Métodos matemáticos: uma aplicação nas ciências agrárias

Abstract

This work presents a mathematical approach to a problem of a practical nature that originates from Zootechnics. Specifically, the theme is related to the study concerning the calculation of the nutritional requirements of energy for maintenance of Texel lambs. The modeling process consists of obtaining a mathematical model from the functions fitting to the experimental data, being able thus calculate the fixed point of the function. The experiment was made at the Sheep Laboratory in the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM). An aim of the research was to determine the requirement of Metabolizable Energy for maintenance (MEm), that according to the methodology used by the researchers, it consists in obtaining the equilibrium point of the function that relates the Heat Production (HP) and the Metabolizable Energy Consumption (MEC). In mathematical terms, the aim is to obtain the best curve fitting for the observed value set by the linear least squares method and the fixed point by fixed-point iteration method. The Visual Numerical Calculus (VNC) software was used to validate the proposed model, encouraging the use of new technology. In addition, the work search for to provide a theoretical and conceptual support of the mathematical methods used in modeling. The motivation of this study is to take the applied mathematics to agrarian science areas.