Effects of total replacement of corn silage with sorghum silage on milk yield, composition, and quality

BACKGROUND: In the last years, difficulties occurring in corn cultivation (i.e., groundwater shortages, mycotoxin contamination) have been forcing dairy farmers to consider alternative silages. Some experiments conducted on lactating cows have proven that the total replacement of corn silage with sorghum silage did not reduce milk yield. However, this kind of substitution involves supplementing sorghum-based diets with grains, to compensate for the lower starch content of sorghum silage compared to corn silage. Change of silage type and inclusion of starch sources in the diet would influence rumen fermentations, with possible effects on milk composition (i.e., fatty acid profile) and coagulation properties. A worsening of milk coagulation properties would have a negative economic impact in Italy, where most of the milk produced is processed into cheese. This study was designed to compare milk composition and quality, with emphasis on fatty acid profile and coagulation properties, in dairy cows fed two diets based on corn or sorghum silage. RESULTS: The sorghum diet reduced milk yield (P = 0.043) but not 4% fat corrected milk (P = 0.85). Feeding sorghum silage did not influence milk contents of protein (P = 0.07) and lactose (P = 0.65), and increased fat content (P = 0.024). No differences emerged for milk concentrations of saturated (P = 0.61) and monounsaturated fatty acids (P = 0.50), whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids were lower (P < 0.001) for the sorghum diet. Concentrations of n-6 (P < 0.001) and n-3 fatty acids (P = 0.017) were lower in milk of cows fed the sorghum diet. Milk coagulation properties did not differ between the two diets, except the “a30” (the curd firmness, expressed in mm, 30 min after rennet addition), that was lower (P = 0.042) for the sorghum diet. CONCLUSIONS: Feeding a forage sorghum silage, properly supplemented with corn meal, as total replacement of corn silage maintained milk composition and did not influence negatively milk coagulation properties, which have a great economic relevance for the Italian dairy industry. Thus, silages obtained from forage sorghums could have a potential as substitute of corn silages in dairy cow diets

Reactor Antineutrinos Signal all over the world

We present an updated estimate of reactor antineutrino signal all over the world, with particular attention to the sites proposed for existing and future geo-neutrino experiment. In our calculation we take into account the most updated data on Thermal Power for each nuclear plant, on reactor antineutrino spectra and on three neutrino oscillation mechanism.Comment: 4 pages including 1 figur

Mantle geoneutrinos in KamLAND and Borexino

The KamLAND and Borexino experiments have observed, each at ~4 sigma level, signals of electron antineutrinos produced in the decay chains of thorium and uranium in the Earth's crust and mantle (Th and U geoneutrinos). Various pieces of geochemical and geophysical information allow an estimation of the crustal geoneutrino flux components with relatively small uncertainties. The mantle component may then be inferred by subtracting the estimated crustal flux from the measured total flux. To this purpose, we analyze in detail the experimental Th and U geoneutrino event rates in KamLAND and Borexino, including neutrino oscillation effects. We estimate the crustal flux at the two detector sites, using state-of-the-art information about the Th and U distribution on global and local scales. We find that crust-subtracted signals show hints of a residual mantle component, emerging at ~2.4 sigma level by combining the KamLAND and Borexino data. The inferred mantle flux slightly favors scenarios with relatively high Th and U abundances, within +-1 sigma uncertainties comparable to the spread of predictions from recent mantle models.Comment: Slight changes and improvements in the text & figures. Results unchanged. To appear in Phys. Rev.

The role of virtual reality in built environment education

This study builds upon previous research on the integration of Virtual Reality (VR) within the built environment curriculum and aims to investigate the role of VR and three-dimensional (3D) computer modelling on learning and teaching in a school of the built environment. In order to achieve this aim, a number of academic experiences were analysed to explore the applicability and viability of 3D computer modelling and VR into built environment subject areas. Although two-dimensional (2D) representations have been greatly accepted by built environment professions and education, 3D computer representations and VR applications, offering interactivity and immersiveness, are not yet widely accepted. The study attempts to understand the values and challenges of integrating visualisation technologies into built environment teaching and investigates tutors’ perceptions, opinions and concerns with respect to these technologies. The study reports on the integration process and considers how 3D computer modelling and VR technologies can combine with, and extend, the existing range of learning and teaching methods appropriate to different disciplines and programme areas

Turbidity as a measure for assessing ecosystem services promoted by riparian forests on water bodies.

