Odilon Gomes Pereira

Produção e características do efluente e composição bromatológica da silagem de capim-elefante contendo diferentes níveis de casca de café

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of levels (10, 20, 30 and 40%, based on fresh matter) of coffee hulls added to elephantgrass at ensilage on the bromatological composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of the resulting silage and the production and composition of the silo effluent. Twenty cylindrical plastic silos measuring 0.25 m diameter x 0.75 m height were used. A complete randomized design was used with four replications. The results demonstrated coffee hulls efficiency on decreasing silage moisture, resulting in increase of DM content of 0.69% / unity of added additive. pH values decreased as levels of coffee hulls increased. The addition of coffee hulls favored the crude protein contents, which showed a quadratic effect, estimating maximum of 10.0% at 26.3% of coffee hulls addition. The addition of coffee hulls reduced ammoniacal nitrogen, insoluble neutral detergent fiber and IVDMD, and increased acid detergent insoluble nitrogen and lignin contents. Acid detergent fiber and cellulose contents were not affected. Effluent production during 21 days was reduced from 123.5 L/t (0.0% coffee hulls) to 26.7 L/t (10.0% coffee hulls). The dry matter, P, Na and K contents did not varied with number of days of collect, although the Mg content decreased and total nitrogen content increased. The values of biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand were not affected. The addition of 20% of coffee hulls was efficient to eliminate effluent production and to produce a good quality silage.

Morphological and structural characteristics and productivity of Brachiaria grass and forage peanut submitted to shading

The morphological and structural characteristics and dry matter production of signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens, cv. Basilisk) and forage peanut (Arachis pintoi, cv. Amarillo) were evaluated in response to different shading levels (0, 50 and 70%). A randomized complete block design was used with four replications. Three and two harvests for signalgrass and forage peanut were made, respectively. Forage peanut showed significant reduction in dry matter production with shading, only in the second harvest. Dry matter production of signalgrass decreased linearly in the first and second harvest. In all the harvests evaluated, average sward height, petiole length, and stem and leaf blade length increased significantly with shading. Increasing shade levels promoted linear reduction in the tiller population density of signalgrass, in the three harvests evaluated. On the other hand, mean tiller weight was only affected in the third harvest, showing a linear increment with increasing shade levels. The leaf:stem ratio of signalgrass and forage peanut was not significantly altered by shade. Specific leaf area, leaf area per leaflet and leaf area per tiller increased with shading. Leaf area index (LAI) showed linear reduction with shading in the second harvest of forage peanut and signalgrass. Signalgrass and forage peanut have great potential for evaluation and use in silvopastoral systems where the light transmission level is around 50% of photosynthetically active radiation.The morphological and structural characteristics and dry matter production of signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens, cv. Basilisk) and forage peanut (Arachis pintoi, cv. Amarillo) were evaluated in response to different shading levels (0, 50 and 70%). A randomized complete block design was used with four replications. Three and two harvests for signalgrass and forage peanut were made, respectively. Forage peanut showed significant reduction in dry matter production with shading, only in the second harvest. Dry matter production of signalgrass decreased linearly in the first and second harvest. In all the harvests evaluated, average sward height, petiole length, and stem and leaf blade length increased significantly with shading. Increasing shade levels promoted linear reduction in the tiller population density of signalgrass, in the three harvests evaluated. On the other hand, mean tiller weight was only affected in the third harvest, showing a linear increment with increasing shade levels. The leaf:stem ratio of signalgrass and forage peanut was not significantly altered by shade. Specific leaf area, leaf area per leaflet and leaf area per tiller increased with shading. Leaf area index (LAI) showed linear reduction with shading in the second harvest of forage peanut and signalgrass. Signalgrass and forage peanut have great potential for evaluation and use in silvopastoral systems where the light transmission level is around 50% of photosynthetically active radiation.

