Digestibility and microbial efficiency in steers fed diets based on corn silage hybrids and concentrate levels

A trial involving a 2x2 factorial design was conducted to evaluate the effect of corn silage hybrids and concentrate levels (25 and 50%) on intake and digestibility of nutrients, ruminal characteristics and microbial efficiency in steers. Four ruminal and abomasal cannulated steers (512±25kg of birth weight), were used in a 4×4 Latin square design. Treatments consisted of 75% silage A + 25% concentrate; 50% silage A + 50% concentrate; 75% silage B + 25% concentrate; and 50% silage B + 50% concentrate on dry matter (DM) basis. There were no differences in the intakes of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein, and ether extract. The intake of non fiber carbohydrates and total digestible nutrients were positively affected by concentrate levels. The digestibility of DM and OM were also positively affected by concentrate levels. There were no effects of treatments on ruminal pH values, ruminal ammonia-N, and microbial efficiency

Consumo, digestibilidade e parâmetros ruminais em bovinos de corte alimentados com dietas contendo silagem de sorgo e pré-secado de capim-tifton 85 Intake, digestibility and ruminal parameters in beef cattle fed diets with sorghum silage and tifton 85 haylage

Avaliaram-se o consumo e as digestibilidades total e parcial dos nutrientes, a eficiência microbiana, o balanço de nitrogênio, a taxa de passagem da digesta ruminal, o pH e a concentração de amônia ruminal em bovinos de corte alimentados com dietas contendo como fonte de volumoso pré-secado de capim-tifton 85 e silagem de sorgo nas seguintes proporções: 100:0; 68:32; 34:66 e 0:100, respectivamente, com base na MS. Foram utilizados quatro animais mestiços Holandês &times; Zebu (H &times; Z), fistulados no rúmen e abomaso, com peso médio de 364 kg, distribuídos em um quadrado latino 4 &times; 4. A relação volumoso:concentrado foi de 60:40, na base da MS. Os consumos de MS, MO, PB, carboidratos totais (CT), assim como as digestibilidades totais da PB, EE, CNF e FDN não foram influenciados pelas dietas, registrando-se valores médios de 6,01; 5,69; 0,76 e 4,64 kg/dia e 67,94; 82,42; 84,43 e 53,57%, respectivamente. Os consumos de EE, CNF, FDN e NDT e as digestibilidades aparentes totais da MS, MO e CT aumentaram linearmente com o incremento da proporção de silagem de sorgo no volumoso. As digestibilidades ruminais e intestinais de MS, CT, CNF e FDN não foram influenciadas pelas dietas. O pH não foi alterado pelos tempos de coleta nem pelas dietas. A concentração de amônia foi influenciada pelos tempos de coleta, estimando-se valor máximo de 13,14 mg/100 mL, às 2,90 horas após a alimentação. Para as dietas contendo 0; 32; 66 e 100% de silagem de sorgo no volumoso estimaram-se taxas de passagem da digesta ruminal da ordem de 4,10: 4,22; 4,27 e 5,30%/hora, respectivamente. A eficiência microbiana não foi afetada pelo nível de silagem de sorgo na dieta. O uso de silagem pré-secada de capim tifton 85 associada à silagem de sorgo mostrou-se uma boa alternativa de volumoso para bovinos de corte.<br>The intake and the total and partial digestibility of nutrients, the microbial efficiency, the nitrogen balance, the passage rates of ruminal digesta, the pH and the ammonia ruminal concentration in beef cattle fed diets containing tifton 85 haylage and sorghum silage in the following proportions: 100:0; 68:32; 34:66 and 0:100, respectively in DM basis. Four crossed animals (H &times; Z) fistulated in the rumen and abomasum, with average body weight of 364 kg were assigned to a 4 &times; 4 Latin square. The forage: concentrate ratio was 60:40, in DM basis. The daily intake of DM, OM, CP, total carbohydrates (TC), as well as the total apparent digestibility of CP, EE, NFC and NDF were not influenced by the diets, with mean values of 6.01, 5.69, 0.76, and 4.64kg/day and 67.94, 82.12, 84.43, and 53.57%, respectively. The intake of EE, NFC, NDF and TDN and the total apparent digestibility of DM, OM and TC linearly increased with the increment of sorghum silage in the forage. The ruminal and intestinal digestibility of DM, TC, NFC and NDF were not influenced by the diets. The pH was not influenced by the collection time or by the diets. The ammonia concentration was influenced by the collection times, estimating the maximum value of 13.14 mg/100 mL, at 2.90 hour after feeding. Ruminal digesta passage rates of 4.10, 4.22, 4.27, and 5.30%/hour were respectively estimated for diets containing 0, 32, 66, and 100% of sorghum silage in the forage. The level of sorghum silage in the diet did not influence the microbial efficiency. The use of Tifton 85 haylage associated with sorghum silage has shown to be a great alternative of forage for finishing beef cattle

Botanical profile of bee pollen from the southern coastal region of Bahia, Brazil

This paper aims to identify the botanical origin of pollen loads collected by Apis mellifera L. in Canavieiras municipality, Bahia state. It provides a list of polliniferous plant species from the Atlantic Forest biome that are important for the development of regional apiculture. Using the acetolysis method, 35 bee-pollen samples were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Results showed that pollen types Elaeis (23.99%), Mimosa pudica (22.78%) and Cecropia (13.68%) were the most abundant among the samples. These also showed the highest relative frequencies of the material studied and were important pollen sources for bees in the study area