Effects of exogenous protease addition on fermentation and nutritive value of rehydrated corn and sorghum grains silages.

The study objective was to evaluate the effects of the addition of exogenous protease on the fermentation and nutritive value of rehydrated corn and sorghum grain silages during various storage periods. Treatments were applied using a 2 × 6 × 3 factorial combination, with 2 types of rehydrated grains (corn and sorghum), 6 doses of the enzyme (0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, and 1.5%, based on natural matter) and 3 fermentation periods (0, 60, and 90 days) in a completely randomized design, with 4 replications. The protease aspergilopepsin I, of fungal origin, produced by Aspergillus niger, was used. The lactic acid concentration increased linearly as the enzyme dose increased in corn (CG) and sorghum (SG) grain silages, at 60 and 90 days of fermentation. There was an increase in the concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and soluble protein, as well as the in situ starch digestibility in rehydrated CG and SG silages, compared to the treatment without the addition of protease. The addition of 0.3% exogenous protease at the moment of CG ensiling and 0.5% in rehydrated SG increased the proteolytic activity during fermentation, providing an increase in in situ starch digestibility in a shorter storage time.

Microbial characterization of Arachis pintoi and its silages at different fermentation periods.

The microbial community present in forage peanut, a tropical legume, and its silages are unknown. For this reason, we used the Ion Torrent platform to study the bacterial community present in this legume during silage fermentation. Forage peanut was harvested at the start of flowering with a backpack mower and was chopped with a stationary ensilage cutter and then ensiled in bags measuring 25.40 cm × 35.56 cm, in triplicate. The bags were opened after 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 56 days of fermentation. Primers targeting the 16S rDNA gene were used, and the PCR products were used in library preparation and sequencing using the Ion Torrent platform. In total, 721,837 sequences were obtained and processed using the program MOTHUR v.23.0. The sequencing result revealed that the genus Weissella was present at the different periods of fermentation of peanut silage in greater amounts than the other genera (Bacillus, Rummeliibacillus, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus). The six libraries constructed reached high coverage value (0.999). Comparison of the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) between the forage crop and the silages with 14 and 56 days of fermentation revealed that some sequences were exclusive to the plant and others to fermentation periods. The silage with 28 days of fermentation remained distant from the other fermentation periods in regard to microbial diversity. Knowledge of the diversity of different bacterial genera through sequence analysis can guide bioprospecting studies.

Fermentative profile and lactic acid bacterial dynamics in non-wilted and wilted alfalfa silage in tropical conditions.

This study was conducted to evaluate the fermentative profile and microbial populations of wilted and non-wilted alfalfa silages ensiled with or without inoculant and the population dynamics of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of wilted alfalfa plant and theirs silage. A 2 × 2 × 6 factorial arrangement was used, with the absence or presence of wilting (W), with and without bacterial inoculant (I) and six fermentation periods (P) (1, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 56 days), in a completely randomized design, with three replicates. The alfalfa was slightly wilted for 6 h and increased the dry matter content from 133.9 to 233.4 g/kg. It was performed the cultivation, followed by the isolation of LAB from samples of alfalfa forage before ensiling and its silage only in non-inoculated silages, after different fermentation periods. DNA was extracted from the isolated strains of LAB; the 16S rRNA gene sequences were amplified by PCR and the sequences were compared to those available from the GenBank database. Wilting provided silages with lower pH, ammonia nitrogen and acetic acid concentrations. The wilting process did not alter the amount of LAB; however, it affected the LAB diversity of the silages. The Lactobacillus plantarum was the predominant species in non-wilted and wilted silages.

Potencial de silagens de ramas de batata-doce para alimentação animal / Potential of silages of sweet-potato foliages for animal feeding

Objetivou-se avaliar o potencial de silagens de ramas de diferentes clones de batata-doce para alimentação animal. O trabalho foi realizado na Fazenda Forquilha localizada no Distrito de Batatal, município de Diamantina MG, no período de 23/12/2007 a 23/06/2008. O experimento foi conduzido no esquema de parcelas subdivididas em delineamento de blocos completos casualizados. Foram avaliadas a produtividade de matéria verde e matéria seca das ramas e a composição químico-bromatológica, além do perfil fermentativo de suas silagens, em três idades de colheita (120, 150 e 180 dias), em oito clones de batata doce. A produtividade de matéria seca não variou com a época de colheita das ramas, obtendo-se média de 6,01t ha-1. Os teores de matéria seca nas ramas aumentaram com o ciclo da cultura, verificando-se teores médios de 11,94; 12,16 e 19,62 por cento, aos 120, 150 e 180 dias após o corte, respectivamente. As silagens das ramas de batata-doce apresentaram altos teores protéicos e energéticos e adequado perfil fermentativo, portanto, apresentam potencial para utilização na alimentação animal, independentemente dos clones.

The objective was to evaluate the potential of silage derived from different clones of sweet potato for animal feed. The study was conducted at Forquilha Farm located in Batatal district, MG Diamantina in the period from 23/12/2007 to 23/06/2008. The experiment was conducted in split plot design in a randomized complete block. It was evaluated the green and dry matter yield, the chemical composition and the fermentative profile of silage harvested on three dates (days 120, 150 and 180), of eight clones of sweet potato. The dry matter yield did not vary according to the harvest time of the branches, resulting in an average of 6.01t ha-1. The dry matter content in the stems increased with the growth cycle, and there are average levels of 11.94, 12.16 and 19.62 percent on days 120, 150 and 180 after cutting, respectively. The raw potato silage showed high protein content and adequate energy fermentation and therefore, potential for use in animal feed, regardless of clones.

