The effect of different proportions of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill) silage (CPS) and intermittent water supply (IWS) to crossbreed goats' diets on carcass traits and meat quality were ...evaluated. The IWS caused a reduction (p = 0.03) in the percentage of leg fat in the animals. The rib eye area, carcass weight, and physical-chemical characteristics were not affected (p > 0.05) by the CPS or IWS. The IWS reduced (p = 0.04) the elongase enzyme activity. The CPS inclusion in the diet reduced C22:0 (p = 0.01), some branched-chain fatty acid (BCFA), C20:1 (p = 0.03), c13-C18:1 (p = 0.01) fatty acids. Therefore, in situations of water scarcity, an intermittent water supply of up to 48 h and diets with up to 42% cactus pear silage, can be adopted in goat feedlot, without affecting carcass traits and meat quality.
Resumo O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar composição química, perfil fermentativo, população de microrganismos e recuperação de matéria seca (RMS) de silagem de cana-de-açúcar contendo níveis ...crescentes (0, 25, 50 e 75%, na base da matéria natural) de amendoim forrageiro (Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte), tratadas ou não com Lactobacillus buchneri. Usou-se o esquema fatorial 4×2, no delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições. Verificou-se efeito de interação níveis de amendoim forrageiro e inoculante para teores de matéria seca, proteína bruta, fibra em detergente neutro e ácido, ácidos orgânicos e etanol, população de bactérias láticas e leveduras, perdas por gases e por efluente e RMS. Houve efeito de níveis de amendoim forrageiro no teor de hemicelulose, nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente ácido, pH e nitrogênio amoniacal. Verificou-se que o aumento de níveis de amendoim forrageiro incrementou teor de proteína e diminuiu teor de fibra, além de reduzir a produção de etanol e de efluente. Recomenda-se inclusão de 40% a 75% de amendoim forrageiro na ensilagem de cana-de-açúcar para melhorar a composição química e o perfil de fermentação. A inoculação com L. buchneri associada ao amendoim forrageiro aumenta a concentração de ácidos antifúngicos na silagem e decresce a população de leveduras e a produção de etanol.
Abstract There is evidence for the beneficial effects of forage peanut on the nutritive value and fermentation profile of silages; however, its effects on sugarcane silage have not been determined. The objective of the study was to evaluate the chemical composition, fermentation profile, microbial composition, and dry matter recovery (DMR) of sugarcane silage containing various amounts of forage peanut (Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte) (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% on a fresh matter basis), treated or untreated with Lactobacillus buchneri. A completely randomized 4 × 2 factorial design was used with three replications. The interaction between forage peanut levels and inoculant influenced the concentrations of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber, organic acids and ethanol, populations of lactic acid bacteria and yeast, gas and effluent losses, and DMR. Forage peanut levels had effects on dry matter, hemicellulose, acid detergent insoluble nitrogen, pH, and ammonia nitrogen. Increasing proportions of forage peanut increased the protein content and decreased the fiber content in the silage, while also reducing the production of ethanol and effluent. We recommend the inclusion of 40%–75% forage peanut in the sugarcane ensilage to improve the chemical composition and fermentation profile. Furthermore, inoculation with L. buchneri associated with forage peanut increases the concentration of antifungal acids in the silage and decreases the yeast population and ethanol production.
This study aimed to determine the nitrogen application need to optimise the Forage Sorghum yield and the quality silage in regions of humid and mesothermal climate. For the agronomic evaluations of ...the hybrids, a completely randomised block design was adopted, while for silages evaluation, the design used was completely randomised. The treatments were: 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg of N.ha
−1
, with four replications each. The results showed that there was an increasing quadratic effect (P < 0.05) for dry matter percentage (% DM) of the plant stem, plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), and crude protein (CP) of the silage. The decreasing quadratic effect (P < 0.05) was observed for panicle size (PAS). Also, there was an increasing linear effect (P < 0.05) for the fresh matter production (FMP) and dry matter production (DMP), and linear decreasing (P < 0.05) for the levels of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and gas losses (GL). Based on the nitrogen use efficiency of the plant and the silage quality, an application of 50 kg of N.ha
−1
is recommended for forage sorghum grown in regions of humid and mesothermal climate.
