Agronomic characterization of forage grain crops

The aim of this research was to accomplish agronomic and chemical composition of four forage species under the Brazilian semiarid conditions . The experimental design was a randomized block, in which the treatments consisted of forage crops: corn cv. BRS 205, millet cv. BRS 1501, sorghum cv. IPA 467-4-2 and sunflower cv. Catissol 01, with four repetitions. It was measured plant height (m2), number of plants, leaf/stem ratio, dry matter percentage, total dry matter and the chemical composition of different forage species. The sorghum showed a greater growth, reaching a height of 270.90 cm. For the leaf/stem ratio, the best results were observed by corn, followed by sunflower. In the chemical composition, the sunflower stood out compared to the other materials for crude protein, lipids and mineral contents. Sorghum present greater growth and mass production of straw for the Brazilian semi-arid conditions. The studied species have appropriate chemical composition characteristics, except for sunflower that has high ether extract contents.The aim of this research was to accomplish agronomic and chemical composition of four forage species under the Brazilian semiarid conditions . The experimental design was a randomized block, in which the treatments consisted of forage crops: corn cv. BRS 205, millet cv. BRS 1501, sorghum cv. IPA 467-4-2 and sunflower cv. Catissol 01, with four repetitions. It was measured plant height (m2), number of plants, leaf/stem ratio, dry matter percentage, total dry matter and the chemical composition of different forage species. The sorghum showed a greater growth, reaching a height of 270.90 cm. For the leaf/stem ratio, the best results were observed by corn, followed by sunflower. In the chemical composition, the sunflower stood out compared to the other materials for crude protein, lipids and mineral contents. Sorghum present greater growth and mass production of straw for the Brazilian semi-arid conditions. The studied species have appropriate chemical composition characteristics, except for sunflower that has high ether extract contents

Morphogenesis of Cynodon cultivars fertilized with nitrogen

To evaluate the biomass flow of two cultivars of Cynodon (Tifton 85 grass and vaquero grass) fertilized with increasing levels of nitrogen (N) (control – without nitrogen; 200; 400 and 600 mg dm-3) under greenhouse conditions, this study was carried out, in a completely randomized design, with factorial arrangement. Forages were examined during three regrowth cycles, with results presented as mean values of the cycles. In the analysis of the effect of nitrogen fertilization, the Tifton 85 grass showed an increasing response to nitrogen levels for the leaf elongation rate (LER). The vaquero grass had a quadractic response for the LER with increasing levels of N. As for the stem elongation rate, there was an increasing linear response in both grasses according to increasing levels of N. The leaf senescence rate (LSR) of the Tifton 85 grass has been enhanced by nitrogen fertilization. The vaquero grass revealed a quadractic response for this variable LSR with nitrogen fertilization, with a minimum value of 0.96 cm tiller-1 day-1 with nitrogen level of 42.5 mg dm-3. The phyllochron and the total number of leaves of both grasses have been influenced by nitrogen fertilization, with downward and upward linear responses, respectively, with increasing levels of nitrogen. For the final mean leaf length (MLL) of both forages, we verified an increasing response with increasing levels of nitrogen. Tifton 85 grass and vaquero grass presented similar LER in the absence of nitrogen, but higher values were observed for the fertilized Tifton 85 grass. The fertilization using nitrogen leads to positive responses of the biomass flow of Tifton 85 grass and vaquero grass under the conditions of the present study

Produção de espécies forrageiras produtoras de grãos e composição química de silagens

