Maity Zopollatto

Fermentation, losses, and aerobic stability of sugarcane silages treated with chemical or bacterial additives

Utilization of sugarcane Saccharum officinarum L. silage is increasing in Brazil but intensive ethanol production during fermentation reduces forage quality. This experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of additives on fermentation and aerobic stability of sugarcane silages produced in minisilos. Treatments were (fresh basis): untreated silage (control), urea (5.0 g kg-1), sodium benzoate (1.0 g kg-1), potassium sorbate (0.3 g kg-1), Lactobacillus plantarum (1 x 106 cfu g-1), and Lactobacillus buchneri (3.64 x 105 cfu g-1). At the 94th day after ensilage, ethanol concentration was lower in urea, benzoate, sorbate and L. buchneri supplemented silages and higher in L. plantarum inoculated silage, as compared to control. Urea and benzoate treated silages showed the highest and L. plantarum treated silage the lowest in vitro dry matter digestibility. Effluent production was higher in the urea treated silage. Inoculation with L. buchneri reduced 50% ethanol production as compared to control. Urea and L. buchneri reduced yeast count. Aerobic stability was enhanced by L. buchneri and benzoate. Sodium benzoate and L. buchneri were the most promising additives, improving both silage fermentation and aerobic stability; inoculants containing L. plantarum can be deleterious to fermentation and conservation of sugarcane silages.

Características agronômicas e bromatológicas de híbridos de milho para produção de silagem

The objective of this work was to establish correlations between quantitative and qualitative variables and to evaluate their influence on the corn quality for ensilage production. Data from the Corn Hybrids for Silage Evaluation Program were used (IAC/APTA/ESALQ). Pearson correlations between the variables were calculated. The digestible dry matter (DM) production was affected not only by forage and grain productions, but also by the whole plant and stem digestibility. The digestible dry matter production presented the highest correlation coefficients with the total dry matter production (0.85) and with the grain production at ensiling (0.60) and maturity (0.68), production of fresh forage (0.47) and with the plant ears index (0.48). The correlation coefficients between the digestible DM production and the whole plant digestibility (0.44) and the stem fraction (0.38) were lower than those observed for the DM production. The whole plant digestibility depended mainly on the stem digestibility (0.60) and on parameters related to the grains. It may be concluded that when specific information on corn hybrids is not available, those with higher production of grains at maturity are selected due to their elevated correlation with DM production and digestible DM.

Aditivos microbiológicos em silagens no Brasil: revisão dos aspectos da ensilagem e do desempenho de animais

O uso de inoculantes microbianos no Brasil vem aumentando nos ultimos anos, embora o numero de trabalhos ainda seja pequeno quando comparado aos observados no exterior, principalmente no que se refere ao desempenho de animais. Nos estudos com silagens de milho e sorgo os inoculantes avaliados foram compostos exclusivamente de bacterias homofermentativas, que tambem representaram a maioria das pesquisas em silagens de capins, enquanto que nas silagens de cana-de-acucar predominou o uso de bacterias heterofermentativas. Em geral, o uso de bacterias homofermentativas apresentou resultados favoraveis apenas para as silagens de milho e capins, traduzidos na maioria das vezes por menores teores de fibra e valor de pH, compensados pelo maior teor de PB. No caso das heterofermentativas foram encontrados bons resultados principalmente para as silagens de cana-de-acucar, com menor pH e teor de compostos fibrosos em face aos aumentos do teor de carboidratos soluveis, associado a maior recuperacao de MS e aumento de estabilidade aerobia. A associacao de bacterias hetero e homofermentativas proporcionou respostas satisfatorias e potencialmente interessantes embora os dados nacionais ainda sejam escassos. Investimentos adicionais na interface forragem:microrganismo podera permitir exploracao de novas perspectivas de aplicacao e consolidacao das recomendacoes desses aditivos.

Silagem de cana-de-açúcar comparada a fontes tradicionais de volumosos suplementares no desempenho de vacas de alta produção

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the performance of high produce animals fed rations with different sources of forage, what resulted in the treatment: fresh sugarcane (SC), sugarcane silage inoculated with L. buchneri (SCS), corn silage (CS) and mixture of fresh sugarcane and corn silage (SCCS). The experiment was carried out in a 4×4 latin square design with periods of 21 days, and the last 7 days, of each period was used for sample collections. Besides the performance evaluation, chemical analyses of forages, rations and orts were performed and analyses of milk composition and aerobic stability of forages and rations were also made. There was differences for DM intake, which was higher for SCS (23.5 kg/day) and SCSM (23.5 kg/day). All rations provided to the animals high milk production (24.4-25.5 kg/day), which did not differ among the animals. The milk composition varied only as for fat content, which was higher in the animals fed CS (36.1%) and in the SCCS (34.8%). The aerobic stability results showed positive effect of the bacterial aditivation in SCS, which presented the highest aerobic stability among the forages (13.63 hours). The ration with CS as source of forage presented the worst stability, which could explain the lower intake by the animals in this treatment. The SCS is a technical viable alternative to the use of fresh plant and both can proportionate high milk production, as long as, the rations are properly balanced. The inoculation with L. buchneri showed capable to bring benefits for nutritional value and fermentative losses.

