This study aimed to evaluate the quality of Tanzania grass (Panicum maximum) haylage with varying contents of dry matter (DM) and stored for 90 days. The quality of this grass was evaluated through ...the lens of a variety of physiochemical properties (e.g., chemical composition, aerobic stability, pH, microbial profile, etc.). A completely randomized design was used with four treatments (in natura, 400, 500, and 600 g kg-1 DM) and five replicates. Treatment with 600 g kg-1 DM yielded the highest DM haylage (p < 0.01) and soluble carbohydrate content (p < 0.01). Treatment in natura resulted in the highest O2 concentration inside the bales (p < 0.01), whereas treatments with 500 and 600 g kg-1 DM resulted in the highest CO2 values. The highest acetic acid concentrations of 36.4 ± 1.6, 38.2±1.6, and 48.9 ± 1.6 g kg-1 DM (p < 0.01) were observed post the in natura, 500 g kg-1 DM, and 600 g kg-1 DM treatments, respectively. Treatment with 600 g kg-1 DM yielded the highest pH value at hour zero (p < 0.01). Tanzania grass with 500 and 600 g kg-1 DM produced the highest quality haylage. Highlights: • Haylage can be defined as stored pre-dried forage with a dry matter (DM) content of approximately 400 to 800 g/kg. • Aerobic stability was affected by the interaction between the different plant DM contents and hours of exposure of the Tanzania grass haylage to air after opening the bales. • Haylage surface temperature has a linear relationship with the length of time the materials are exposed to air. • Higher plant DM yields Tanzania grass haylage of high quality. • Tanzania grass with 500 and 600 g kg-1 DM for haylage production is indicated.
Abstract
The study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementing calcium salts of soybean oil to Nellore heifers during the second and third trimesters of gestation and offspring sex on cow ...productivity and their male and female offspring growth. Forty-eight pregnant Nellore heifers body weight (BW) = 387 ± 38.4 kg were assigned to this experiment at day 123 ± 13 of gestation. All heifers were conceived during the same fixed-time artificial insemination protocol at 14 and 24 months of age. Heifers were randomly used in a completely randomized block design with a 2 × 2 factorial treatment arrangement, consisting of supplementing or not (CON) calcium salts of soybean oil (CSSO; 3 g/kg of BW; Table 1) and the sex of the offspring (male or female), totaling four treatments and twelve reps per treatment. Throughout the experimental period, heifers were maintained in a pasture composed of Brachiaria brizantha cv.Marandu. After birth, all animals remained under the same pasture conditions and received the same supplementation until weaning. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS and heifer as the experimental unit. Treatment × offspring sex interaction was not detected (P > 0.36) for any of the variables evaluated. Calves born from heifers supplemented with CCSO were 2 kg heavier (P = 0.03) at birth and 5 kg heavier (P = 0.03) at 120 days of age compared with calves born from CON heifers. At weaning (210 days), no dietary treatment effects were observed (P = 0.17) in offspring BW. Male offspring were 3.5 kg, 9 kg, and 12 kg heavier (P ≤ 0.01) at birth, day 120, and at weaning, respectively, compared with female offspring (Table 2). Throughout the experiment, male offspring gained 0.040 kg more daily (P = 0.01) than female offspring. The female offspring had 0.1 thicker subcutaneous fat per 100 kg of BW (P = 0.02) than the male offspring. Heifer milk production was not impacted (P > 0.10) by the dietary treatments or sex of the offspring in any of the periods evaluated (days 30 and 210; Table 3). Hence, supplementing CSSO to Nellore heifers during the second and third trimester of gestation altered offspring BW up to 120 days after birth, suggesting programming effects on postnatal offspring growth resultant from the CSSO treatment. Male offspring were heavier from birth to weaning compared with female offspring. These outcomes indicate that supplementing CSSO to Nellore heifers during pregnancy might be a feasible alternative to optimize offspring productivity, and carcass merit in grazing systems.
Methods of storing cactus pear genotypes for animal feeding Carvalho, Chrislanne Barreira de Macêdo; Loiola Edvan, Ricardo; Nascimento, Keuven dos Santos ...
African journal of range & forage science,
06/2020, Volume:
37, Issue:
2
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
The objective of this study was to evaluate storage methods of cactus pear as a way of conservation for use in animal feeding. The randomised experimental design composed twelve treatments and three ...replications. Three cactus pear genotypes, Nopalea cochenillifera genotype Doce and Baiana and Opuntia tuna genotype Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (OEM), were stored in natura (0, 30 and 60 days after harvest) and as silage. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) on the chemical and mineral composition of the material stored in natura versus silage. OEM cactus pear presented the highest crude protein content when stored in natura for 0, 30 and 60 days. The highest lignin content was observed in cactus pear OEM when stored in natura for 30 and 60 days after harvest. Macro- and micronutrient contents were within the recommended ranges for ruminant feeding regardless of the cactus pear genotype and storage method. The cactus pear genotypes Doce and Baiana, and genotype OEM can be stored as silage and in natura form for up to 60 days after harvest without compromising the quality of the feed for ruminants.
