Material de cama: qualidade, quantidade e efeito sobre o desempenho de frangos de corte

An experiment was conducted to evaluate performance, mortality and incidence of lesions on the breasts, hooks and foot pads of broilers raised on wood-scrap litter, rice hulls, Brachiaria hey (Brachiaria decumbens), Napier hay (Pennisetum purpureum) and Coast-cross hay (Cynodon dactylon). A randomized experimental design with five litters, two sexes, four replications and fifty birds per box was used. A standard litter height of 5 cm of wood-scraps and a weight of 20 250 g were adopted as criteria for use of other materials in the boxes. The amount of excreta deposited was 1697 g per raised bird (34,00 % of feed consumption). The incidence of lesions was evaluated in five birds per box after 35, 42 and 49 days and after slaughter. The criteria for scoring lesions were: 0 = without lesion; 1 = inflammation; 2 = mild ulceration; 3 = severe ulceration. At the end of experimental period (49 days) no differences were observed For weight, weight gain, feed consumption, feed/gain ratio and mortality among treatments. The lesions of the hocks and foot pads of the birds, raised on either Coast-cross hay and Napier hay, were more severe than those on wood-scraps and Brachiaria hay. Males showed better performance than females, but their hock lesions were more severe, independent of the litter used. Based on the performance and lesions scores, it was concluded that Braquiaria hay could be used as litter in replace wood-scraps and rice bulls.

Avaliação química e microbiológica do capim-elefante, cultivar taiwan A-148, preparado para ensilagem com bagaço de cana-de-açúcar

Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.), was cut after nine weeks of regrowth and mixed with 10, 20, 30 and 40% of sugar cane bagasse (SCB) with the objective of reducing the moisture content of the ensiled mass. Willing of the grass for eight and twelve hours was used as a comparative treatment. Initial dry matter of the grass (13%) increased in the forage mass to 17, 23, 24 and 27% by the addition of 10, 20, 30 and 40% of the SCB respectively. Wilting for eight and twelve hours increased initial dry matter to 18 and 24% respectively. Buffering capacity of elephant grass was reduced by the addition of 40% of SCB. Clostridium spores in the ensiled mass tended to be lower due to the effect of the two pre-treatments. Initial dry matter and number of spores of Clostridium were negatively correlated although without statistic significance. The addition of SCB reduced (P < 0.0.5) soluble carbohydrates and crude protein percentages in the ensiled mass. It was concluded that wilting is more effective than the addition of SCB in the practice of ensiling elephant grass.

Degradação ruminal de silagem de capim-elefante com adição de vagem de algaroba triturada

This research was carried out to evaluate the ruminal degradation of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of silages of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) cutting in 70; 90 and 110 days after regrowth with inclusion of 0; 5; 10 and 15% of mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) meal, based on natural matter in a completely randomized design, in split plot arrangement. Samples of silages were incubated in the rumen of two Jersey cows for 3; 6; 12; 24; 48; 72 and 96 h, and the bags at time "zero" were only washed with water to determine the soluble fraction. There was not interaction (P> 0.05) incubation time x inclusion of mesquite pods x cutting age of the grass for DM degradability, there was only interaction (P <0.05) between these factors for CP and NDF degradability. The most effective DM degradability (42.54%) was observed for 15% inclusion of mesquite pods. The effective CP degradability was higher (69.04%) for elephant grass silage with 70 days after regrowth with 15% of mesquite pods. The inclusion of mesquite pods in elephant grass silages improve DM, CP and NDF degradability, while increment of the age after regrowth result in reduction of this parameters.

Adubação nitrogenada e idade de corte na produção de matéria seca do capim-elefante no Cerrado

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the application of N fertilizer and the cutting age on the dry biomass production of elephant grass. The experiment was performed with the variety Paraiso and planted in a Ferralsol in 2008 in the district of Gurupi (State of Tocantins). Four different rates of urea application were tested (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha(-1)) and harvests were made at 120, 150 or 180 days after germination (DAG) of the setts. The dry matter and total N accumulation were evaluated. Dry matter production increased with dose of N, the greatest effect being observed at 180 DAG. There was a linear increase in dry matter (R-2 = 0.75**) and N accumulation (R-2 = 0.96**) permitting a productivity of 34 t ha(-1) of dry matter and an accumulation of 471 kg N ha(-1). The N utilization efficiency (biomass production per unit of applied N) increased with plant age. The higher efficiency of N use favored the quality of biomass production for energy production owing to the higher fibre content.