This study was conducted with the object of evaluate forage species that produce grains and chemical composition of their silages under the conditions of the Brazilian Northeast. They were evaluated four forages: maize, millet, sorghum and sunflower. It was determined the dry dead forage mass (DDFM), total dry mass of grain (TDMG), total dry mass of leaf (TDML) and total dry mass of stem (TDMS). Silage produced with the species was rated to the ammonia nitrogen, losses gases (G), losses effluent (E), dry matter yield (DMY), dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), mineral matter (MM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Sorghum showed higher (p<0.05) accumulation of DDFM, TDMG and TDMS than maize, millet and sunflower. Sunflower had higher losses by G and E and lower DMY for silage production. There was no difference of silages for CP. To EE sunflower silage had a higher amount, a fact that undermines the quality of this silage for ruminants feeding. Sorghum has more appropriate characterization for silage, because of its high production of bulky, low losses and chemical composition similar to corn silage under the conditions of the Brazilian Northeast.Objetivou-se avaliar características de produção de espécies forrageiras produtoras de grãos e composição química de silagens nas condições do nordeste do Brasil. Foram avaliadas quatro forrageiras produtoras de grãos: milho, milheto, sorgo e girassol. Foram determinadas a massa seca de forragem morta (MSFM), massa seca total de grão (MSTG), massa seca total de folha (MSTF) e massa seca total de colmo (MSTC). Da silagem produzida com as espécies, avaliou-se o nitrogênio amoniacal, perdas por gases (G), perdas por efluentes (E), rendimento de matéria seca (RMS), matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE), matéria mineral (MM), fibra detergente neutro (FDN) e fibra detergente ácido (FDA). O sorgo apresentou maior (p<0,05) acúmulo de MSFM, MSTF e MSTC em relação ao milho, milheto e girassol. O girassol apresentou maiores perdas por G e E, e menor RMS para silagem produzida. Não houve diferença das silagens em relação a PB. Para o EE a silagem de girassol obteve maior quantidade, fato que compromete a qualidade da silagem para alimentação de ruminantes. O sorgo possui caracterização mais adequada para produção de silagem, pois apresenta alta produção de volumoso, baixas perdas e composição química semelhante à silagem do milho nas condições do nordeste do Brasil

Grape pomace silage (Vitis labrusca L. cv. Isabel) on the intake and digestibility of nutrients, nitrogen balance and ingestive behavior of lambs

Este estudio investigó la inclusión del ensilado de orujo de uva (EOU; 0, 10, 20 y 30 %), se evaluó en dietas de corderos, en la ingesta y digestibilidad de nutrientes, balance de nitrógeno y comportamiento ingestivo. Cuatro corderos de la raza Santa Inés con un peso de 21.93 ± 87 kg y aproximadamente siete meses de edad fueron alojados en jaulas metabólicas y distribuidos en un diseño cuadrado latino de 4x4. Los tratamientos consistieron en cuatro dietas con la inclusión de 0, 10, 20 y 30 % de EOU en las dietas. La ingesta de nutrientes se observó con un comportamiento lineal creciente para la ingesta de extracto etéreo (EE) (P0.05), con una digestibilidad de materia seca (DMS) media de 678.6 ± 0.62 g kg-1 de MS y retención media de N de 239.78 g kg-1 de N ingerido. El comportamiento ingestivo de las dietas solo influyó (P0.05), with average digestibility of dry matter digestibility (DDM) of 678.6 ± 0.62 g kg-1 DM and average retention of 239.78 g kg-1 N ingested of N. The ingestive behavior the diets were influenced (P<0.05) by only the length of time that the animals remained idle in standing. This parameter showed a quadratic behavior with a maximum point estimated at 17.73 % of GPS (P=0.041). In conclusion, the use of GPS can be used until inclusion level of 30 % without negatively affecting the parameters evaluated

Residual frying oil in the diets of sheep: intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and ruminal parameters

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the intake and nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance and ruminal ammonia nitrogen in lambs of diets containing different levels of residual frying oil. Methods Levels of 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 g/kg dry matter (DM) base of residual frying oil in the diets of lambs were evaluated. Five castrated lambs with initial body weights of 36.8±3.3 kg, distributed in a Latin square (5×5) design, were used. Results There was a decreasing linear effect on the intake of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), total carbohydrates (TCH), and nonfibrous carbohydrates (NFC). There was an increased linear intake of ether extract (EE). The apparent digestibility of DM, OM, CP, NDF, TCH, and NFC, as well as urine nitrogen excretion, nitrogen balance and ruminal parameters, were not influenced by different levels of residual frying oil in the diet. EE digestibility presented a crescent linear effect. Conclusion It can be concluded that the addition of residual frying oil to the diets of sheep can affect nutrient intake without affecting the digestibility of most nutrients (with the exception of EE), nitrogen balance and ruminal ammonia nitrogen concentration