Ricardo Alexandre Silva Pessoa

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.

Spineless cactus as a replacement for wheat bran in sugar cane-based diets for sheep: intake, digestibility, and ruminal parameters

ABSTRACT - The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of replacing wheat bran by spineless cactus (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) in sugar cane-based diets on intake and nutrient digestibility and ruminal parameters of sheep. Five sheep (Santa Ines; average initial weight of 34.0±3.6 kg) were fitted with cannulas in the rumen and then assigned to a 5 × 5 Latin square design. The maximum dry matter (DM; 1414 g d−1), digestible organic matter (658 g d−1), and neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (NDFap; 425 g d−1) intakes were estimated by replacing 80.2, 89.9, and 50.5% of wheat bran. Dry matter and crude protein digestibility increased by 0.60 and 0.85 g kg-1 of DM. With the replacement of 57.1 and 62.2% of wheat bran, a maximum rate of NDF ingestion (0.70 h−1) and NDF ruminal pool (7.31 g) was obtained. Rumen pH increased with the inclusion of spineless cactus, while the maximum concentration of ammonia N (33.3 mg dL−1) and total volatile fatty acids (57.7 μmol mL−1) were estimated at the levels of 72.3 and 63.7% of replacement of wheat bran. It is recommended to replace 63% of wheat bran by spineless cactus in sugar cane-based diets, to promote better animal performance.

Diferentes suplementos associados à palma forrageira em dietas para ovinos: consumo, digestibilidade aparente e parâmetros ruminais

The study was conducted with the objective to evaluate the intake, apparent digestibility of the nutrients and of ruminal fermentation characteristics of sheep fed diets based on spineless cactus, sugar cane bagasse and urea associated to diferents supplements. Five non-castrated male sheep were allotted to a 5 x 5 Latin square design, with five animals (lines) and five periods (columns). Each experimental period last 13 day. The ration without supplement was composed of 67.6% of spineless cactus, 27.7% of sugar cane bagasse, 2.7% of urea:ammonium sulphate mixture (9:1) and 2.0% of mineral mixture, in dry matter (DM) basis. The other treatments consisted of the addition of a supplement to the ration (0,4% of body weight), being: wheat meal, soybean meal, cottonseed meal or whole cottonseed. Were not observed effects of supplement association on the evaluated parameters, being: 3.29%, 60.61%, 76.37%, 6.51 and 11.85mg/100mL the means value for intake of DM (% of body weight), digestibility of DM and CP, pH and ruminal ammonium, respectively. The choice of supplement should be associated with the availability and cost.

Caroço de algodão em dietas à base de palma forrageira para vacas leiteiras: síntese de proteína microbiana

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da inclusao de caroco de algodao em substituicao parcial a silagem de sorgo e ao farelo de soja em dietas a base de palma forrageira sobre a producao de proteina microbiana, a eficiencia de sintese de proteina microbiana e as concentracoes de ureia na urina e de ureia e N-ureia no plasma e no leite de vacas holandesas em lactacao. Foram utilizados cinco animais aos 50 dias de lactacao, distribuidos em quadrado latino 5 × 5. Os tratamentos consistiram de cinco niveis (0,0; 6,25; 12,50; 18,75 e 25,00%) de inclusao de caroco de algodao na MS da dieta. A inclusao de caroco de algodao na dieta nao influenciou a sintese de nitrogenio ou proteina microbiana, cujos valores medios foram 295,08 e 1.844,27 g/dia, respectivamente. As eficiencias de sintese de nitrogenio e proteina microbiana diminuiram linearmente, em proporcoes de 0,30 e 1,43 g para cada 1% de caroco de algodao na dieta, respectivamente. Os niveis de ureia na urina e de ureia e N-ureia no plasma e no leite nao foram afetados pela inclusao de caroco de algodao na dieta. Portanto, em dietas a base de palma forrageira, a inclusao de caroco de algodao em niveis de ate 25% da MS nao interfere na sintese de proteina microbiana e nas concentracoes de ureia.

Desempenho Leiteiro de Vacas Alimentadas com Palma Forrageira, Bagaço de Cana-de-Açúcar e Uréia Associados a Diferentes Suplementos

Objetivou-se avaliar a associacao da palma forrageira ao bagaco de cana-de-acucar e a ureia sobre a producao e composicao do leite em vacas de baixo potencial produtivo, suplementadas ou nao. Utilizaram-se cinco vacas da raca Girolando, primiparas, com media de producao de leite de 7,0 kg/dia, distribuidas aleatoriamente em delineamento quadrado latino 5 x 5. A racao controle (sem suplemento) foi composta de 67,4% de palma forrageira, 27,9% de bagaco de cana-de-acucar in natura, 2,7% de mistura ureia:sulfato de amonio (9:1) e 2,0% de mistura mineral, em base da MS. As vacas receberam suplementacao com base na PL (1,0 kg de suplemento/6,0 kg de leite). Os suplementos caracterizaram os tratamentos, juntos ao tratamento testemunha (controle), sendo: farelo de trigo, farelo de soja, farelo de algodao ou caroco de algodao. A proporcao dos ingredientes nas racoes para os animais suplementados foi, em media, 62,7% de palma forrageira, 26,0% de bagaco de cana-de-acucar, 2,5% de mistura ureia:sulfato de amonio, 1,9% de mistura mineral e 6,9% de suplemento. As diferentes fontes de suplemento proporcionaram desempenho semelhante para PL com ou sem correcao para o teor de gordura, sendo em media 7,0 e 7,4 kg/dia, respectivamente. Nao observaram-se diferencas significativas entre os tratamentos para o teor de gordura no leite, em media 4,5%. Os animais que receberam a dieta controle apresentaram porcentagem de solidos nao-gordurosos no leite semelhante aos suplementados. DOI:10.15528/2176-4158/rcpa.v12n1p93-97