The present study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, profile and fermentative losses, microbial population and the aerobic stability of mixed silages of cactus pear and gliricidia. The ...treatments corresponded to the addition levels of gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud), in the silages of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus indica Mill.), at ratios 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% gliricidia. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and regression to evaluate the effect of the addition levels of gliricidia. The average related to the opening days were compared by the Tukey's test and the average hours of exposure to air were compared by the Student's t-test. The addition of gliricidia in cactus pear silage provided a linear increasing effect for pH, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), neutral detergent insoluble protein (NDIP), and increased aerobic stability (AS). The highest dry matter recovery was estimated in the silages with 58% gliricidia. Based on the fermentative, chemical composition and silage losses, all the silages tested were adequate. However, considering aerobic stability, the addition of at least 25% gliricidia is recommended to provide the animal a feed with important quality and high nutritional value.
The aim was to evaluate the chemical composition, carbohydrates, protein fractionation and in vitro gas production of silages composed of spineless cactus and tropical forages and their effect on ...sheep performance. Treatments consisted of silages: corn silage (CS), spineless cactus silage (SCS), spineless cactus + gliricidia (SCG), spineless cactus + buffel grass silage (SCBG) and spineless cactus + pornunça (SCP). Silos were opened 60 days after ensiling, and analyses were carried out. The digestibility test lasted for 36 days, with eight animals per treatment. A completely randomized design was adopted. Considering carbohydrate fractionation, CS, SCS and SCBG silages had higher total carbohydrate content (
= 0.001). The SCS silage presented a higher A + B1 fraction (
= 0.001). The SCBG and SCG silages showed a higher B2 fraction (
< 0.0001) compared to the CS and SCS silages. The SCBG and SCP silages presented a higher C fraction (
= 0.001). For protein fractionation, the SCP and SCG silages showed higher crude protein contents (
= 0.001). The CS and SCS silages showed a higher A fraction (
= 0.001). The SCBG silage presented a higher B1 + B2 fraction (
= 0.001). The SCG silage showed a higher B3 fraction (
= 0.006) compared to SCBG silage. The SCS and SCP silages showed a higher C fraction (
= 0.001). Exclusive SCS silage showed higher in vitro dry matter digestibility (
= 0.001), dry matter degradability (
= 0.001) and total gas production (
= 0.001). The use of the SCBG, SCP and SCG silages to feed sheep increased the dry matter intake (
< 0.001). Sheep fed the SCG silage showed greater dry matter and crude protein digestibility compared to the sheep fed the CS, SCS and SCP silages (
= 0.002). There was a higher water intake (
< 0.001) with the use of the SCS and SCG silages to feed the sheep. The SCP and SCG silages provided a greater intake (
< 0.001) and excretion (
< 0.001) of nitrogen by the animals. Although there were no differences between the treatments for daily gains, lambs that received the spineless cactus-based silage associated with tropical forages showed higher gains (160-190 g/day) than lambs that received CS silage (130 g/day). Thus, the use of spineless cactus associated with buffelgrass, pornunça and gliricidia to prepare mixed silages (60:40) to feed sheep has potential use to feed sheep, with positive effects on nutrient degradation and increases in dry matter intake. Under experimental conditions, we recommend the exclusive use of spineless cactus silage associated with buffel grass, pornunça and gliricidia in feeding sheep in semi-arid regions, as it provides nutrients, water and greater daily gains compared to corn silage.
The objective was to evaluate the water intake and ingestive behavior of sheep fed diets containing silages of cactus pear combined with tropical forages. Forty sheep without defined breed, intact, ...with initial average weight of 22.65 ± 1.01 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 8 replications. The experimental diets consisted of cactus pear silage (CPS), cactus pear + buffel grass silage (CPBS), cactus pear + gliricidia silage (CPGS), cactus pear + pornunça silage (CPPS), and corn silage (CS). CPGS provided higher water intake via food, total water intake, metabolic water, and excretion via feces and urine (
P
< 0.05). Animals that received diets containing CS showed higher water intake via drinking fountain, less efficient feeding and rumination of dry matter, less efficient rumination of neutral detergent fiber, grams of dry matter per cud, grams of neutral detergent fiber per cud, and the shortest average time spent in chewing per cud (
P
< 0.05). CPGS, CPPS, and CS provided longer times for rumination and numbers of cuds per day (
P
< 0.05). CPS showed animals spending more time in idleness, lower quantity of cuds per minute, higher concentration of crystals in urine, with a higher frequency of ammonia-magnesium phosphate and calcium oxalate. Silages based on cactus pear are an alternative to the supply of water via food for sheep in semi-arid.