Cyamelurate anions obtained from the hydrolysis of polymeric graphitic carbon nitride were used for the preparation of a water-stable and crystalline coordination polymer based on ...nickel(II)–cyamelurate. The polymer was prepared and applied as a catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in the presence of borohydride under ambient conditions. The catalyst was prepared by a simple and environmentally friendly method in an aqueous medium, and it was completely characterized by a variety of techniques, including FTIR, UV–Vis, XRD, TGA, TEM, and STEM. The obtained catalyst was able to catalyze the reaction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol with a good kinetic constant. In addition, the catalyst proved to be significantly robust, maintaining a conversion rate greater than 80% after five minutes of reaction for eight consecutive catalytic cycles. In addition, the catalytic activity of the coordination polymer was much higher than that observed for a homogeneous catalyst based on aqueous Ni2+ ions, suggesting the importance of the structure of the coordination sphere formed by the cyamelurate anions. The results presented here can contribute to the application of other coordination polymers anchored with cyamelurate-like ligands and derivatives, as well as to new catalyst designs based on this coordination site formed by oxygen and nitrogen donor atoms.
•The sorghum silage amended with urea and inoculant L. buchneri presents a better nutritional composition and consequently improves performance and feed efficiency.•Urea and L. buchneri promoted an ...improvement in carcass conformation and fat content, what is well seen in the meat market.•The use of both additives in the sorghum silage can be oriented to improve the fermentative profile and aerobic stability, and consequently result in less quantity of silage discarded, besides influencing the animal performance and the commercialized product.
This study aimed to examine the productive and metabolic parameters, carcass and meat characteristics of lambs fed sorghum silage treated with urea and Lactobacillus buchneri. Forty whole male Santa Inês lambs fed a diet with a 50:50 roughage: concentrate ratio, and randomly assigned to four groups considering roughage treatments SS - sorghum silage without additive; SSI - sorghum silage with inoculant (Lactobacillus buchneri, 105 CFU/g fresh matter); SSU - sorghum silage with urea 1% dry matter (DM); or SSUI - sorghum silage with urea and inoculant. The experiment was a completely randomized design with ten replicates, each animal represented an experimental unit. The intakes of DM (DMI) (P<0.001), as a percentage of BW, DMI %BW (P<0.001), neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (P=0.005) and non-fiber carbohydrates (NFCI; P<0.001) were lower in SSUI compared to SS and SSU. NFCI was lower in SSI compared to other diets, the same observed for crude protein intake (P<0.001), however, ether extract intake of (EE) did not differ (P=0.076). The highest final body weight (P<0.001), total weight gain (P=0.003), and average daily weight gain (P=0.003) were observed in the groups fed SSUI. Feedlot lambs fed sorghum silage treated with urea and Lactobacillus bucnheri promoted higher animal performance with higher feed efficiency without negative effects on meat characteristics.
This study examined rumen fermentation, histological, blood, and urinary characteristics as well as ammoniacal nitrogen concentration, pH, nitrogen balance, and microbial protein in lamb fed diets ...containing spineless cactus as the sole roughage source plus levels of wheat bran (WB) in comparison with a control diet based on spineless cactus and buffelgrass. Twenty-eight uncastrated, crossbreed lambs with an average initial weight of 22.6 ± 2.37 kg were used in the experiment. The treatments consisted of a standard diet (control) containing buffelgrass and spineless cactus and three diets containing cactus as the only roughage source plus varied concentrations of WB (30, 37, and 44%, on a dry matter basis). Results were evaluated by analysis of variance, and contrasts were applied at the 5% probability level for mean comparison. Rumen villus height and width were greater and musculature was lower in the lamb fed diets containing 37% and 44% WB compared with those fed control diet. In the intestine, the crypts were smaller in the animals which consumed the diets with 30, 44, and 37% WB. All WB levels resulted in lower nitrogen intake and retention. Microbial protein concentration, microbial protein efficiency, microbial nitrogen, urea, and glucose were not significantly affected. Feeding lamb with diets containing levels of wheat bran, with cactus as the only roughage source, does not negatively affect their ruminal-fermentation, blood, and urinary characteristics; ammoniacal nitrogen concentration; pH; or microbial protein. However, nitrogen balance and ruminal and intestinal morphometric characteristics are impaired.
The physically effective neutral detergent fiber content alone has not been able to explain the appearance of diarrhea in ruminants fed diets with large volumes of spineless cactus, so the ...proliferation of enterobacteria in spineless cactus may be associated with cases of diarrhea in sheep. In the in vitro test, used two varieties of spineless cactus, both of which were chopped to particles of 4 and 2 cm
2
. For the in vivo test, 15 lambs were allocated to three treatment groups, namely, spineless cactus crushed and immediately supplied to the animals; spineless cactus crushed 8 h before supply; and silage of spineless cactus. The variables evaluated were dry matter intake, weight gain, fecal score, hemogram, and fecal colony count. In the in vitro test, higher
Enterobacteriaceae
and lactic acid bacteria counts were found both at 12 h and 24 h when the spineless cactus was crushed to 2 cm
2
in both varieties. The sheep fed the spineless cactus crushed 8 h prior to supply showed the highest
Enterobacteriaceae
count in the feces (8.48 CFU/g), compared to animals fed silage of spineless cactus (4.95 CFU/g). It can thus be concluded that the management of spineless cactus influences the development of total and fecal coliforms, especially when it is chopped to 2 cm
2
and exposed to the environment for periods longer than 7 h, and that the bacterial population can be controlled by administering the spineless cactus in the form of silage.