The objective was to evaluate the fermentation parameters, chemical composition and in situ degradability of sesame silage in comparison to usual silages. The losses, fermentation quality and ...chemical composition of the forages and silages were evaluated using a completely randomised design with four treatments (sesame, corn, millet and sunflower) and four replicates per treatment, the silages were produced in experimental silos. In-situ degradability was evaluated using a completely randomised design with four treatments and three replicates (animals) per treatment. The results were statistically evaluated by analysis of variance and Tukey's test with a level of 5% of probability. Three rumen fistulated non-castrated Santa Inês rams were used. Sunflower and corn silages presented higher percentages of losses through gases (p = .0256). Millet silage presented higher losses by effluent (p < .0001). The dry matter recovery (p < .0001) ranged from 70.0 to 96.5% for sesame and corn silage, respectively. The dry matter content (p = .0002) in the silages ranged from 280.0 to 429.4 g kg
−1
. The sesame silage presented loss amounts and fermentation parameters similar to those found in corn and sunflower silage. Sesame silage showed moderate dry matter (DM), content, excellent crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) contents, and low lignin content. Corn silage presented higher concentration of the soluble fraction of DM (p < .0001). The sesame silage presented a high degradability rate of DM and it was similar to corn and millet which have great nutritional potential for ruminants feeding. Sesame has the potential to produce quality biomass and silage for animal feeding.
highlights
The sesame can be an option for silage making.
Sesame helps to ensure sustainability by promoting lower seasonal risks in this region through the usage of silage as feed for the animals.
Sesame also increases the productivity of livestock throughout the year, through the availability of feed for the herd mainly during the dry season of the year.
The objective of this study was to evaluate water loss and chemical composition of cactus pear genotypes submitted to post-harvest storage periods. The experimental design adopted was a the ...completely randomized, in a 3 × 5 factorial arrangement, with three cactus pear genotypes and five storage periods, and ten replications. The cactus pear genotypes Doce, Baiana and Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (OEM) were harvested after 2 years of cultivation under rainfed conditions, and stored in a ventilated shed (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days). The genotype Baiana showed greater water reduction in the stored cladodes when compared to the other genotypes. All cactus pear genotypes showed reduction in crude protein and carbohydrates in the storage period of 60 days. There were no losses of nutrients, dry matter and ether extract during the storage periods for the genotype Doce. There was increase in the fiber content of the cladodes of all stored genotypes. During the storage period of the cladodes of all genotypes, there was reduction in the contents of Ca, Mg and Cu. The cactus pear genotypes Doce and OEM can be stored for up to 60 days after harvest.
Highlights:
• Cactus is also considered a strategic forage reserve and, in this case, the frequency of cutting can vary according to the producer's needs and weather conditions.• Post-harvest storage can be an alternative to reduce costs, as well as transporting the material.• The variety Doce Baiana showed greater water loss in relation to the other varieties.
Currently, there is no use for melon plant biomass in agriculture and animal feeding. Using this biomass as silage provides a more sustainable production system. Thus, the objective of this study was ...to evaluate the silage produced with different mixtures of melon plant biomass and ground corn. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme (5 × 2) with five replications. The treatments consisted of five mixtures of melon plant biomass between the plant (branch + leaf) and the fruit (melon scrapings) in amounts of 0% fruit, 5% fruit, 10% fruit, 20% fruit, and 100% fruit on an as-fed basis and ground corn in amounts of 0% and 5% AF of the ensiled biomass. The greatest dry matter contents were found in silages with corn and 0 and 5% fruit, which were 225.6 g/kg and 235.2 g/kg, respectively. The highest concentrations of acetic acid were found in the silages with 0% fruit without corn and 20% fruit with ground corn and were 10.96 and 10.00 g/kg DM, respectively. The use of melon fruit biomass with 0%, 5%, and 100% fruit is the most suitable for silage making, and adding ground corn improves silage quality parameters.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the silage produced with different mixtures of melon biomass with urea used as an additive. It adopted a completely randomized design in a 5 × 2 factorial ...scheme with five replications. The first factor was made up of five mixtures on an as-fed basis (AF) of the melon, including plant (branch and leaf) and fruit (culled melon, after harvest), where the amount of fruit varied as follows: 0% fruit, 5% fruit, 10% fruit, 20% fruit, and 100% fruit. The second factor was represented by the use of urea in the silage as follows: 0% and 1.5% urea AF. The highest silage dry matter (DM) content (200 g/kg DM) was observed in the silage with 20% fruit. Regarding the crude protein, the highest content (69.8 g/kg DM) was found in the silage with the addition of urea. The highest loss through the gas (GAS) was observed in the silages with 0% and 100% fruit (0.6 and 1.13%), with no addition of urea. The silages made with melon biomass and the addition of 20% and 100% fruit showed differences regarding the fermentative pattern, chemical composition, and aerobic stability, thus being the most indicated mixtures for silage making.
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