Produção e composição do leite de vacas mantidas em pastagens de capim-elefante submetidas a duas frequências de pastejo

The objective of this study was to evaluate two grazing intervals (IG) for elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum cv. Cameroon) pasture: one variable, determined by the entry of animals to the paddocks when 95% of active photosynthetic radiation was intercepted by the sward, and fixed 26-day grazing interval. Eight dairy cows were used, averaging 124 days lactation, 516 kg body weight and 17.5 kg daily milk production at the beginning of the trial. The experimental period was 80 days divided into four sub-periods of 20 days each. Data were analyzed in a cross-over design. The grazing frequencies did not influence milk production and composition, plasma urea nitrogen, body condition score and variations in body weight. However, the stocking rate and milk production per hectare were higher for pasture with interval of grazing determined by 95% of active photosynthetic radiation. Thus grazing frequency defined in variable intervals by sward interception of active photosynthetic radiation result in higher milk production per area unit.

Aditivos na ensilagem do capim-elefante. I. Composição bromatológica das forragens e das respectivas silagens

The effect of the addition of ground ear corn with husks, wheat bran and saccharin, on the rate of 0, 8, 16 and 24% (dry weight of additive/wet weight of cut green grass), upon the chemical composition of both fodder and silage of Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cv. Guaçu was evaluated. A split-plot randomized block design was used. The plots were the additives and their levels and the sub-plots the material types (forage + additives and their silages). The grass was fertilized with 20 t/ha of green manure and 80, 160 and 160 kg/ha of P2O5, N and K2O, respectively. The material (chopped grass mixed with the levels of the additives) was ensiled in experimental silos (200 L plastic vessels). The dry matter percentages increased linearly as additive levels increased, being greater the effect of ground ear corn with husks. Wheat bran addition and saccharin increased the crude protein and soluble carbohydrates percentages while the ground ear corn with husks addition decreased them. Losses of dry matter soluble compounds (CP, ash and NFE) and a relative rise in the less soluble compounds (CF and organic matter) were observed.

Aditivos na ensilagem do capim-elefante. II. Qualidade das silagens amostradas por dois métodos

Silages of Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cv. Guaçu prepared with 0, 8, 16 and 24% of ground ear com with husks, wheat bran and saccharin, dry weight of additive/wet weight of green chop basis. The experimental design was a randomized blocks one in split-plot; the plots were the additives and levels, and the sub-plots the sampling methods. The material was ensiled using plastic vessels in middle of which holed pvc pipes (3 inches diameter) were put. These pipes (one per vessel) had the same length as the height of the vessels, and were filled at the same time and compacted the same way as the vessels. The first method of sampling used the material ensiled inside the pvc pipe, which was lifted out from the vessel at the moment of the silo opening. The other sampling method, normaly used in digestibility trials, consisted of samples composed by daily sub-samples collected in the vessels. The pvc sampling method was more efficient because it sampled a profile of the whole silage. All of the silages showed high percentages of lactic acid and low percentages or even absence of butyric acid, though in all silages high ammoniacal-N percentages were detected.

Aditivos na ensilagem do capim-elefante. III. Valor nutritivo e consumo voluntário e digestibilidade aparente em ovinos

The intake, the apparent digestibility and the nutritive value of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) silages prepared with the addition of 0, 8, 16 and 24% of ground ear corn with husks, wheat bran and saccharin, dry weight of additive/wet weight of green chop upon the silage were evaluated. A randomized block design with three replications, in a factorial arrangement (3 additives x 4 levels) was used. As experimental silos, 200-liter plastic vessels were used. Sheep weighing approximately 50 kg, kept in individual cages, receiving water and mineral mixture ad libitum, were used to measure the intake and apparent digestibility of silages. There was a ten-day period of adaptation to the experiment conditions. The voluntary intake of the silages was determined by the mean of the intake observed in the last three days of a ten-day period. The fecal collection period lasted for seven days. In this period the animals were fed 80% of the observed intake obtained in the previous phase. The dry matter intake increased as the levels of the additives in the silages were increased. The digestibility of the wall cell components decreased as the rates of the additives in the ensilage process increased. The silages prepared with wheat bran or ground ear corn with husks showed higher nutritive value than the ones with saccharin.

