ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the productive and reproductive performance and the nutritional metabolic condition of ewes supplemented at different stages of gestation in a synchronized reproduction system. Fourty Santa Inês × Dorper crossbreed ewes, pregnant with an average age of ten months and two previous births, were distributed in a completely randomized design, with four treatments: mineral salt, supplementation started 20 days before the estrus synchronization (ES) protocol, supplementation from confirmation of pregnancy (60 days after ES), and supplementation in the final third of gestation (90 days after ES). The adoption of supplementation strategies during the beginning, middle, or end of pregnancy changed the intake and digestibility of dry matter (g/day), with a reduction of 10.53 and 9.14%, respectively, for the mineral salt treatment, in addition to organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, non-fibrous carbohydrates, ether extract, and total digestible nutrients, as well as protein, energy, and mineral profiles. There was no difference in the number of ovulations and reproductive and productive performance using supplementation alternatives. Supplementation strategies during the gestation stages influence the intake and digestibility of nutrients, as well as the animal metabolic profiles. However, it does not change reproductive and productive performance. system births design treatments 2 ES (ES protocol 60 (6 ES, , ES) 90 (9 ES. . beginning middle g/day, gday g/day g day (g/day) 1053 10 53 10.5 914 9 14 9.14% respectively treatment protein fiber nonfibrous non fibrous carbohydrates extract nutrients energy profiles alternatives However 6 ( (g/day 105 1 5 10. 91 9.14 9.1 9.

RESUMO A consorciação entre gramínea e soja pode promover efeitos benéficos sobre a produtividade da área explorada, devido ao melhor aproveitamento do nitrogênio no solo e economia de concentrados proteicos pelo uso de silagem mista. Objetivou-se neste trabalho avaliar a qualidade bromatológica, digestibilidade e o perfil de fermentação da silagem produzida pelo consórcio entre milho e soja. Foram testados oito tratamentos, combinando a inoculação com Azospirillum brasilense e a adubação nitrogenada aplicada no milho consorciado em fileiras alternadas com a soja. Os monocultivos de milho e de soja também foram testados. Foram determinadas as composições morfológicas das plantas de soja e milho na massa da matéria ensilada. Após triturado, o material foi ensilado em tubos de PVC por 60 dias e após a fermentação foi determinada a qualidade da silagem. Os tratamentos não afetaram a composição morfológica das plantas de soja e de milho no material ensilado oriundo do consórcio. As proporções de folhas, hastes e vagens de soja representaram menos de 5% do total da massa ensilada do consórcio. Por outro lado, a composição morfológica das plantas de milho foi elevada semelhante ao do monocultivo. Assim, a silagem proveniente do consórcio apresentou padrões semelhantes de qualidade ao do milho exclusivo, sendo que a composição bromatológica, digestibilidade, pH, teores de energia e perfil de ácidos orgânicos foram adequados para uma silagem de boa qualidade.

ABSTRACT Intercropping grass and soybeans can promote beneficial effects on the productivity of the explored area due to the better soil nitrogen utilization and protein concentrate savings through the use of mixed silage. This study aimed to evaluate the bromatological quality, digestibility, and fermentation profile of silage produced by intercropping corn and soybean. Eight treatments were tested by combining inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense and nitrogen fertilization applied to corn intercropped in rows alternated with soybean. Corn and soybean monocultures were also tested. The morphological compositions of soybean and corn plants in the mass of the ensiled material were determined. After crushing, the material was ensiled in PVC tubes for 60 days, and the silage quality was determined after fermentation. Treatments did not affect the morphological composition of soybean and corn plants in the ensiled material from intercropping. The proportions of soybean leaves, stems, and pods represented less than 5% of the total ensiled mass of intercropping. On the other hand, the morphological composition of corn plants was high, similar to that of monoculture. Thus, the silage from intercropping showed similar quality standards to that of corn monoculture, and the bromatological composition, digestibility, pH, energy content, and profile of organic acids were suitable for good quality silage.

ABSTRACT The objective was to evaluate the addition of antibiotic growth promoters to free-choice mineral supplement on ingestive behavior, mineral intake, and growth performance of grazing bulls. Sixty Nellore bulls [initial body weight (BW) of 219±17.8 kg and 15±2 months of age] were divided in 12 marandu grass paddocks. The treatments were: mineral supplement (control), mineral supplement + virginiamycin (VIRG), mineral supplement + lasalocid sodium (LASA) and mineral supplement + salinomycin sodium (SALI). Mineral supplements were formulated with target intake of 60 g d−1 and the growth promoters of 75 mg 100 kg−1 of BW. The experimental design was the completely randomized blocks. There was no treatment effect on ingestive behavior or mineral intake; however, the active ingredient intake differed between treatments. In the last experimental period, the intake of active ingredient LASA and SALI were higher than VIRG (0.66, 0.54, and 0.39 mg kg−1 of BW, respectively). Treatments also did not affect BW and average daily gain, which were 0.63, 0.60, 0.64, and 0.62 kg d−1 for control, VIRG, LASA, and SALI, respectively. Free-choice mineral supplementation intake by bulls has a high variability, and this impairs the regulation of the intake of antibiotic growth promoter additives. Therefore, the addition of antibiotic growth promoters to the mineral supplement does not affect ingestive behavior, mineral intake, and growth performance of grazing bulls.

