M. A. Lira

Substituição parcial do farelo de soja por uréia e palma forrageira (Opuntia fícus indica Mill) em dietas para vacas em lactação: I. Desempenho

The work was carried out to evaluate the partial replacement of soybean meal by urea and forage cactus on the performance of lactating dairy Holstein. Eight cows with 90 days in milk and 600 kg of initial average LW, were assigned in a two 4 X4 latin square design. The urea represented 0.0, 0.8, 1.54 and 2.40% of dry matter (DM) of the diets, correspondent to 2.32, 4.65, 6.66 and 8.02% of crude protein (CP) levels in the form of non protein nitrogen compounds (NPN), that represented the experimental treatments. There was a quadratics effect of levels of NPN on the intake of CP, with maximum intake of 3.3 kg/day with 4.71 % of NPN. The calcium (Ca) intake increased, and dray matter (DM); organic matter (OM), ether extract (EE), total carbohydrates (TCH), non fibercarbohydrates (NFC), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) intakes decreased linearly. The intakes of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and Phosphorus (P) was not affected by NPN levels. The milk production and fat corrected milk (3,5%) decresed linearly as levels of urea and forage cactus increased. The yield of fat, protein, milk composition and feed:eficiency ration was not affected by NPN levels.

Potential of Caatinga forage plants in ruminant feeding

Caatinga is the most important biome for the livestock in the Brazilian semi-arid region. This review paper aimed to present information on different forage aspects of caatinga vegetation for ruminant feeding. Caatinga vegetation is formed mainly by shrubs and small trees, usually presenting thorns, deciduous leaves, and leaf abscission occurring frequently at the onset of the dry season. Additional components of the botanical composition in this biome includes the families cactaceae, bromeliaceae, and a herbaceous component formed by grasses, legumes, and forbs, often presenting annual cycle. Quantitative information of caatinga vegetation is scarce in the literature, mainly for the herbaceous stratum. Methodological aspects such as lack of standardization across evaluations make comparison regarding forage potential of caatinga plant species difficult. Index species must be identified within each caatinga type. Quantitative aspects of biological N2 fixation by caatinga species have not been extensively studied. Regarding forage nutritive value, it is necessary to study N availability for ruminants in caatinga plants, since large proportion of this element may bind to fiber components (ADIN). Manipulation of caatinga vegetation is an alternative to change forage quantity and quality for grazing animals, affecting their performance as a result. Studies measuring qualitative and quantitative variability of native forage resources from caatinga are mandatory in order to improve animal feeding management, with the ultimate goal of creating sustainable animal production based on caatinga vegetation.

Mineral fertilization effect on growth and chemical composition of cactus pear - clone IPA 20.

The study was carried out in the greenhouse of the “Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco IPA”, located in Recife – PE. It aimed to evaluate the effects of P and K fertilization on growth and chemical composition of cactus pear IPA-20 clone. Four levels of P (0, 200, 400, and 800 kg P2O5 ha-1) and four levels of K (0, 200, 400, and 800 kg of K2O ha-1) were tested in a 4 x 4 factorial arrangement using a complete randomized block design. Observations were made at 28-d intervals, starting by the third month after planting and lasting until the sixth month of growth. Fresh matter yield of primary articles and total fresh matter yield were affected only by K fertilization (P < 0.05). Concentrations of N, K, Ca, Mg, and S in the cactus shoot were affected by P fertilization (P < 0.05), however, P concentration was not affected. Potassium fertilization affected (P < 0.05) only Ca and S concentrations. Average results for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S were 20.62, 4.75, 33.43, 34.43, 7.44, and 6.10 g kg-1, respectively. Fresh matter yield and dry matter concentration were affected only by K fertilization. Micronutrient concentration was not affected by P and K fertilization.

Caracterização e Seleção de Clones de Capim-Elefante (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) na Zona da Mata de Pernambuco

This work aimed to characterize an elephantgrass collection (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) comprising 71 clones and selecting the best ones to be tested later under grazing conditions. It was carried out at Cedro Experimental Station - IPA, located in Vitoria de Santo Antao, forest zone of Pernambuco State. The period of evaluation included both the raining and the dry season. Each clone was represented by a non-replicated plot of 10 m2. According to linear correlation analysis, the more productive clones also showed highest plant height and highest growing point height, greatest stem diameter, highest stem/leaf ratio, highest basal and total tiller numbers and greatest leaf lenght. The same characteristics above were also positively correlated with the leaf blade yield, except stem/leaf ratio. There was a high correlation coefficient (r = 0.9517) between dry matter yield and leaf blade yield. The selection of clones to be tested under grazing conditions was based on the materials that showed the highest leaf blade yield. These materials were: Mineirao/IPEACO, Hexaploide, Mole de Volta Grande, King Grass, 591-76 or Cameroon, CE 5 AD, Gigante de Pinda, CE 4 AD, Elefante da Colombia and Vrukwona