Cactus pear is used in large proportions in diets for small ruminants in semiarid regions. However, its exclusive use is not recommended due to the low fiber and crude protein content and the high ...water and mineral content, leading to metabolic disorders, low dry matter intake, and weight loss. The use of mixed cactus silage associated with protein and fibrous sources seeks to overcome the deficits in dry matter, fiber and crude protein, aiming to improve the nutritional quality of the diets that will be offered to ruminants. Thus, the use of gliricidia hay in cactus pear silages could represent an important alternative to improve the nutritional and fermentative characteristics of the ensiled material. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate the fermentation dynamics, nutritional characteristics, and aerobic stability of mixed silages of cactus pear combined with different levels of gliricidia hay. This was a completely randomized experimental design with five treatments and five repetitions. The treatments consisted of different levels of inclusion of gliricidia hay (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% on a dry matter basis) in the composition of mixed cactus pear silages. The inclusion of gliricidia hay in the composition of mixed silages of cactus pear resulted in a quadratic effect for dry matter recovery, pH, NH
-N, buffering capacity, aerobic stability, ether extract, P, K, Na, and Zn (
< 0.05). There was a reduction in density, effluent losses, maximum pH, mineral matter, non-fiber carbohydrates, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn (
< 0.05), and an increase in the time to reach maximum pH as well as an upward trend in pH, dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and B (
< 0.05). Under experimental conditions, the inclusion of gliricidia hay between 20 and 30% in cactus pear-based silage provided an improvement to the chemical composition and fermentation parameters of the silages.
The aim of this study was to evaluate morphophysiological indices, phenology and cutting time of forage cactus (Opuntia and Nopalea spp.) clones intercropped with sorghum cultivars (Sorghum bicolor). ...The experiment was carried out from 2017 to 2018, in two cropping systems (monocropping and intercropping), comprising 12 treatments, consisted of three cactus clones: 'IPA Sertânia'-IPA, 'Miúda'-Miu and 'Orelha de Elefante Mexicana'- OEM, in a monocropping system and nine combinations the cacti and sorghum (cultivars 467, SF11 and 2502) to comprise each of the intercropping systems. Cladodes morphophysiological indices were obtained: absolute growth rate, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate (NAR), specific cladode area rate (SCAR) and the cladode area index rate. OEM showed higher absolute growth rates at the beginning of the cycle, compared with IPA and Miu. NAR was higher in the monocropped OEM and in the OEM-2502 intercrop than under all the IPA and Miu systems (monocropping and intercropping), but the SCAR rate was higher for IPA (monocrop and intercropped). Miu showed a shorter duration of phenophase 2, but OEM had a higher rate of cladode emission during this phase. Cactus-sorghum intercropping systems cause a significant reduction in growth rates of the forage cactus. Intercropping has an earlier cutting time than the monocropping.
This study aimed to quantify forage yield, economic performance, biological efficiency and competitive ability in cactus intercropped with millet, compared with their monocrops, both with and without ...mulch, under irrigation. The experiment was conducted over two years in semi-arid of Brazil. The experimental design was of randomised blocks with four replications and six treatments: monocropped cactus without mulch; monocropped cactus with mulch; monocropped millet without mulch; monocropped millet with mulch and cactus intercropped with millet, with and without mulch. The individual yields of fresh (270 t ha
−1
) and dry (23 t ha
−1
) matter in the cactus were not affected by the mulch or by intercropping. Mulching improved the individual yields of fresh (69.7 t ha
−1
) and dry (23.4 t ha
−1
) matter in the monocropped millet. Total dry matter was greater in the intercropping systems, both with (32.8 t ha
−1
) and without (31.4 t ha
−1
) mulching, being the average monetary advantage index equal to 8 404 BRL ha
−1
. The cactus-millet configuration, irrespective of the use of mulch, but irrigated in dry environments or during dry periods of the year, is more advantageous than the monocrops, because it promotes gains in production and food diversity for meeting the demand of the herd.
The aim of the present study was to determine the apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of gross energy, dry matter, crude protein, amino acids, and different carbohydrate fractions of spineless ...cactus meals (SCMs) for Nile tilapia juveniles, fed with extruded diets. Fish were fed a reference diet or one of five test diets, each of which included 70% reference diet and 30% corresponding SCM. Fecal collection was performed in modified Guelph method. The ADCs for dry matter, gross energy, and soluble carbohydrates of the “redonda” spineless cactus meal (RSCM) were higher (
P
< 0.05) than those of either the “IPA 20” spineless cactus meal (ISCM) or “gigante” spineless cactus meal (GSCM), and the ADCs for crude protein of the RSCM and “Orelha de elefante africana” spineless cactus meal (OEASCM) were higher than those of the other cactus meals (
P
< 0.05). In addition, the ADCs for dry matter, crude protein, and gross energy of the SCMs were similar to wheat middlings. The digestibility of the less soluble fraction of the evaluated carbohydrates, the non-fibrous carbohydrates, varied between 58.32 and 73.04%, indicating efficiency in the digestion and absorption process. The data obtained in this article can be the basis for growth experiments, with the substitution of traditional ingredients for SCMs. The determination of zootechnical, physiological, metabolic, and health variables can indicate the potential for using SCMs in diets for Nile tilapia.
