Productive characteristics of the grass Digitaria umfolozi subjected to defoliation frequencies

Foi realizado um experimento com o objetivo de avaliar a produção de matéria seca, disponibilidade total de massa seca, taxa de acúmulo diária de matéria seca, interceptação luminosa, índice de área foliar, taxa de acúmulo diário, disponibilidade de matéria seca dos componentes morfológicos (lâmina foliar, colmo+bainha e material morto), relação lâmina/colmo, proteína bruta, fibra em detergente neutro e fibra em detergente ácido do capim Faixa-Branca submetido a sete frequências de desfolhação (14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56 dias). As frequências mais longas de desfolhação reduziram os percentuais de lâmina foliar e aumentaram colmo+bainha. A frequência de desfolhação influenciou positivamente a disponibilidade de lâmina foliar, colmo+bainha, material morto e matéria seca total. No intervalo de 42 dias de defoliation o capim faixa branca atingiu 95% de interceptação luminosa. Nas frequências de 14 e 21 dias de desfolhação os teores de proteína bruta das folhas foram acima de 20%. Verificou-se que a maior eficiência de utilização do capim Faixa-Branca é alcançada quando a forrageira é manejada com intervalos de corte de 40 a 46 dias. As maiores frequências de desfolhação contribui positivamente para o aumento do número de folhas totais do capim Faixa-Branca e apresentam maiores teores de proteína bruta das lâminas foliares e colmo+bainha.An experiment was carried out to evaluate the dry matter production, total dry matter availability, daily dry matter accumulation rate, light interception, leaf area index, daily accumulation rate, dry matter availability of the morphological components (leaf blades, stems + sheaths and dead material), leaf/stem ratio, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre of Faixa-Brancagrass under seven defoliation frequencies (14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, and 56 days). Longer defoliation frequencies reduced the percentage of leaf blades and increased the percentage of stems + sheaths. The defoliation frequency positively influenced the availability of leaf blades, stems + sheaths, dead material and total dry matter. In the range of 42 days of defoliation, light interception reached 95%. At frequencies of 14 and 21 days of defoliation, the crude protein content of the leaves was above 20%. The highest utilization efficiency of D. umfolozi grass is achieved when the forage is managed with cutting intervals of 40 to 46 days. Higher defoliation frequencies positively contribute to the increase in the number of total white band grass leaves and higher crude protein content of the leaf blades and stems + sheaths

Apparent digestibility and rumen protozoal profile of sheep fed cassava wastewater

<div><p>SUMMARY The effects of cassava wastewater on nutrient digestibility and rumen protozoa were evaluated in 32 Santa Inês sheep fed a diet with Tifton hay, ground corn cob, and concentrate, containing 0, 500, 1000, or 1500 mL cassava wastewater. Uncastrated sheep at an average age of 167 days and average weight of 25.3 kg were housed in individual stalls and distributed in a randomized complete design with four treatments and eight replicates. The experimental period was 70 days: 15 days for adaptation to the diets and 60 days to collect the ingredients and diets supplied. Prior to this stage, the animals were adapted to the consumption of cassava wastewater, in collective cages, for seven days. Apparent digestibility was determined by partial feces collection and by using the LIPE® external marker in 250-mg capsules. The apparent digestibility of nutrients did not differ (P>0.05) in relation to the cassava wastewater levels tested. Eleven genera of rumen protozoa were identified, and they formed a community that, except for Ophryoscolex, did not differ among the cassava wastewater treatments with respect to composition. However, Entodinium species were observed at a higher density (P<0.05) in sheep that received 1500 mL of cassava wastewater. The use of cassava wastewater in the sheep diet does not affect the digestibility of nutrients or composition of rumen protozoa; however, it causes a significant increase in Entodinium density.</p></div