IUFROLAT 2013. Disponibilizado online. Resumen

Análise econômica de lâminas de água e doses de nitrogênio, para cultura de milho, utilizando o modelo ceres-maize.

Para a simulacao dos dados necessarios nas analises do presente trabalho, utilizou-se o modelo CERES-MAIZE, que esta inserido no pacote DSSAT 3.0. Nas simulacoes, realizadas para o municipio de Janauba - MG, utilizou-se o cultivar de milho BR-201, desenvolvido na EMBRAPA Milho e Sorgo, que ocupa entre 5 a 7% da area de plantio da cultura no Brasil. Foram simulados os dados de produtividade do cultivar BR-201, em tres epocas de plantio (15.05, 15.10 e 15.11), com ou sem irrigacao, com as seguintes laminas d'agua 4,8,12,16,20,24,30 e 36mm, aplicadas em um turno de rega de 7 dias. As laminas de agua foram combinadas com as seguintes doses de nitrogenio 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 e 210 kg/ha 4. Os dados foram simulados utilizando-se dados climaticos de 18 anos, de 1977 a 1995. Verifica-se que o plantio de maio proporcionou maior retorno economico, indicando grande potencialidade do modelo para estudos de analise de producao. Recomendam-se simulacoes com outros cultivares mais adaptados ao plantio irrigado

Utilização do modelo Ceres-Maize na avaliação de estratégias de irrigação na cultura do milho em duas regiões do Estado de Minas Gerais.

The Ceres-Maize model was to study water consumption and profitability of maize crop at three growing seasons, for two regions of Minas Gerais, Brazil, for establishing and evaluating the necessary database for the use of this model. Cultivar BR201 was used to evaluate conduction distinct strategies of the crop, at the location of Sete Lagoas and Janauba. Treatments consisted of conduction of irrigated and non-irrigated crops during the growing seasons (15 May to 15 October and 15 December) and two frequency levels of water application: high (central pivot) and medium (conventional sprinkler irrigation). The simulation results have shown that the use of these models as complementary tools to conventional trials and the information presented helped on building the necessary files for simulations. It was observed that although irrigation allows higher yield, its influence on the costs of maize production resulted in a negative economic feedback for both location studied, except for the 10/15 and 12/15 negative season in Sete Lagoas under medium frequency irrigation conditions. Yields irrigated green maize despite the high production costs, showed more profitability when compared to grain production, being economically viable in the majority of treatments.

Convergência de tecnologias emergentes na área agronômica e engenharia agrícola.

O objetivo do artigo é propor uma metodologia para estudos de convergência de tecnologias emergentes na área agronômica e de engenharia agrícola, utilizando conceitos como os mapas tecnológicos. A importância desse trabalho está em demonstrar que os conceitos mencionados podem gerar parceria natural entre setor público e privado no financiamento da Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento - P&O, promovendo desenvolvimento da agricultura brasileira. A formulação das ideias e conceitos foram produtos da revisão da metodologia utilizada no planejamento estratégico da Embrapa. O trabalho conclui que as características da nova tecnologia para a agricultura tropical é resultado da sinergia e das relações simbióticas entre inovações "empurradas pela ciência" ? science pushed financiadas pelo setor público e outras inovações induzidas pela demanda de mercado, principalmente do setor privado - demad pulled. A ideia principal explica que as tecnologias das áreas biológicas e agronômicas desenvolvidas pela Embrapa utilizaram recursos públicos, enquanto as tecnologias do setor de mecanização, armazenagem e transporte foram desenvolvidas pelo setor privado. Na área agronômica, o "plantio direto" foi um exemplo típico de iniciativa do setor público enquanto a oferta dos equipamentos foi resposta à demanda do setor privado