Objective. Determine the fermentative profile, proximate composition, and aerobic stability of mixed silages of elephant grass combined with levels of forage peanut. Materials and methods. Different ...levels of forage peanut (0.0, 20.0, 40.0, 60.0, and 80.0% on FM basis) were added to elephant grass silages. A completely randomized design was adopted, with 5 treatments and 3 repetitions, totaling 15 experimental silos that were opened after 30 days of sealing. Fermentative profile, proximate composition, and aerobic stability were evaluated. Results. The increase in the forage peanut levels in the elephant grass silages promoted a increasing on porosity, permeability, density, and pH (p<0.001). A 0.58 reduction in Flieg index for every 1% forage peanut added to the elephant grass silage was observed (p<0.001). The sum of the silage temperature difference compared to the environment (p=0.032) and aerobic stability (p<0.001) showed a quadratic effect. The forage peanut inclusion in elephant grass silages reduced the dry matter, organic matter, neutral and acid detergent fiber, hemicellulose, cellulose, and total carbohydrates (p<0.05) and increased the mineral matter, crude protein, lignin, non-fibrous carbohydrates, and total digestible nutrients (p<0.05). Conclusions. Under the experimental conditions, recommend the inclusion of up to 40% forage peanut combined with elephant grass to compose mixed silages, due to the better fermentative dynamic, nutritional profile, and aerobic stability.
Objetivo. Determinar el perfil fermentativo, composición centesimal y estabilidad aerobia de ensilajes mezclados de hierba-elefante combinadas con niveles de maní forrajero. Materiales y métodos. Distintos niveles de maní forrajero (0,0, 20,0, 40,0, 60,0 y el 80,0% en la base de la materia fresca) se adicionaron a los ensilajes de hierba-elefante. Se adoptó el delineamento enteramente casualizado, con 5 tratamientos y 3 repeticiones, totalizando 15 silos experimentales que se abrieron tras 30 días de sellados. Perfil fermentativo, composición centesimal y estabilidad aerobia. Resultados. Se evaluaron el aumento de los niveles de maní forrajero en los ensilajes de hierba elefante promovió aumento en la porosidad, permeabilidad, densidad y pH (p<0,001). Se observó reducción de 0,58 en el índice de Flieg para cada 1% de maní forrajero adicionado al ensilaje de hierba -elefante (p<0,001). La suma de la diferencia de temperatura del ensilaje con relación al ambiente (p=0,032) y estabilidad aerobia (p<0,001) presentó efecto cuadrático. La inclusión de maní forrajero en los ensilajes de hierba elefante redujo la materia seca, materia orgánica, fibra en detergente neutro y ácido, hemicelulosa, celulose y carbohidratos totales (p<0,05) y aumentó la materia mineral, proteína bruta, lignina, carbohidratos no fibrosos, y nutrientes digestibles totales (p<0,05). Conclusiones. En las condiciones experimentales, se recomienda la inclusión de hasta el 40% de maní forrajero combinado con hierba elefante para componer ensilajes mezclados, debido a la mejor dinámica fermentativa, perfil nutricional y estabilidad aerobia.
This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional and fermentative potential of silage of the forage sorghum Ponta Negra irrigated with saline water. The bromatological characteristics, losses and ...fermentative profile of sorghum silages were observed. For the bromatological characteristics of the sorghum plant, a decreasing linear behavior was observed for the contents of dry matter and organic matter while a positive linear effect was verified for crude protein and mineral matter as the leaching fractions were increased (P < 0.05). A quadratic behavior was observed for non-fibrous carbohydrates, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and cellulose (P < 0.05). The pH values showed a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) with lower pH values observed at 15 days of silo opening for water depths of 10 and 15%. Regarding the silages, the leaching fractions provided differences (P < 0.05) for dry matter recovery, gas loss and effluent loss. A negative linear behavior for the contents of dry matter and organic matter and an increasing linear effect for mineral matter (P < 0.05). The highest concentrations of ammoniacal nitrogen were observed when irrigation was performed with a 10% saline water depth (P < 0.05).
The objective was to determine growth, biomass production, water use efficiency, and the chemical characteristics of sorghum (BRS Ponta Negra), irrigated with different depths of brackish water and ...fertilized with levels of organic matter, in two cultivation cycles. The experiment was a 4 × 4 factorial randomized block design, consisting of four levels of irrigation with brackish water (25, 50, 75, and 100% evapotranspiration), 4 levels of organic matter (0, 15, 30, and 45 t/ha), with three repetitions. The brackish water levels promoted an isolated effect for stem diameter, number and percentage of leaves and number and percentage of dead leaves (P < .05) in the first cut. For the second cut, there was effect of brackish water on the number of leaves, number of dead leaves, percentage of dead material, water use efficiency, dry matter content, and hemicellulose content (P < .05). Regarding the applied organic matter levels, there was an isolated effect of treatments on plant height, stem diameter and fresh matter production (P < .05) in the first cut of sorghum. The application of organic matter influences the growth and production variables. The greater amount of brackish water can negatively affect growth variables, water use efficiency, and chemical composition of sorghum plants.
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