Nutritive value of sugarcane silage treated with chemical additives

The use of ensiled sugarcane has been increased lately in Brazil due to the benefits that this technique represents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of chemical additives on the nutritive value of sugarcane silages. The trial was carried out in a completely randomized experimental design with four replicates per treatment. The following additives were applied onto the fresh forage before ensiling: L. buchneri, lime or limestone, 1.0 and 1.5% (wet basis) each, and gypsum 1.0% (wet basis), all of them diluted into 40 L of water per ton of fresh weight of forage. The analyzed variables were: ash, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and organic and dry matter digestibility. The addition of lime or limestone before ensiling produced silages with higher nutritive value compared to all other treatments, due to the increase of the ash content and dry matter and organic digestibility, and also by reducing the fiber content. The crude protein content range was similar to the values observed in the fresh forage. The treatments containing L. buchneri or gypsum were ineffective in improving the nutritive value of sugarcane silages and became similar to the control silages. Treatment containing lime or limestone improved the nutritive value of the sugarcane silage.

Performance of dairy cows fed high levels of acetic acid or ethanol

Ethanol and acetic acid are common end products from silages. The main objective of this study was to determine whether high concentrations of ethanol or acetic acid in total mixed ration would affect performance in dairy cows. Thirty mid-lactation Holstein cows were grouped in 10 blocks and fed one of the following diets for 7 wk: (1) control (33% Bermuda hay + 67% concentrates), (2) ethanol [control diet + 5% ethanol, dry matter (DM) basis], or (3) acetic acid (control diet + 5% acetic acid, DM basis). Ethanol and acetic acid were diluted in water (1:2) and sprayed onto total mixed rations twice daily before feeding. An equal amount of water was mixed with the control ration. To adapt animals to these treatments, cows were fed only half of the treatment dose during the first week of study. Cows fed ethanol yielded more milk (37.9 kg/d) than those fed the control (35.8 kg/d) or acetic acid (35.3 kg/d) diets, mainly due to the higher DM intake (DMI; 23.7, 22.2, and 21.6 kg/d, respectively). The significant diet × week interaction for DMI, mainly during wk 2 and 3 (when acetic acid reached the full dose), was related to the decrease in DMI observed for the acetic acid treatment. There was a diet × week interaction in excretion of milk energy per DMI during wk 2 and 3, due to cows fed acetic acid sustained milk yield despite lower DMI. Energy efficiency was similar across diets. Blood metabolites (glucose, insulin, nonesterified fatty acids, ethanol, and γ-glutamyl transferase activity) and sensory characteristics of milk were not affected by these treatments. Animal performance suggested similar energy value for the diet containing ethanol compared with other diets. Rumen conversion of ethanol to acetate and a concomitant increase in methane production might be a plausible explanation for the deviation of the predicted energy value based on the heat of combustion. Therefore, the loss of volatile compounds during the drying process in the laboratory should be considered when calculating energy content of fermented feedstuffs.

Processamento de milho (floculado vs. laminado a vapor) e adição de monensina para bezerras leiteiras, pré e pós-desmama precoce

The supplementation of more digestible starch sources and feed additives with coccidiostatic and growth promoting activities may improve pre and post weaning calves performance. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of concentrates containing processed grains (steam-flaked vs. steam-rolled), with or without monensin, on intake, weight gain and blood parameters of baby calves, before and after weaning at six weeks of life. Thirty-two female calves were utilized on a completely randomized block, with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. The animals received concentrate ad libitum up to 2 kg/d, plus 4 L of milk. Calves had free access to water. After weaning, at the sixth week of life, calves received concentrate and chopped hay. The treatments did not affect concentrate or hay intake, final live weight, average daily gain, plasma glucose and NEFA cocentration. PUN was lower on calves fed steam-rolled corn and monensin. There was a significant effect of age on glucose, PUN, and NEFA concentrations. Only glucose and NEFA were affected by time after feeding. Addition of monensin or processed grain to dairy calves diet did not result on better performance, before or after weaning.