Utilização de Técnicas Multivariadas na Avaliação da Divergência Genética entre Clones de Palma Forrageira (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill.) 1

Through multivariate techniques the phenetic divergence among clones of cactus forage was evaluated, in an experiment installed at Experimental Station of the Empresa Pernambucana de Pesquisa Agropecuaria - IPA, Caruaru - PE. The experimental design was a complete block design, with three blocks. The treatments were 19 clones of cactus forage of the Bank of Germoplasma of IPA. It was measured: a) measures in cladodios, according to the order: length, width, thickness, number and weight of the green matter; b) measures by plant: thorn presence, number of cladodios for order and total, total height, infestation for cochineal and weight of the green matter. It was applied the univariate analyses of variance (ANOVA) and multivariate (MANOVA), the canonical variables (CV) and cluster analysis (CA). In ANOVA difference were verified among the averages of clones. Differences among vectors of averages of clones were detected by means of MANOVA. It was possible to reduce the original dimensionality for two dimensions, that explained of 85.03% of the total variation, by applicating VC. The infestation percentage by cochineal was considered a characteristics susceptible to discard. In CA was discriminated nine group. In the studied conditions, the characteristic infestation percentage for cochineal should not be included in the study of the genetic diversity; the characteristics of larger discrimination were thickness average for cladodio primary, secondary and tertiary, number of primary cladodio and medium weights of green matter for secondary and tertiary cladodio, in a program of crossing of cactus forage, it must be considered the group of clones and the clone performance as characteristics with higher agronomic relevance and animal science.

Distribuição de biomassa e nutrientes na parte aérea de Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth

This work was carried out at Itambe Experimental Station, in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil, to study biomass and nutrient distribution in stands of Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth. Two stands with similar soil and topographical conditions were studied, involving plants eight and eleven years old, at 3.0 x 3.0 m and 4.5 x 4.5 m spacing, respectively. The biomass of each tree component was determined. Samples of leaves, branches, bark and stem were collected and chemically analyzed. Total biomass was 66.22 and 80.78 t/ha in stands I and II, respectively. Biomass distribution in stands I and II was: branches (44.99 and 53.40%), wood (51.53 and 44.58%), bark (2.39 and 1.40%) and leaves (1.10 and 0.62%). Nutrients of the components for both stands showed the following concentration trend: Nitrogen > Calcium > Potassium > Magnesium > Sulfur > Phosphorus.

Composição química de forrageiras e seletividade de bovinos em bosque-de-sabiá (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth.) nos períodos chuvoso e seco

This trial was carried out from June 1999 to March 2000 to evaluate the chemical composition of samples of sabia legume (Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth.), with and without thorns, collected in the rainy and dry seasons and to compare the botanical composition of sabia pasture with that of the diet selected by the grazing animals. No significant difference was observed in chemical composition between samples of sabia with and without thorns. The mean values obtained in the rainy samples were: 26.45% drymatter (DM), 27.63% crude protein (CP), 44.39% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 25.80% acid detergent fiber (ADF), 1.24% calcium (Ca), 0.22% phosphorus (P), 1.63% potassium (K) and 1.12% sodium (Na). In the dry period samples, the mean values observed were: 42.39% DM, 19.30% CP, 39.05% NDF, 21.83% ADF, 1.25% Ca, 0.15% P, 1.63% K and 0.27% Na. Considering the botanical composition, the rainy extrusa sample showed higher participation of sabia (83.1%) as compared to the dry period (12.3%). During the rainy period, the animals selected sabia in higher quantity while the hand plucked samples overestimated the dietary fiber fraction as compared to values for the extrusa samples.This trial was carried out from June 1999 to March 2000 to evaluate the chemical composition of samples of sabiá legume (Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth.), with and without thorns, collected in the rainy and dry seasons and to compare the botanical composition of sabiá pasture with that of the diet selected by the grazing animals. No significant difference was observed in chemical composition between samples of sabiá with and without thorns. The mean values obtained in the rainy samples were: 26.45% drymatter (DM), 27.63% crude protein (CP), 44.39% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 25.80% acid detergent fiber (ADF), 1.24% calcium (Ca), 0.22% phosphorus (P), 1.63% potassium (K) and 1.12% sodium (Na). In the dry period samples, the mean values observed were: 42.39% DM, 19.30% CP, 39.05% NDF, 21.83% ADF, 1.25% Ca, 0.15% P, 1.63% K and 0.27% Na. Considering the botanical composition, the rainy extrusa sample showed higher participation of sabiá (83.1%) as compared to the dry period (12.3%). During the rainy period, the animals selected sabiá in higher quantity while the hand plucked samples overestimated the dietary fiber fraction as compared to values for the extrusa samples.