Nutritive value of elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) silage with different levels of coffee hulls

One experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of five levels of coffee hulls (0, 8.7, 17.4, 26.1, and 34.8 kg/100 kg of fresh forage) on the bromatologic composition and IVDMD of elephantgrass silage. Fifteen plastic silos measuring .25 of diameter x .75 of height were used. In the ensiling process the forage received a pressure of 550 kg/m³. The results showed that the percentage of dry matter increased linearly with increasing of coffee hulls. It was estimated an increasing of .54% for each unit of coffee hulls added. The pH value was inferior for silage with coffee hulls. It was estimated a minimum value of 3.78 for the level 26.87% of coffee hulls. The content of CP of the silage without coffee hulls (8.9%) was inferior to (11.1%) found in the fresh forage and silages with coffee hulls. The IVDMD value was reduced according to crescent levels of coffee hulls. It was estimated a decreasing of .14% for each unit of coffee hulls added. It is possible to conclude that the addition of coffee hulls on level of 17.4 kg of coffee hulls/100 kg of fresh forage showed be a good additive for ensiling elephantgrass with high moisture content.One experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of five levels of coffee hulls (0, 8.7, 17.4, 26.1, and 34.8 kg/100 kg of fresh forage) on the bromatologic composition and IVDMD of elephantgrass silage. Fifteen plastic silos measuring .25 of diameter x .75 of height were used. In the ensiling process the forage received a pressure of 550 kg/m³. The results showed that the percentage of dry matter increased linearly with increasing of coffee hulls. It was estimated an increasing of .54% for each unit of coffee hulls added. The pH value was inferior for silage with coffee hulls. It was estimated a minimum value of 3.78 for the level 26.87% of coffee hulls. The content of CP of the silage without coffee hulls (8.9%) was inferior to (11.1%) found in the fresh forage and silages with coffee hulls. The IVDMD value was reduced according to crescent levels of coffee hulls. It was estimated a decreasing of .14% for each unit of coffee hulls added. It is possible to conclude that the addition of coffee hulls on level of 17.4 kg of coffee hulls/100 kg of fresh forage showed be a good additive for ensiling elephantgrass with high moisture content.

Valor nutritivo de silagens de sorgo

The intake and apparent digestibility of silage nutrients of different sorghum hybrids: AG2006, AGX215, AGX213, AGX202 e AG2002, were evaluated. Twenty crossbred castrated sheep, averaging 50.7 kg, were assigned to a randomized blocks design, with four animals per treatment. There was no significant difference among silages for the different nutrients intake. Dry matter and total digestible nutrients intakes, in g/day, showed values that ranged from 936.2 (AGX202) to 1156.4 (AG2006) and from 460.9 (AGX215) to 613.4 (AGX213), respectively. The coefficients of digestibility showed differences among silages, and the higher coefficients of apparent dry matter and organic matter digestibility were recorded for the silage of AGX213 hybrid, compared to the silages of AGX215, AG2006 and AG2002 hybrids. Based on the intake and digestibility of the nutrients, except for the crude protein content, the AGX213 and AGX202 were successful for silage production.

Cana-de-açúcar tratada com óxido de cálcio fornecida com diferentes níveis de concentrado para novilhas de corte em confinamento

This research was carried out to evaluate the performance, total apparent digestibility, efficiency of microbial synthesis, nitrogen balance (NB) of crossbreed Holstein × Zebu heifers fed sugarcane treated or not with calcium oxide (CaO - 1.0%) and different concentrate levels (CL), in feedlot. A total of 24 animals with initial average 177.0 kg BW and 8-12 months old was allotted to a complete randomized design with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, sugarcane in nature and sugarcane treated or not with 1.0% CaO and three CL (0.0, 0.5 and 1.0% BW). No interaction between forage and CL for nutrients intake was observed. Except for NDF intake, diet based in sugarcane treated with CaO reduced the nutrients intake (kg/day and % BW). Only the NDF intake was unaffected by CL, the other nutrients showed a positive linearly behavior as CL increased. No effects of the treatment of sugarcane with CaO and interaction between forage and CL on nutrient digestibilities were observed, except for NDF that increased with the CL in the diets. The microbial N and N urea content in serum was smaller in animals that were fed sugarcane treated with CaO. The efficiency of microbial synthesis, with mean value of 12.10 gCPmic/100 g TDN, was unaffected by the sugarcane treated with CaO to and nor by CL. Sugarcane treated with CaO reduced the average daily gain, which increased with the CL. Sugarcane treated with 1.0% CaO, fed after 24 hours of storage, prejudice most of nutrient intakes and worse the animal performance, while the concentrate offer levels up to 1.0% BW improve animal performance.

