ABSTRACT Two studies were carried out to evaluate the effects of levels of soybean meal produced from damaged soybean grains replacing normal soybean meal on in vitro and in situ digestibility of ruminant diets as well as on intake, digestibility, and animal performance of growing/finishing lambs. In trial 1, we evaluated the in vitro digestibility of each soybean meals (normal and damaged), as well as diets containing levels of the damaged replacing the normal (0, 333, 667 and 1,000 g.kg−1) soybean meal on kinetic parameters of in vitro cumulative gas production, in vitro dry matter and crude protein digestibility, in situ rumen-degradable protein, rumen-undegradable protein, and in vitro intestinal digestibility of rumen-undegradable protein. In trial 2, we used 48 growing/finishing lambs to evaluate the effects of damaged soybean meal levels (0, 333, 667, and 1,000 g.kg−1) replacing normal soybean meal in feedlot diets (20:80 roughage:concentrate ratio) on intake and digestibility of nutrients and on animal performance. The damaged soybean meal presented lower values for total gas production and in vitro dry matter digestibility than normal soybean meal. Higher rumen-undegradable protein was estimated for damaged soybean meal than for the normal and consequently lower rumen-degradable protein for damaged compared to normal. Because of the lower rumen-degradable protein, damaged soybean meal promoted lower in vitro ammonium nitrogen (NH3-N) concentrations than the normal in feedlot diets. In the in vivo trial, there were no effects of damaged soybean meal levels in the diets on intake and digestibility of nutrients (dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and fiber) as well as on total weight gain, average daily gain, carcass yield, or feeding efficiency. Thus, damaged soybean meal can fully replace the normal one in lamb feedlot diets (in up to of 1,000 g.kg−1 of the normal soybean meal) without causing adverse effects on intake and digestibility of nutrients and on animal performance.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da inclusão da torta de girassol na dieta de cordeiros em confinamento sobre o desempenho produtivo dos animais. Utilizaram-se 40 cordeiros sem raça definida, não castrados, com peso médio inicial de 20,17±2,66 kg, alimentados com 0, 7, 14, 21 e 28% de torta de girassol na dieta (base seca). O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento de blocos ao acaso. A inclusão de torta de girassol na dieta não alterou o consumo médio de matéria seca (883,58 g por dia), a conversão alimentar (4,40) e o consumo médio de água (2,59 L por dia). O aumento dos níveis de torta de girassol diminuiu linearmente o peso final, o ganho de peso total, o ganho de peso diário e a área de olho de lombo. O nível de inclusão de até 28% não afeta o consumo médio de matéria seca e de água, mas reduz o desempenho e a área de olho de lombo. Para obter o menor custo com a dieta, o nível de inclusão da torta de girassol pode atingir até 28% da matéria seca, quando o seu preço representar até 40% do preço da mistura entre milho e farelo de soja.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of inclusion levels of sunflower meal in feedlot lamb diets on animal productive performance. Forty crossbreed lambs, not castrated, with average initial body weight of 20.17±2.66 kg were feed levels of 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28% of sunflower meal in the diet (dry basis). The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design. The inclusion of sunflower meal in the diet did not affect average dry matter intake (883.58 g per day), feed conversion (4.40), and average water intake (2.59 L per day). The increase in the levels of sunflower meal linearly reduced final weight, total weight gain, average daily gain, and loin eye area. The inclusion level of up to 28% does not affect the average intake of dry matter and water, but reduces animal performance and loin eye area. To obtain the lowest cost with the diet, the inclusion level of sunflower meal can reach up to 28% of dry matter, when its price represents up to 40% of the price of corn and soybean meal blend.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the morphogenetic traits and biomass accumulation of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés subjected to doses of N (0, 125, 250, 375 and 500 kg.ha-1 N). The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications. Morphogenetic traits and biomass accumulation of dry matter (DM).ha-1 were evaluated. The results were subjected to statistical analysis by grouping the data in two periods, rainy season and throughout the year. Nitrogen doses influenced leaf appearance in the rainy season and throughout the year, with significant increase in leaf elongation during the rainy season, an increase of 56% compared with control. During this period, maximum dose of N (248.1 kg.ha-1) produced 214.49 kg.ha-1.day-1 DM of leaf blade, which was 133% higher than the control. However, the higher N dose in the rainy season resulted in an increase of 137% in the stalk accumulation compared with non-fertilized grass; estimating maximum accumulation of salk of 84.97 kg.ha-1.day-1 of DM for the application of 326.2 kg.ha-1 N. Doses of N also intensified leaf senescence during the rainy season and throughout the year. The control treatment presented 32% less senescence compared with maximum N dose (270.1 kg.ha-1 N) in the rainy season. Forage loss was estimated at 26.08 kg ha-1.day-1 DM at the maximum dose of 295.0 kg.ha-1 N for this period. All variables studied responded positively to N supply in the rainy season. The accumulation of biomass of the plant reached the maximum point with fertilization close to 250 kg.ha-1 N in the rainy season and 375 kg.ha-1 N throughout the year.

Neste trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de diferentes doses de silicato de cálcio sobre a população de ninfas de percevejo castanho das raízes em Brachiaria brizantha, nas características químicas do solo, planta e produção de matéria seca. O experimento foi conduzido em blocos casualizados, com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições, totalizando 20 parcelas. Os tratamentos testados foram cinco doses (0, 0,5, 1, 2, e 4 t ha-1) de silicato de cálcio aplicadas junto com a adubação NPK na implantação da B. brizantha. Foi avaliado o número de ninfas do percevejo (profundidade de 0 a 40 cm), o pH e os teores de cálcio e de silício no solo. Aos 120 dias do plantio, a gramínea foi cortada, determinando-se a composição química e a produção de massa seca. Verificou-se que a aplicação de 2,6 t ha-1 de silicato de cálcio foi a melhor dosagem estimada para a redução de ninfas do percevejo castanho das raízes. A aplicação de doses crescentes de silicato de cálcio no solo promoveu o incremento do pH, dos teores de cálcio e silício no solo e o aumento na produção de matéria seca de B. brizantha.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different calcium silicate rates on the nymph population of the brown root stinkbug in B. brizantha cv. marandu, in the soil chemical characteristics, and plant and dry matter production. The experiment was carried out in casualized blocks with five treatments and four repetitions, in a total of 20 plots. The treatments tested were five rates (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 t ha -1) of calcium silicate applied together with NPK fertilization in the implantation of B. brizantha. The nymph number (depths 0 to 40 cm), pH, and soil calcium and silicon content were evaluated. On the 120th day after sowing, the grass was cut to determine the chemical composition and dry matter production. It was verified that the application of 2.6 t ha -1 of calcium silicate was the best estimated rate for the reduction of brown root stinkbug nymphs. The application of increasing doses of calcium silicate in the soil caused an increase of the pH, calcium and silicon content in the soil, and an increase in B. brizantha dry matter production.