ABSTRACT: The use of intercropped grass legumes provides a source of sustainable animal production as these vegetables contribute to an increase in forage yield by area, and substitute inorganic nitrogen and other components. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional characteristics of silages and the yield and milk quality of Holstein cows fed triticale silages in monoculture or intercropped with either oats or legumes. The crops for silage production were triticale (TS), triticale in consortium with forage pea (TSP), and triticale in consortium with oats, forage peas and vetches (TSOPV). The silages showed no differences in dry matter content. The highest crude protein (13.06 %) and ethereal extract content was observed in TSOPV, but in the case of the latter, there was little difference when compared with TS (2.35 and 2.16 %, respectively) although the ash contents of the TSOPV and TSP silages did present a difference compared to TS silage. The neutral and acid detergent fibers (NDF and ADF) and cellulose fractions of TS silage were higher (68.60, 41.46 and 38.19 %, respectively) than those in TSOPV and TSP silages, which also had higher levels of soluble nitrogen, ethanol and acetic acid. Dry matter intake was higher in both TSOPV and TSP, which also provided a higher milk yield (21.19 and 20.45 L cow d−1) compared to that of TS silage (18.74 L cow d−1). Cows fed TS also produced milk with a lower N-ureic content (15.15 mg dL−1). The inclusion of legumes with triticale provided good fermentative quality for silage and increased milk production of cows without altering their concentrations of fat and protein.

The aim was to compare yield of dry matter (RMS) and quality of grain and foliage sorghum varieties with and without brown midrib (bmr), by using plants with average concentrations of 300 g kg-1 of DM. Three grain (Solarius, Aralba and Topsilo) and three forage (Sweet Virginia, Big Kauna and Sucrosorgho) varieties were studied. Sweet Virginia and Big Kahuna contain bmr gene. RMS varied from 11.10 t, of Topsilo, to 17.12 t ha-1 of Sweet Virginia, related with plant height and stem/plant proportion. Topsilo had greater number of sprouts (1.5 m-¹). Relationship panicle/plant was similar between varieties. Number of plants m-¹ had variation between varieties but did not affect RMS. Protein concentration was from 75.45 g kg-1 DM in Big Kahuna, up to 104.3 g kg-¹ DM in Solarius, and had inverse relationship with RMS, with plant height and with stem/plant ratio. Varieties with greater protein concentration (Solarius, Aralba and Topsilo), showed least RMS, lower height and lower ratio stem/plant. Foliar area per plant was source of protein variation between grain varieties. Digestibility ranged from 5 96 g kg-1 DM in Aralba, up to 720.4 g kg-¹ DM in Sweet Virginia, and was related with lignin concentration. This last variety with Big Kahuna and Solaris were the best in digestibility. The high digestibility from Solarius (not bmr carrier) was because its low stem/ plant ratio (0.35). Sweet Virginia variety is an important option in animal food since its high RMS and digestibility. Solarius had low RMS, but is useful for high consumption of digestible dry matter (dairy cows), also has better protein concentration.

