RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar a temperatura nos diferentes estratos e profundidades do perfil frontal de silos do tipo superfície antes e após o desabastecimento. Avaliou-se ainda, valores de pH na porção superior e inferior do perfil, densidade da matéria natural (MN) e matéria seca (MS) em silagens de milheto com partículas de 5 ou 20 mm, contendo ou não inoculante bacteriano, utilizando-se a silagem de milho como controle. Houve interação (P<0,05) silagem × estrato do perfil e silagem × profundidade do perfil para as temperaturas antes do desabastecimento, sendo que as silagens de milheto apresentaram menores temperaturas no estrato superior quando comparadas as de milho. Os gradientes de temperatura entre silagem e ambiente em silos de milheto e milho foram menores no estrato inferior do perfil, comprovando -se nas termografias pelo clareamento nessa região. O gradiente de temperatura após o desabastecimento foi menor a 50 cm de profundidade em todos os silos de milheto. Não foram observadas diferenças nas densidades da MN e MS das silagens estudadas. Os valores de pH das silagens antes da retirada, foram maiores no estrato superior e menores no estrato inferior em todas as silagens de milheto, exceto na silagem de milho. Silos de milheto apresentaram menores valores de pH no estrato inferior do silo. Silagens com tamanho de partícula de 5 mm proporcionam menores temperaturas na porção mediana do painel antes do desabastecimento. O uso do inoculante bacteriano no presente trabalho não foi capaz de alterar as características avaliadas.

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to investigate the temperature at different depths of the stack silo and strata front profile before and after the removal of silage. Also, the pH values in the upper and lower profile and the silage density of the fresh materials (FM) and dry matter (DM) in pearl millet silages with particle sizes of 5 or 20 mm, with or without inoculant, were assessed, using corn silage as controls. There was an interaction (P<0.05) silage × stratum profile and silage × depth profile for the temperatures before the removal of silage, and the pearl millet silages had lower temperatures in the upper stratum compared to corn. The temperature gradient between the silage and environment pearl millet and corn silos were smaller in the lower stratum profile. The temperature gradient after the removal of the silage was less than 50 cm deep at all the pearl millet silos. There were no differences in the densities of the FM and DM of the studied silages. The pH values of the silages before their removal were higher in the upper stratum and lower stratum in the bottom of all the pearl millet silages, in contrast with corn silage. The pearl millet silos had lower pH values in the lower stratum of the silo. Silages with 5 mm particle size provide lower temperatures in the middle portion of the panel before the removal of the silage. The use of bacterial inoculant in this study did not change the characteristics evaluated.

The objective of this study was to evaluate animal performance and carcass characteristics of 64 Nellore young bulls at 22 months of age finished in a feedlot and slaughtered at five body weights (350; 455; 485; 555 and 580 kg) fed diets containing coated or uncoated urea. The experimental design adopted was completely randomized, set in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement, and for the variables assessed in the control animals, it was 5 × 2. No effect of interaction between slaughter weights and diets were observed, so the variables were analyzed separately, compared by polynomial contrasts and by the F test, respectively. The time animals remained in the feedlot to reach slaughter weights was 66, 88, 145 and 194 days. Average daily gain (ADG) showed quadratic behavior, with a maximum of 1.44 kg/day with animals of 491.7 kg. Dry matter intake (DMI) (kg/day) was similar in all the treatments, but it decreased linearly as body weight increased. The bionutritional efficiency worsened linearly as body weight rose. The elevation in slaughter weight resulted in linear decrease in the percentage of beef round and increase in forequarter. Backfat thickness and rib eye area of the longissimus increased linearly and the percentages of muscle and protein in the carcass reduced and those of fat and ether extract increased linearly as body weight increased. Average daily gain, DMI, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics were not affected by diets containing coated or uncoated urea. However, animals fed coated urea presenter better crude fiber and neutral detergent fiber intake.

Objetivou-se neste trabalho avaliar as características bromatológicas de silagens de milho produzidas com milho em diversos estádios de maturação. Utilizou-se delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas no tempo. Os cultivares Geneze 2004, Agroceres 1051, Pioneer 30S40 e Pioneer 30F90 foram ensilados nos seguintes estádios de maturação: grãos sem linha de leite (SLL); redução da linha de leite em 1/3 do grão (1/3 LL); 1/2 do grão (1/2 LL); 2/3 do grão (2/3 LL); e camada negra (CN) formada. A porcentagem de MS das silagens variou de 26,5 a 45,0%. As maiores perdas de efluente ocorreram nas silagens dos cultivares AG1051 e P30S40 no estádio sem linha de leite, que não apresentaram perdas a partir do estádio 1/2 LL. Com o avançar do estádio de maturação, observou-se aumento nos valores de pH. Os estádios de maturação influenciaram a porcentagem de PB das silagens, que variou de 10,7 a 8,1%. Os maiores valores de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e fibra em detergente ácido (FDA) foram observados nos estádios 2/3 LL e CN. A porcentagem de lignina foi influenciada pelos cultivares e foi maior nas silagens do cultivar P30S40. A digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS) foi influenciada pelos cultivares e pelos estádios de maturidade, variando de 51,1 a 69,8%, e foi maior no cultivar P30F90. A ensilagem do milho no estádio 1/2 LL promoveu melhor DIVMS, que reduziu após este estádio. Os cultivares GNZ 2004, AG1051 e P30F90 são mais indicados para ensilagem e o melhor estádio de maturidade para ensilagem desses cultivares é quando os grãos apresentam redução da linha de leite na metade do grão (1/2 LL).

This work evaluated the bromatologic characteristics of corn silages, ensiled at different maturity stages. It was used a split plot in time in a randomized block design, with four replicates. Cultivars evaluated were Geneze 2004, Agroceres 1051, Pioneer 30S40 and Pioneer 30F90 ensiled in the following maturity stages: 0% milk line kernels (SLL), reduction of milk line in 1/3 of the kernel (1/3 LL), 1/2 of the kernel (1/2 LL), 2/3 of the kernel (2/3 LL), and formed black layer (CN). The percentage of DM of the silages ranged from 26.5% to 45.0%. The highest losses of effluents occurred in the silages from the cultivars AG1051 and P30S40, at the SLL stage, with no losses from the 1/2 LL stage. As the maturity stage advanced, increased values of pH occurred. Maturity stages influenced the percentage of CP of the silages which ranged from 10.7% to 8.1%. The greatest values of NDF (neutral detergent fiber) and ADF (acid detergent fiber) were found at the 2/3 LL and CN stages. The percentage of lignin was influenced by the cultivars, with the greatest values observed in the silages from the cultivar P30S40. The IVDDM (in vitro dry matter digestibility) was influenced by cultivar and maturity stage, varying from 51.1% to 69.8%, with the cultivar P30F90 presenting the greatest IVDDM. The 1/2 LL stage showed better IVDDM, reducing its value after this stage. The cultivars GNZ 2004, AG1051 and P30F90 are more indicated for ensiling and the best maturity stage for ensiling these two cultivars was when grains presented reduction of the milk line in half of the kernel (1/2 LL).