Casca de café em dietas de carneiros: consumo e digestibilidade

Four levels of coffee hulls (0.0, 6.25, 12.5, 18.75 and 25.0% DM) in substitution of ground corn in their concentrate ration were used to evaluate the effects on intake and apparent digestibility of diets. Twenty, unknown breed, sheeps were used in a randomized block design, with five treatments and four replicates. The animals were fed all ad libitum with isoprotein diets, 10% crude protein (CP), contained 60% of coastcross hay and 40% of concentrate in dry matter basis. Sheep were maintained in a metabolism cage for 19 days (12 days of adaptation and 7 days of data collection). The intakes of dry matter (1.41), organic matter (1.34), CP (0.15), total carbohydrate (1.17), neutral detergent fiber (0.71) and nonfiber carbohydrate (0.45) and the total digestible nutrients (0.85) kg/day were not affected by the coffee hulls levels. Coffee hulls did not affect apparent digestibility of dry matter (60.1%), organic matter (62.1%), neutral detergent fiber (46.9%), CP (66.3%), total carbohydrate (61.5%) and nonfiber carbohydrate (84.1%). Coffee hulls can be included up to 25% in the concentrate ration.

Desempenho de seis gramíneas solteiras ou consorciadas com o Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Mineirão e eucalipto em sistema silvipastoril

A study was conducted in the Brazilian Cerrados to evaluate the performance of six tropical forage grasses (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, B. brizantha cv. MG-4, B. decumbens cv. Basilisk, Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça, Melinis minutiflora and Hyparrhenia rufa), associated or not with the tropical forage legume Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Mineirão, in a silvopastoral system with a clone of Eucalyptus sp. The forages were established in plots of 12 x 10 m, in the interrows of eucalypts, in a randomized block design with three replications. Ground cover, proportion of the legume and total dry matter availability in the understorey were evaluated one year after the establishment, under short time grazing. After two grazing cycles, there was reduction of the proportion of the legume in the mixture with all grasses, notably with the more aggressive ones (B. brizantha cv. Marandu and B. decumbens), where it practically disappeared. With the other grasses, however, the presence of the legume favored the productivity of the understorey. The grasses with the best productive performance were B. brizantha cv. Marandu, B. decumbens and P. maximum cv. Mombaça, the latter mainly when associated with the legume.RESUMO - Conduziu-se este estudo na regiao dos Cerrados de Minas Gerais, visando avaliar o desempenho de seis gramineas forrageiras (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, B. brizantha cv. MG-4, B. decumbens cv. Basilisk, Panicum maximum cv. Mombaca, Melinis minutiflora e Hyparrhenia rufa), consorciadas ou nao com a leguminosa Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Mineirao e Eucalyptus sp., em um sistema silvipastoril. As forrageiras foram estabelecidas em parcelas medindo 12 x 10 m, nas entrelinhas do eucalipto, em um delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com tres repeticoes, e avaliadas quanto ao grau de cobertura do solo, % de leguminosa e disponibilidade de materia seca total no sub-bosque, um ano apos o estabelecimento, submetidas a pastejos de curta duracao. Apos dois ciclos de pastejo, houve reducao da proporcao da leguminosa no consorcio com todas as gramineas, sendo mais evidente com as mais agressivas (B. brizantha cv. Marandu e B. decumbens), onde ela quase desapareceu. Entretanto, a presenca do estilosantes Mineirao favoreceu a produtividade do sub-bosque, quando consorciado com as demais gramineas. O melhor desempenho produtivo foi obtido pelas gramineas B. brizantha cv. Marandu, B. decumbens e P. maximum cv. Mombaca; a ultima principalmente quando consorciada com o estilosantes Mineirao.