Aditivos na ensilagem do capim-elefante. IV. Fermentação ruminal em ovinos

The ruminai fermentation patterns of sheep fed elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) silage enriched with ground ear corn with husks, wheat bran and saccharin in the levels 0, 8, 16 and 24% dry weight of additive/wet weight of green chop was evaluated. A split-plot randomized block design was used. The plots were the additives and their levels and the sub-plots the time of rumen fluid collection (0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 h after feeding). During the collection period, the sheep were fed 80% of the observed voluntary feed intake of the previous phase. For all additive types and levels used in preparing the silages, high levels of total volatile fat acids were observed, with predominance of the acetic acid. The silages having ground ear corn with husks as additive showed, in the ruminai fluid, ammonia production levels below the recommended for maximum microbial protein synthesis. However, silages with saccharin or wheat bran presented a good ammoniacal-N availability. In the ruminal fluid of the sheep fed ground ear corn with husks or wheat bran the molar proportion of butyric acid was increased and that of acetic acid and pH were decreased, as the levels of the additives in the silage increased.

Grazing time and milk production of crossbred cows in a rotational area of Elephant grass and Tanzania grass

This study was carried out in January of two consecutive years. The objective was to evaluate the grazing time, the grazing rate and the milk production of crossbred cows, managed in two rotational grazing areas, one with elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cv. Guaçu) and another one with Tanzania grass (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzania), both with natural shade in the rest area. The experiment was divided in two phases, the first with 12 cows that remained day and night in the paddock and were milked twice a day. In the second phase 15 cows were observed and remained 10.43 hours in the paddock during the day, and were kept in a corral during the night. Each cow was observed every 15 minutes. Grass specie had no effect on milk production in the two phases of the experiment. The grazing time was 564 and 474 minutes and the grazing rate was 28.7 and 24.4 minutes/hour for the Elephant grass and Tanzania grass, respectively, in first phase. In the second phase,the grazing time was 461 and 426 minutes and the grazing rate was 42.7 and 39.4 minutes/hour for the Elephant grass and Tanzania grass, respectively. Correlations were observed (P<0.01) between grazing rate and the minimum temperature (-0.68), the maximum temperature (-0.76), the relative humidity (0.44) and the THI (-0.76).

Desempenho ponderal de novilhas mestiças Holandês x Zebu submetidas a duas estratégias de suplementação mineral

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Comparações entre equações de predição de consumo de capim-elefante cortado para vacas lactantes

This work aimed to compare intake prediction equations with values obtained by direct methods using chopped elephant-grass offered to crossbreed lactating cows with rumen canulas. The experimental design was a 3 x 3 Latin square (three animals and three cutting ages: 30, 45 and 60 days). The equations used for intake prediction (y) were: (1) y= -1.19 + 0.035(a+b) + 28.5c; (2) y= [%NDF on DM]*[NDF intake]/[(1- a - b)/KP+b/(c+kp)]/24; (3) y= -0.822 + 0.0748(a+b) + 40.7c and (4) equation 2 with values of intake measured directly. The predictions of NDF intake by equations were not different among treatments, instead of the difference among values measured directly: the 30 day-old had lower intake (5.29 kg/day) in relation to 45 (6.57 kg/day) and 60 (7.31 kg/day) day-old grasses. In general, equations overestimated the DM intake in relation to direct measuring (9.0 kg/cow/day), with exception of equation 3 which underestimated the intake (7.7 kg/day). The means of DM intake found by equations 1 and 2 (13.7 and 13.4 kg/cow/day, respectively) were similar between themselves and superior in relation to those found by equation 4 (9.7 kg/cow/day). The intakes measured directly were similar to those found in equation 4 and higher than those found by equation 3. The mean of rumen fill of 7.5 kg was superior to those of 5.2 kg estimated by equation. The prediction equations based on in situ degradability parameters do not supply estimates of DM intake, NDF intake and rumen fill in agreement with values obtained by direct methods.