RESUMO Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a reconstituição da umidade associada à moagem grosseira do grão de milho sobre as características macroscópicas e microscópicas dos grãos. O experimento foi realizado no Laboratório de Nutrição animal do Departamento de Zootecnia da Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Foram utilizadas as seguintes combinações de processamento do milho: milho com reconstituição da umidade depois da moagem a 5 mm (MRD); milho com reconstituição da umidade antes da moagem a 5 mm (MRA) e milho moído a 1 mm (MMF). Foram realizados os ensaios de avaliação da atividade da enzima α-amilase sobre o amido dos grãos, microscopia eletrônica de varredura para os grãos de milho processados e avaliação da granulometria. O MRA apresentou maior número de partículas com tamanho acima de 1,19mm devido ao fato de a reconstituição ocorrer antes do processo de moagem, o que favorece a liberação da maior parte do pericarpo aderido ao grão de milho. Microscopicamente, os grânulos de amido não apresentaram variações na estrutura básica padrão sendo que algumas alterações observadas nas imagens de microscopia eletrônica de varredura foram devidas à preparação das amostras para visualização. A taxa de liberação de amido pela a ação da enzima α-amilase (Novozymes, Termamyl 2x) seguiu mesmo padrão para os três tipos de processamento.

SAMMURY The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of moisture reconstitution associated with coarse milling of corn grain on macroscopic and microscopic grain characteristics. The experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Viçosa. The following corn processing combinations were tested: corn reconstituted after being milled to 5 mm (CRA); corn reconstituted before being milled to 5 mm (CRB); and corn milled to 1 mm (CGF). Evaluation assays of α-amylase enzyme activity on the grain's starch, scanning electron microscopy for processed kernels, and particle-ize analysis were undertaken. The highest number of particles larger than 1.19 mm was found in CRB, because reconstitution occurred prior to the milling process, which facilitates the release of the largest part of the pericarp adherent to the corn grain. Microscopically, the starch granules did not display variations in their basic standard structure, and some alterations observed in the scanning electron microscopy images were due to the preparation of samples for visualization. There was no effect of grain processing on the rates of starch released by the action of the α-amylase enzyme (Novozymes, Termamyl 2x).

RESUMO Objetivou-se com este trabalho comparar o valor forrageiro do milheto e trigo-mourisco, sob irrigação, em diferentes idades de corte. Utilizou-se delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso, com os tratamentos arranjados em modelo de parcelas subdivididas. As plantas foram cultivadas durante a estação seca, sob irrigação e colhidas em três idades de corte, 47, 57 e 67 dias (tratamentos). Foram determinados os teores de matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), matéria mineral e produção de gases in vitro e a produção de matéria seca. A produção do trigo-mourisco (2301, 3144 e 4471 kg MS/ha) foi superior à do milheto (437, 592 e 2224 kg MS/ha) nas três idades de corte. Os teores de PB do milheto foram, em média, 22,3% nas três idades de corte, mas no trigo-mourisco reduziu de 23,8% no primeiro corte, para 14% nos demais cortes. O trigo mourisco apresentou maior teor de FDN no primeiro corte 57,6% contra 52,1% do milheto, entretanto diminuiu no segundo e terceiro cortes, 46,8% e 41,2%, respectivamente, enquanto que no milheto mantiveram-se em 55,1% e 52,7% no segundo e terceiro corte. Os teores de FDA forma mais elevados para o trigo mourisco em comparação com o milheto nas três idades de corte estudadas. A produção de gases foi maior para o trigo mourisco em comparação ao milheto, com exceção do primeiro corte, quando o trigo apresentou maiores taxas de fermentação. O trigo mourisco apresentou qualidade como forrageira, sendo mais produtivo e nutritivo do que o milheto durante o período seco, sob irrigação.

SUMMARY This trial compared forage production and quality of Pearl Millet and Buckwheat in three cutting age on irrigation conditions during dry season, evaluated in a randomized block split plot design with tree replications. Was determined content of Dry Matter (DM), Crude Protein (CP), Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), Mineral Matter (MM) and in vitro gas production. Forage production of Buckwheat was higher than Pearl Millet in all the cutting ages. Pearl Millet CP content was similar to all three cuts but Buckwheat CP content was higher in the first cut and reduced in the others. The NDF content of Buckwheat was higher in the first cut and reduced in the others, meanwhile Pearl Millet presented low NDF value in the first cut but increased in the second and third cut. The Buckwheat presented high ADF content than Pearl Millet in all the cuts. In vitro gas production from Pearl Millet was higher in the first cut but more high for Buckwheat in the second and third cuts. Buckwheat produced more forage with high quality than Pearl Millet during dry season.