Physical and chemical changes in an Luvisoil by the application of cattle farm wastewater

When the wastewater disposal in the soil-plant system is well planned, it can provide some benefits, such as a source of nutrients and water for plants and the reduced use of both fertilizers and their pollution potential. The soil has high capacity to decompose or inactivate the material that are potentially harmful to the environment, through chemical reactions and microbiological processes. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the application of cattle farm wastewater (ARB) both on physical and chemical properties of an eutrophic Red Luvisoil. The experiment was carried out using four ARB application rates (25, 50, 75 and 100 kg ha-1 K) and drainage lysimeters under greenhouse conditions. The following variables were evaluated: electrical conductivity of the soil solution; water-dispersed clay; sodium saturation index; pH; CEC; base saturation; and the contents of P, K, Ca, Mg and Na. According to the results, the increase in ARB application rates provided increments in the pH, CEC, base saturation as well as in the content of P, K, Ca and Mg in the surface layers. In the soil profile, salinization did not occur, although the percentage of clay dispersed in water increased, indicating that the steady-state ARB application may provide risks for reduction of the permeability of the soil.

Capim-elefante (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.), sob duas doses de nitrogênio. Consumo e produção de leite

The milk production, the dry matter intake (DMI) and the NDF passage rate in the gastrointestinal tract in four seasons (July, October, January and March), of crossbred cows, under grazing of elephant grass, submitted to two levels of nitrogen (300 and 700 kg N/ha•year) were estimated. The rotation grazing with three days of occupation and 30 days of resting, using 36 crossbred Holstein Zebu milking cows, in a stocking rate of 6 cows/ha, was used. The estimates of the intake and passage rate were determined only in 24 animals. For the extrusa collection, two esophageal fistulated cows were used. The intake was estimated using the fecal output: feed indigestibility ratio. The fecal output was estimated using the NDF of the extrusa marked with sodium dichromium fed in an unique dose. The total dry matter intake was not affected by the N levels and the year seasons, with average values of 10.9 and 10.5 kg DM/cow, for the levels of 300 and 700kg N/ha•year, respectively. However, the DM intake of the elephant grass was affected by N levels and year seasons, with reported values of 6.55 e 5.63 kg/cow•day, for the above described N levels, respectively. The elephant grass contributed with 26% of the total DM intake during the dry season (July/October) and its contribution increased up to 84% in the rainy season (January/March). The milk production was not affected by N levels, with reported average production of 11.6 and 12.3 kg/cow•day, for the levels of 300 and 700 kg N/ha•year, respectively.

Grazing management strategies for massaigrass-forage peanut pastures: 1. dynamics of sward condition and botanical composition

Este estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a dinâmica e a composicao botânica de uma pastagem consorciada de capim-massai (Panicum maximum x P. infestum, cv. Massai) e amendoim forrageiro (Arachis pintoi Ac 01), manejada sob lotacao rotacionada em tres niveis de oferta diaria de forragem (9,0; 14,5 e 18,4% do peso vivo). A condicao da pastagem foi caracterizada em cada ciclo de pastejo, em termos de altura, massa de forragem e porcentagem de solo descoberto (pre e pos-pastejo). A composicao botânica da pastagem (graminea, leguminosa e invasoras) foi monitorada antes de cada periodo de ocupacao. Houve aumento linear da altura e da massa de forragem da pastagem com o incremento dos niveis de oferta de forragem (OF), observando-se maiores valores durante o periodo de maxima precipitacao. A porcentagem de solo descoberto, por sua vez, aumentou, principalmente no menor nivel de OF. A porcentagem de amendoim forrageiro aumentou progressivamente ao longo do periodo experimental, sobretudo nas pastagens mantidas com dossel mais baixo e mais aberto, criado com o uso de menores niveis de OF. No ultimo trimestre do periodo experimental, a leguminosa representou 23,5; 10,6 e 6,4% da massa seca da pastagem, respectivamente, do menor para o maior nivel de OF. Estes resultados sugerem que o amendoim forrageiro pode ser consorciado satisfatoriamente com o capim-massai, desde que a altura da pastagem na condicao pre-pastejo seja mantida abaixo de 65-70 cm para evitar o sombreamento excessivo da leguminosa.