El objetivo fue comparar el rendimiento de materia seca (RMS) y la calidad de variedades de sorgo de grano y forrajero con o sin nervadura café (bmr), al emplear plantas con concentraciones promedio de 300 g kg-¹ de MS. Se estudiaron tres variedades de grano (Solarius, Aralba y Topsilo) y tres forrajeras (Sweet Virginia, Big Kauna y Sucrosorgho). Sweet Virginia and Big Kahuna contienen el gen bmr. El RMS varió de 11.10 t, de Topsilo, a 17.12 t ha-1 de Sweet Virginia, relacionada con la altura de planta y con la proporción tallo/planta. Topsilo tuvo mayor número de rebrotes (1.5 m-¹). La relación panícula/planta no fue diferente entre variedades. El número de plantas m-¹ varió entre variedades pero no afectó el RMS. La concentración de proteína varió de 75.45 g kg-¹ MS en Big Kahuna, a 104.3 g kg-¹ MS en Solarius, y tuvo relación inversa con el RMS, con la altura de la planta y con la relación tallo/planta. Las variedades con mayor concentración de proteína (Solarius, Aralba y Topsilo), fueron las de menor RMS, menor altura y menor relación tallo/planta. El área foliar por planta fue la fuente de variación de la proteína entre las variedades de grano. La digestibilidad varió de 596 g kg-¹ MS en Aralba, a 720.4 g kg-¹ MS en Sweet Virginia, y estuvo relacionada con la concentración de lignina. Esta última variedad junto con Big Kahuna y Solarius fueron las de mayor digestibilidad. La alta digestibilidad de Solarius (no portador de bmr) se debió a su baja proporción (0.35) tallo/planta. La variedad Sweet Virginia es una importante opción en la alimentación animal dado a su elevado RMS y digestibilidad. Solarius tuvo bajo RMS, pero es útil cuando se requieren altos consumos de materia seca digestible por animal (vacas lecheras), además de contar con la mayor concentración de proteína.

Objetivou-se avaliar a composição químico-bromatológica e a digestibilidade aparente de dez híbridos de milho (DK265bm3, DK265, HS5, HS6, HTV2, HTV27, Anjou285, Mexxal, Pistache e Buxxil) cultivados no INRA (Unité de Génétique et d'Amélioration des Plantes Fourragères, Lusignan-France), em parcelas de 150 m², com três repetições. Para o estudo de digestibilidade in vivo, os ovinos foram alimentados com silagem da planta inteira dos híbridos de milho com três repetições. Os híbridos de milho foram avaliados antes de ensilados pelo método NIRS, em que se pode constatar que houve diferença (p < 0,05) entre os híbridos para a composição química. Quanto aos valores de digestibilidade in vivo, observou-se que, o DK265bm3 se destacou dos demais híbridos quanto aos valores de MS, MO, celulose, PC e da DIVMS.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the chemical-bromatological composition and apparent digestibility of ten hybrids of corn (DK265bm3, DK265, HS5, HS6, HTV2, HTV27, Anjou285, Mexxal, Pistachio and Buxxil) planted at INRA (Unité of Génétique Amélioration des Plantes Fourragères, Lusignan-France), in 150 m² areas with three replications. The digestibility study was conducted using sheep fed corn hybrid whole plant silage with three replications. Corn hybrids were evaluated before ensilage using NIRS, and a significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed among treatments for chemical composition. DK265bm3 showed higher values than other hybrids for digestibility of DM, OM, cellulose, NDF and for IVDMD.

The purpose of the present study was to compare dry matter yield and nutritive value of conventional hybrid grain sorghum [(Sorghum bicolor (L.)] as influenced by row spacing, with conventional hybrid maize (Zea mays L.). Sorghum hybrid var. Solarius was planted at two distances between rows, 75 and 20 cm, and maize var. Anjou 387 at 75 cm (conventional planting). Dry matter yield (DMY) in both species decreased over the years, being this fall greater in maize. DMY fell by 20.7, 6.5 and 5 t ha-1 in 2009 when compared to 2007 for maize, sorghum 75 and 20 cm, respectively, indicating that DMY in sorghum 20-cm was less affected by a drop in rainfall than in the other treatments. When averaged over the years, sorghum 20-cm showed the higher protein concentration, 104.1 g kg-1 MS vs 89.4 and 70.5 g kg-1 DM for sorghum 75-cm and maize, respectively. Digestibility in maize was higher than in the average of the two sorghum treatments, 692 vs 636 g kg-1 DM, respectively. Lignin concentration in maize was 18 vs 28.8 g kg-1 DM for the average of the two sorghum treatments. However, digestibility in both sorghum treatments increased by 77.2 g kg-1 MS from 2007 to 2009. Maize was more sensitive to environmental variations. Sorghum planted at 20 cm between rows shows both greater DMY and protein concentration than maize in dry matter yield when rainfall is a limiting factor.