Parâmetros de fermentação e medidas morfométricas dos compartimentos ruminais de bezerros leiteiros suplementados com milho processado (Floculado vs. Laminado a vapor) e monensina

The objective of this study was the evaluation of the effects of grain processing (steam-rolled vs. steam-flaked) and monensin on ruminal parameters. Sixteen Holstein calves were ruminally canulated with 3 to 5 days of life, and utilized on a completely randomized design block with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. The animals received concentrate ad libitum up to 2 kg/d, plus 4 L/d of milk. Calves had free access to water. After weaning at the eight weeks of life, calves received concentrate and chopped hay. Animal performance, concentrate and hay intakes were lower than expected and not affected by treatments. The molar proportion of propionate was higher for steam-rolled concentrate. There was a tendency for higher total VFA (P = .11) and butyrate (P = .13) for steam-rolled corn. Monensin tended to reduce ruminal N-NH3 concentration (P = .12). Weight of reticulum-rumen (as % total tract) tended (P = .09) to be higher for calves on steam-rolled and monensin concentration. However, the capacity of reticulum-rumen was increased by steam-rolled and monensin feeding. Steam-flaked concentrate resulted on heavier abomasum, as % total tract.

Short-term effects of silage volatile compounds on feed intake and digestion in beef cattle.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate whether fermentation end products in silage affect intake and digestion in beef cattle. Six rumen-cannulated Nellore steers were randomly assigned to a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 14-d periods. Each period consisted of 9 d for adaptation and 5 d for sample collection. Steers were housed in a tie-stall barn and individually fed once daily at 0800 h. The dietary treatments in Exp. 1 were as follows: 60% corn silage plus 40% concentrate (CON), 60% corn silage with added ethanol (2.8% on a DM basis) and 40% concentrate (ET), and 60% corn silage with added lactic acid (5.4% on a DM basis) and 40% concentrate (LA). The DMI was similar (P = 0.41) across treatments (average 11.7 kg/d); however, the LA treatment increased the ruminal pH (P = 0.01) and decreased the acetate:propionate ratio (P < 0.01). Diet digestibility decreased by 2.2 to 2.5 percentage units when the DM content was determined by oven drying (at 105°C) rather than by toluene distillation. The treatments in Exp. 2 were as follows: 75% sugarcane silage with no volatile fraction (oven dried at 60°C and rehydrated) and 25% concentrate (75D), 75% sugarcane silage (original moisture content) and 25% concentrate (75W), and 40% sugarcane silage and 60% concentrate (40W). Approximately 21% of the DM content of sugarcane silage consisted of volatile compounds. The presence of these compounds did not alter the DMI (P = 0.36) but did increase both the acetate:propionate ratio (P < 0.01) and the fractional absorption rates of valerate (P < 0.01) and ethanol (P = 0.02) in the empty reticulorumen. The 40W diet led to a greater DMI (40W = 9.79 vs. 75W = 6.19 kg/d; P < 0.01), which altered most of the measured variables traditionally associated with high-concentrate diets. As in Exp. 1, diet digestibility decreased by 1.5 to 5.4 units when the DM content was determined by oven drying at 105°C rather than by toluene distillation. In this short-term study, volatile compounds did not inhibit the DMI or the digestion process of the animals. On the contrary, volatile compounds contributed to the energy content of the silage, composing up to 10% of the energy value as determined by digestibility. Due to the short experimental periods, the results from this study should be interpreted with caution.

Desempenho e desenvolvimento do trato digestório superior de bezerros leiteiros alimentados com concentrado de diferentes formas físicas

The physical form of concentrate on the performance and rumen development on dairy calves was evaluated in this experiment. Twenty-two Holstein male calves, with 42.3 kg initial body weight, were individually housed, fed 4 L/d of liquid diet and starter concentrate in two physical forms (pelleted or coarsely ground). Starter concentrate intake was monitored daily and calves were weighted weekly, always after the morning liquid diet feeding. After 10 weeks, four calves from each treatment were slaughtered and rumen samples were taken for pH, rumen short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and N-NH3 concentration. Morphometric measurement of the forestomach was also evaluated. There was no effect of the physical form on starter concentrate intake, body weight, and daily gain. The physical form of the concentrate also had no effects on pH, SCFA or N-NH3 rumen concentration, nor on the morphometric measurements of the forestomach, except for rumen capacity and abomasum weight, which were higher for animals fed pelleted starter concentrate. Coarsely ground starter concentrate may be an alternative to reduced production costs since the physical form of the concentrate had no effect on performance or in the development of forestomach of dairy calves.