•The use of spineless cactus in the form of silage resulted in higher intakes.•Ensiling spineless cactus improves the nutritional value of diets.•Ensiling spineless cactus resulted in higher ...digestibility of dry matte.
An experiment was carried out to compare the use of fresh cactus with cactus ensiled with and without a microbial inoculant in sheep diets by examining their feed intake, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, and microbial protein synthesis and counting fecal enterobacteria. Twenty uncastrated mixed-breed sheep at approximately six months of age, with an average initial weight of 23.48 ± 2.40 kg, were used in the study. The animals were assigned to four treatments fresh spineless cactus processed twice daily at the time of supply (FC2); fresh spineless cactus processed only once, in the morning, and supplied twice daily (FC1); spineless-cactus silage without inoculant (CS); and spineless-cactus silage with microbial inoculant (CSI) in a completely randomized design with five replications per treatment. The experimental period was 21 days. The use of spineless cactus in the form of silage (CS and CSI) resulted in higher (P < 0.05) intakes of dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, ether extract, non-fibrous carbohydrates, and total digestible nutrients; and higher digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, and total digestible nutrients. Lower counts of fecal enterobacteria were also observed with the ensiled cactus. By contrast, the diets did not influence (P> 0.05) nitrogen balance, microbial efficiency, urinary nitrogen losses, or fecal nitrogen losses. Regardless of inoculation, the ensiling of spineless cactus improves the sanitary quality of the diet, reducing the amount of enterobacteria in the cactus and resulting mainly in improved nutrient intake by sheep.
Blossom-end rot (BER) is a physiological disorder related to calcium (Ca) deficiency in tomato fruits. However, adequate Ca supply is not sufficient to inhibit the BER incidence. The Ni-Ca ...interaction has increased the Ca content in Ni hyperaccumulators plants. However, studies with commercial plants are still incipient. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of Ni-Ca interaction in tomato plants, focusing on yield and incidence of BER. We carried out two trials. The first trial two Ca doses was used: sufficient Ca 0.70 g kg
−1
(Ca S) and deficient Ca 0,35 g kg
−1
(Ca D) and; four Ni doses applied via substrate (0.0; 0.5; 1.0 and; 2.0 mg kg
−1
). In the second trial, the same Ca doses of the first trial and four doses of Ni (0.0; 0.08; 0.42 and; 0.84 mM) applied, via foliar, at the beginning of flowering were used. We verified that the Ni-Ca interaction increased the tomato fruits yield, the shoot calcium accumulation reduced the BER incidence and increased the time of fruit color change (green to red). Even under stressed conditions such as a low Ca availability. Both Ni application ways showed positive results for fruit yield and decreased BER incidence.
The objective of this study was to compare the indirect methods of obtaining digestibility with the direct method of total fecal collection to estimate the apparent digestibility of nutrients in ...sheep and goats supplemented with non-protein nitrogen. Five goats and five sheep with no defined racial pattern were used, distributed in two 5 × 5 Latin squares, with split plots, considering the diets as plots and the apparent digestibility determination methodologies as subplots. The diets were composed of buffelgrass hay and the addition, via ruminal infusion, of increasing amounts of nitrogen supplementation in order to gradually raise the CP level of the basal diet in intervals of 2% points, that is, + 2, +4, + 6 and + 8%. Samples of the feeds offered, and the leftovers were collected daily during the five days of collection to determine the nutrient intake, as well as the total collection of feces to determine the apparent digestibility of the nutrients. The amount of fecal dry matter excreted was estimated by the concentration of Indigestible Acid Detergent Fiber (ADFi), Indigestible Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDFi), Indigestible Dry Matter at 244 h (DMi 244 h) and Indigestible Dry Matter at 264 h (DMi 264 h). Among the evaluated markers, DMi 264 h had the lowest accuracy in estimating fecal excretion and nutrient digestibility. For the goat species, the markers ADFi and DMi 244 h proved to be able to adequately predict fecal excretion and digestibility indices, while NDFi stood out for both species. Among the evaluated markers, NDFi is the one that most accurately estimates the nutrient digestibility of the diet for goats and sheep.