Composição e digestibilidade in vitro de genótipos de capim-elefante, aos 56 dias de rebrota

Twelve elephant grass genotypes were evaluated in a randomized blocks design with three repetitions. The experimental parcel was of 4 lines with 3m of length, spaced of 1 m and fertilized with 100 kg of P2O5, 100 kg of N, 60 kg of K2O and 25 kg of micronutrients/ha. Significant differences were observed among the genotypes for neutral detergent fiber (FND), acid detergent fiber (FAD) and lignin. The genotypes CNPGL 92-70-02, CNPGL 91-25-01 and CNPGL 93-32-02 showed low values for FND, FAD and lignin, simultaneously, outstanding between the others. There were no significant differences in the levels of dry matter and crude protein contents and in in vitro dry matter digestibility between the genotypes.

Diferentes níveis de torta de nabo forrageiro (Raphanus sativus) como aditivo na silagem de capim elefante

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of different levels of turnip cake (TNF) on the chemical composition, digestibility and quality of elephant grass silage. Due to the quality of the oil extracted from the seeds, the turnip is being considered as an important option for the biodiesel industry in Brazil. The turnip cake is obtained from the mechanical pressing of the seeds to produce oil, and it differs from the meal by the content of fat. In the meal the fat is less than 1%, due to the use of solvents for the oil extraction. Experimental silos were used in a completely randomized design, in factorial arrangement 2 x 3 (two types of material and four levels of inclusion). The materials were represented for original material (fresh) and ensiled material, with four levels of inclusion of TNF (0, 3, 6, and 9%). Dry matter (DM), ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), nitrogen indigestible neutral detergent (NIDN), nitrogen indigestible acid detergent (NIDA), ash (MM), lignin (LIG), buffer power (PT), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDDM) were determined in all materials. In silage, additionally, were determined pH and amoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N). There were effects of inclusion of TNF and the type of material on the DM, CP, ADF, NIDA, P, and MM contents and on IVDDM. The interaction of the two factors was observed to the contents of CP, NDF, ADF, NIDA, Ca and IVDDM. In silage, the DM levels were lower (P < 0.05) than in original material. The values of DM were increased linearly as increased levels of inclusion of TNF. The fibrous components, including NIDN and NIDA, decreased linearly when the TNF increased. In all treatments, values of pH and N-NH3 considered ideal for good silage were observed. The IVDDM was reduced, linearly, with the addition of increasing levels of TNF. A negative correlation (-0.95) between IVDDM and content of EE may explain the tendency of this variable, due to the EE content increased linearly with the addition of TNF. The addition of TNF as an additive in silage of elephant diminished IVDDM. Considering the changes observed in the chemical composition and digestibility of elephant grass silage with TNF as additive, suggests that this should not be included at levels exceeding 3%. On the other hand, the silages with TNF as additive showed appropriate fermentation characteristics.

Omissāo de macronutrientes no crescimento e no estado nutricional de capim-elefante (cv. Mott) cultivado em solução nutritiva

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of omission of macronutrients in the growth and the nutritional state of elephant-grass plants (Pennisetum purpureum Shum cv. Mott). The experiment was developed in the FCAV/UNESP, in Jaboticabal-SP,Brazil, using nutrient solution. The experimental design was completely randomized blocks, with seven treatments (the complete solution proposed by Hoagland & Amon (1950) and the individual omission of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S, in these solution), in three repetitions. Pre-germinated plants were placed in pot (5 dm3), containing the nutrient solution, which was aerated constantly during the experimental period and the respective treatments, with three replications each. Weekly, the height of the plants, the leaf number, apex diameter and number of tillers were evaluated as well as plant nutritional state. The omission of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S limited the production of dry weight of shoot the elephant grass, compared to the full treatment. The deficiency of a macronutrient, in addition to promoting reduction of its content in the shoot, resulted in reducing the accumulation of most macronutrients, with resultant morphological changes, translated as characteristic symptoms of deficiency.