Efeito do Estádio Vegetativo do Sorgo (Sorghum bicolor, (L.) Moench) sobre a Composição Química da Silagem, Consumo, Produção e Teor de Gordura do Leite para Vacas em lactação, em Comparação à Silagem de Milho (Zea mays (L.))

Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito do estadio de maturacao do sorgo sobre a composicao quimica da silagem, o consumo, a producao e o teor de gordura do leite em vacas holandesas, em comparacao a silagem de milho. O experimento foi realizado na estacao experimental da Empresa Pernambucana de Pesquisa Agropecuaria - IPA, localizada em Sao Bento do Una-PE. Foram utilizadas nove vacas holandesas puras, em fase de lactacao, distribuidas em tres quadrados latinos. Os quadrados foram formados de acordo com a producao de leite e a ordem de lactacao e constavam de tres vacas e tres periodos. Cada periodo teve duracao de 28 dias. Os tratamentos consistiram de: SM - silagem de milho; SSE - silagem de sorgo fase de emborrachamento; SSL - silagem de sorgo grao leitoso. Foram ainda fornecidos 25 Kg de palma forrageira animal/dia e concentrado comercial de acordo com a producao de leite. A silagem de milho propiciou aos animais maior consumo medio de materia seca da silagem e da dieta total. Nao houve efeito significativo do estadio vegetativo do sorgo sobre o consumo de silagem. As producoes de leite total e corrigida para 4% de gordura foram maiores nos animais que consumiram silagem de milho em relacao aos que receberam silagem de sorgo no estadio de grao leitoso, todavia os que ingeriram silagem de sorgo na fase de emborrachamento nao diferiram dos demais. Quanto ao teor de gordura do leite, nao houve diferenca significativa entre as silagens analisadas.

Elephant grass clones for silage production

Ensiling warm-season grasses often requires wilting due to their high moisture content, and the presence of low-soluble sugars in these grasses usually demands the use of additives during the ensiling process. This study evaluated the bromatological composition of the fodder and silage from five Pennisetum sp. clones (IPA HV 241, IPA/UFRPE Taiwan A-146 2.114, IPA/UFRPE Taiwan A-146 2.37, Elephant B, and Mott). The contents of 20 Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) silos, which were opened after 90 days of storage, were used for the bromatological analysis and the evaluation of the pH, nitrogen, ammonia, buffer capacity, soluble carbohydrates, and fermentation coefficients. The effluent losses, gases and dry matter recovery were also calculated. Although differences were observed among the clones (p < 0.05) for the concentrations of dry matter, insoluble nitrogen in acid detergents, insoluble nitrogen in neutral detergents, soluble carbohydrates, fermentation coefficients, and in vitro digestibility in the forage before ensiling, no differences were observed for most of these variables after ensiling. All of the clones were efficient in the fermentation process. The IPA/UFRPE TAIWAN A-146 2.37 clone, however, presented a higher dry matter concentration and the best fermentation coefficient, resulting in a better silage quality, compared to the other clones.

Use of morphologic descriptors and trait heritability in dwarf elephant grass clones

The experiment was carried out with the objectives to evaluate the use of morphologic descriptor in the characterization and selection of dwarf elephant grass genotypes, and to evaluate the heritability of the evaluated traits. Nine dwarf elephant grass clones were used (Taiwan A.146 - 2.14, Taiwan A.146 - 2.27, Taiwan A.146 - 2.37, Taiwan A.146 - 2.114, Merker Mexico - 6.2, Merker Mexico - 6.5, Merker Mexico - 6.31, cv. Mott, and CNPGL92F198.7) was allotted to a randomized complete block design was used with three replications. The morphologic descriptors were applied every 60 days after the staging cut. A total of five cuts were performed at 60-day intervals using a height of 10 cm from ground level. Among the evaluated dwarf elephant grass clones the tallest ones were more desirable, and this trait should be considered at the moment of selection. Heritability estimate was high for all evaluated traits of dwarf elephant grass, varying from 66% for sheath wax to 100% for mid-rib color. The Taiwan A.146 - 2.37 clone was similar to the Mott cultivar. Heritability values showed genetic variability among clones, detected at 60 days regrowth. Some of the used morphologic descriptors allowed characterization of the evaluated genotypes. The clones Taiwan A. 146-2.27, Taiwan A. 146-2.37, Taiwan A. 146-2.114, and Merker Mexico 6.31 were the tallest and showed greater total tillering intensity, and were more desirable, presenting greater potential for use under cutting.