Produtividade de matéria seca e composição mineral do capim-tifton 85 sob diferentes doses de nitrogênio e idades de rebrotação / Dry matter production and mineral content of tifton 85 bermudagrass on different nitrogen rates and regrowth ages

Avaliaram-se a composição mineral e a produtividade de matéria seca do capim-tifton 85 (Cynodon nlemfüensis x Cynodon dactylon) sob diferentes doses de N e idades de rebrotação. Os tratamentos foram dispostos em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com as doses de N (0, 100, 200, 300 e 400 kg/ha/ano) nas parcelas e idades de rebrotação (28, 42 e 56 dias) nas subparcelas, no DIC, com três repetições. O rendimento forrageiro variou de 5.751 a 20.466, de 8.138 a 22.852 e de 10.525 a 25.239 kg/ha/ano de MS, em função do aumento das doses de N, em plantas colhidas em intervalos de corte de 28, 42 e 56 dias, respectivamente, com eficiência de resposta de 36,8 kg MS/kg N. Os teores de P foram reduzidos com o aumento das doses de N e da idade da planta, variando de 0,27 a 0,16 por cento. Os teores de K decresceram com o aumento da idade da planta, estimando-se teores máximos de K de 1,25; 1,11; e 0,96 por cento, em plantas colhidas com 28, 42 e 56 dias de rebrotação, respectivamente, adubadas com 55 kg/ha/ corte de N. O teor médio de Ca foi 0,48 por cento. Os teores de Mg aumentaram com o incremento das doses de N e decresceram com o aumento da idade da planta, variando de 0,24 a 0,45 por cento.

The dry matter production and mineral content of Tifton 85 bermudagrass (Cynodon nlemfüensis x Cynodon dactylon) on nitrogen rates (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 kg/ha) and regrowth ages (28, 42 and 56 days) were evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomized with a split plot feature. The main plots referred to N-rates whereas subplots were regrowth ages. The forage yield ranged from 5.75 to 20.46, from 8.13 to 22.85 and from 10.52 and 25.23 t/ha of DM, in response to rates of 0 to 400 kg N/ha, in plants harvested at 28, 42 and 56 days of regrowth, respectively, with a response efficiency of 36.8 kg DM/kg N. The P contents decreased with N rates and plant age increased ranged from 0.27 to 0.16 percent. The K contents decreased as plant age increased; the maximum K content of 1.25, 1.11, and 0.96 percent were recorded for plant harvest with 28, 42 and 56 days of regrowth, respectively, fertilized with 55 kg N/ha/cutting. The average Ca content was 0.48 percent. The Mg content increased as N rates increased and decreased as plant age increased, with values between 0.24 and 0.45 percent.

Produtividade e composição bromatológica de Brachiaria spp., no Alto Vale do Jequitinhonha / Productivity and bromatological composition of Brachiaria spp. in the Higher Jequitinhonha Valley

Avaliaram-se a produtividade de matéria seca (MS), proporção de lâminas e composição bromatológica de Brachiaria spp., colhidas com 42 dias de rebrotação, em Diamantina, MG. Para a determinação dos teores de MS, PB, FDN, FDA e lignina utilizaram-se o esquema em parcelas subsubdivididas, no DIC, com quatro repetições. Nas parcelas foram distribuídas as cultivares Basilisk, Marandu, Xaraés, Llanero e B. humidicola comum; nas subparcelas, dois cortes, e, nas subsubparcelas, dois anos experimentais. A produção de MS total e a proporção de lâminas foram analisadas em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com espécies/cultivares nas parcelas e anos nas subparcelas. A produção de MS no segundo ano (3 cortes) foi mais alta que no primeiro (2 cortes), destacando-se as cultivares Basilisk, Xaraés e Llanero. De modo geral, as cultivares apresentaram teores satisfatórios de PB, mais altos no segundo ano. Os teores de FDN foram mais baixos no segundo ano e os de lignina mais baixos no primeiro ano. As cultivares Xaraés e Marandu destacam-se pela elevada proporção de folhas e apresentam composição bromatológica semelhante a da cultivar Basilisk. Associando-se a composição bromatológica com a produtividade de MS, recomendam-se as cultivares Xaraés e Basilisk para as condições do Alto Vale do Jequitinhonha.

Dry matter production, proportion of leaf blades and chemical composition of Brachiaria spp. harvested at intervals of 42 days of regrowth, in Diamantina, MG were evaluated. The DM, CP, NDF, ADF and lignin contents were analyzed in a split-split plot completely randomized design, with four replicates. Five cultivars of Brachiaria were distributed in the plots, two cuts in the split-plot, and two experimental years in the split-split plot. The dry matter production and the proportion of leaf blades were analyzed in a split plot completely randomized design, with cultivars in the plots and years in the subplots. The dry matter production in the second year (3 cuts) was higher than in the first (2 cuts), especially with the cultivars Basilisk, Xaraés and Llanero. Generally, the cultivars presented satisfactory levels of CP, with higher values in the second year. The contents of NDF were lower in the second year and the lowest levels of lignin were in the first year. Cultivars Xaraés and Marandu stand out for the high proportion of leaves and presented chemical composition similar to the Basilisk cultivar. Based on the chemical composition and dry matter production, Xaraés and Basilisk cultivars are recommended for cultivation in the Jequitinhonha High Valley.