El objetivo fue comparar el rendimiento de materia seca y el valor nutritivo de un híbrido convencional de sorgo [(Sorghum bicolor (L.)], establecido a dos distancias entre surcos, con un híbrido convencional de maíz (Zea mays L.). El sorgo var. Solarius fue establecido a 75 y 20 cm entre surcos, y el maíz var. Anjou 387 a 75 cm (siembra convencional) en 2007, 2008 y 2009 en Lusignan, Francia. El rendimiento de materia seca (RMS) en ambas especies declinó con los años y esta disminución fue mayor en maíz. El RMS para 2009 fue menor en 20.7, 6.5 y 5 t ha-1, al compararlo con 2007, con respecto a maíz, sorgo 75 y 20 cm, lo que indica que la reducción de lluvia afectó menos el RMS del sorgo 20-cm. Al promediar los años, sorgo 20-cm tuvo mayor proteína con 104.1 g kg-1 MS vs 89.4 y 70.5 g kg-1 MS de sorgo 75-cm y maíz, respectivamente. El maíz tuvo más alta digestibilidad que el promedio de los dos tratamientos de sorgo con 692 vs 636 g kg-1 MS. La digestibilidad fue mayor en maíz debido a su menor concentración de lignina. La concentración en lignina del maíz fue 18 vs 28.8 g kg-1 MS del promedio de los dos tratamientos de sorgo. Sin embargo, la digestibilidad de ambos tratamientos de sorgo aumentó en 77.2 g kg-1 MS al pasar de 2007 a 2009. El maíz fue más sensible a los cambios ambientales. El sorgo sembrado a 20 cm entre surcos fue superior en RMS y en concentración de proteína que el maíz, cuando las condiciones de lluvia son un factor limitante.

O objetivo neste trabalho foi avaliar a estabilidade aeróbia e as perdas durante o processo de fermentação de silagens de triticale em cultivo exclusivo ou em misturas com aveia e/ou leguminosas. As culturas utilizadas para produção das silagens foram: triticale (X. Triticosecale Wittimack); triticale em consórcio com ervilha-forrageira (Pisum arvense); e triticale em consórcio com aveia (Avena strigosa Schreb), ervilha-forrageira e ervilhaca (Vicia sativa). O teor de matéria seca e a recuperação de matéria seca não diferiram entre as silagens. A capacidade tampão foi maior para a silagem de triticale cultivado em consórcio com aveia, ervilha-forrageira e ervilhaca (88,67 m eq. NaOH/100 g de MS), seguida da silagem de triticale cultivado em consórcio com ervilha-forrageira (80,80 m eq. NaOH/100 g de MS). Os valores de condutividade elétrica foram maiores nas silagens de triticale cultivado em consórcio. A silagem de triticale apresentou as menores temperaturas observadas nos silos, e as silagens de triticale cultivado em consórcio, maior retenção de calor e maiores valores de pH. A silagem de triticale em consórcio com aveia e leguminosas apresenta menor estabilidade aeróbia e não reduz a estabilidade aeróbia da ração total. A recuperação de matéria seca durante a armazenagem e na avaliação da estabilidade em aerobiose é semelhante entre as silagens.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the aerobic stability and losses during the fermentation process of triticale silages in single crop or in mixtures with oats and/or legumes. The following crops were used for silage production: triticale (X. Triticosecale Wittimack), triticale intercropped with forage pea (Pisum arvense) and triticale intercropped with oats (Avena strigosa Schreb), forage pea and vetch (Vicia sativa). The dry matter content and its recovery did not differ among the silages. Buffer capacity was higher for tricale silage intercropped with oats, forage pea and vetch(88.67 m eq. NaOH/100 g DM) followed by triticale intercropped with forage pea (80.80 m eq. NaOH/100 g DM). Electric conductivity values were higher in the intercropped triticale silages. Triticale silage presented the lowest temperatures observed in the silos, and the silages of intercropped triticale silages presented higher heat retention and higher pH values. Silage of triticale intercropped with oats and legumes presented lower aerobic stability but it did not reduce the aerobic stability of the total feed. Dry matter recovery during storage and in stability evaluations in aerobiosis is similar among the silages.

Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos das silagens de sorgo granífero, sorgo sacarino e milho sobre a ingestão, produção e composição química do leite e a digestibilidade dos nutrientes em vacas em lactação. Foram utilizadas 24 vacas da raça Prim'Holstein (PO), divididas em três lotes de oito vacas para avaliação das seguintes silagens: silagem de milho (SM); silagem de sorgo granífero (SG); e silagem de sorgo sacarino (SS). As silagens foram fornecidas à vontade com dois concentrados comerciais, distribuídos de acordo com o nível de produção leiteira. A silagem de sorgo granífero promoveu maior ingestão de MS (22,98 kg/dia) em comparação às silagens de milho (21,95 kg/dia) e de sorgo sacarino (19,43 kg/dia). A ingestão de água (litros/vaca/dia) foi semelhante entre os animais alimentados com silagem de milho (71,91) e de sorgo granífero (76,30) e menor nos animais alimentados com silagem de sorgo sacarino (56,95). A produção de leite total (28,81; 24,69 e 24,14 kg/dia) corrigida a 4% de gordura (30,65; 25,63 e 26,10 kg/dia) foi maior entre as vacas alimentadas com silagem de milho, no entanto, a porcentagem de gordura do leite das vacas alimentadas com silagem de sorgo sacarino foi maior (4,56%) em comparação àquelas alimentadas com silagem de milho (4,39%) e silagem de sorgo granífero (4,31%). A porcentagem de proteína foi maior (3,25%) no leite das vacas alimentadas com silagem de milho, intermediária no leite das vacas alimentadas com silagem de sorgo sacarino (3,05%) e menor no leite das vacas alimentadas com silagem de sorgo granífero (2,97%). Os coeficientes de digestibilidade dos nutrientes foram maiores nas vacas alimentadas com a ração à base de silagem de sorgo sacarino em comparação às rações à base de silagem de sorgo granífero e de milho.

The effect of feeding grain sorghum silage, sweet sorghum silage, and corn silage on intake, milk production, milk composition, and nutrient digestibility of lactation dairy cows was evaluated. Twenty-four Prim'Holstein (PO) cows were used, forming three groups of eight cows each. The experimental treatments were: 1) corn silage; 2) grain sorghum silage; and 3) sweet sorghum silage, fed ad libitum, with two commercial concentrates, distributed following the cow milk production. Grain sorghum silage promoted greater DM intake (22.98 kg/day) compared to corn silage (21.95 kg/day), and sweet sorghum silage (19.43 kg/day). Dry matter intake was greater for corn silage than for sweet sorghum silage. Water intake (L/cow/day) was similar for the animals fed corn silage (71.91) and grain sorghum silage (76.30), and both were greater than the water intake of animals fed sweet sorghum silage (56.95). Total milk production (28.81; 24.69 and 24.14 kg/day), 4% fat corrected milk (30.65; 25.63 and 26.10 kg/day), and milk chemical composition was greater for cows fed corn silage when compared to the ones receiving grain sorghum silage and sweet sorghum silage. Cows fed sweet sorghum silage, but showed higher milk fat percentage (4.56%) compared to cows fed corn silage (4.39%) or grain sorghum silage (4.31%). Milk protein concentration was higher for cows fed corn silage (3.25%), intermediate for cows fed sweet sorghum silage (3.05%), and lower for the ones fed grain sorghum silage (2.97%). Nutrient digestibility coefficients were greater for cows fed sweet sorghum silage compared to other silages.