tattoo and weighing. MPB was assessed by observing each cow reactions when its calf was caught in a corral pen. MPB score consisted of 5 levels, going from 1 (the cow paid no attention to the calf and remained indifferent to the procedure) to 5 (the cow showed aggressive behaviors toward the handler, trying to attack).

Red-banded stink bug Piezodorus guildinii (P. guildinii) has been described as the most damaging stink bug regarding soybean crops, leading to seed injury, low germination percentages and foliar retention, even at low population densities. In this work the first P. guildinii transcriptome from a pool of all developmental stages was assembled, annotated and RNAi components were analyzed.

This study provides insights into N losses in hybrid dairy systems, emphasizing the importance of tailored strategies to minimize environmental impacts, considering the diverse spatiotemporal responses across different farmland uses and covers.

ABSTRACT.- Random regression models (RRM) with ssGBLUP are used worldwide for dairy cattle genetic evaluations. This study aimed to improve the efficiency of implementing RRM with ssGBLUP for national dairy evaluations using the BLUPF90 software suite and to test a method to approximate reliabilities with genomic information.

ABSTRACT.- With the algorithm for proven and young (APY), the computing cost of ssGBLUP is linear with the number of noncore animals and cubic with the number of core, which is less than 20K for single breed and 50k for multibreed evaluations.

ABSTRACT.- Knowledge of the factors that influence the composition of grass is essential for its proper management in pasture-based dairy systems, thus increasing its productivity. An experiment was carried out to study the evolution of chemical composition and nutritional value of a regrowth of tall fescue as affected by the defoliation regimen around flowering time.