ABSTRACT The addition of levels of ethanol extract of brown propolis was evaluated by assessing diet degradation in rumen fluid and predicting cumulative in vitro gas production by nonlinear (dual pool logistic and exponential) models. A total of 35 g of crude propolis were extracted in 65 mL of cereal alcohol (95% ethanol). In a completely randomized factorial design, the experimental diets combined four concentrations of extracted propolis diluted in cereal alcohol (0, 50, 70, and 100% of propolis extract) and supplementation doses (4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 mL/kg dry matter), tested in triplicate. Diet (400 g/kg Tifton hay and 600 g/kg concentrate) was incubated for 96 h carried out three times in three different weeks. There was significant interaction between extract concentration and dose on the dry matter (DM) degradability. Dry matter degradability of diet decreased exponentially as a function of the increase in dose (y = 678.55×dose–0.271). Pure alcohol treatment showed a negative exponential effect, with degradability of 303.61 g/kg when administered at a dose of 20 mL/kg DM. Treatment 100% ethanol extract reached the greatest degradability, estimated at 18.93 mL/kg DM. The treatment with 70% extract showed 6.35 mL/kg DM and the 50% extract, 7.65 mL/kg DM of minimum degradability. The reduction potential of pure ethanol was –0.32 mL gas/mL. Estimates of maximum gas production by dual pool logistic and exponential models were 13.10 mL and 12.07 mL for 100% extract, respectively. The 100% extract produced the highest gas production estimates, above 30 mL gas/100 mg DM of fermented diet. The degradation and fermentation of ruminant diet can be improved using 13 mL/DM kg of ethanol extract of propolis.

RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito dos resíduos da extração hidroalcoólica de própolis dos tipos verde e marrom sobre o desenvolvimento de bactérias Gram-positivas e Gram-negativas. As própolis brutas foram adquiridas da apicultura “Companhia da Abelha”, instalada em Contagem, Minas Gerais. A própolis verde foi derivada de “alecrim-do-campo” (Baccharis dracunculifolia), e a própolis marrom foi derivada de “alecrim-do-campo” (B. dracunculifolia) e “assa-peixe” (Vernonia polyanthes). Foram usados cinco níveis de inclusão (0; 0,625; 0,125; 0,25; 0,5g) dos resíduos, além do controle para o inóculo (CI), e seis amostras bacterianas, sendo duas delas Gram-positivas e quatro Gram-negativas. O método utilizado foi o de contagem de unidades formadoras de colônias em placas de petri (pour plate). Entre as bactérias Gram-positivas, o maior efeito inibidor foi detectado para amostras de Staphylococcus aureus, e maior susceptibilidade foi para a Escherichia coli dentre as Gram-negativas. Houve efeito antimicrobiano do resíduo da extração da própolis verde sobre as bactérias S. aureus e S. intermedius. O resíduo da extração da própolis marrom apresentou maior inibição para S. intermedius somente nos tratamentos com 0,5 e 0,25g de resíduo. Não houve efeito do resíduo da extração de própolis verde ou marrom sobre o crescimento de bactérias gênero Pseudomonas. Os resíduos da extração hidroalcoólica de própolis verde e marrom atuaram como inibidores de crescimento das bactérias Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus intermedius e Escherichia coli, e em menor grau para Salmonella e Klebsiella. O resíduo tem maior efeito inibidor em bactérias Gram-positivas.

SUMMARY This study aimed to evaluate the effect of residues extraction hydroalcoholic of propolis, green and brown, on the development of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The crude propolis was obtained from “Companhia da Abelha” in Contagem, Minas Gerais. The green propolis derived from “alecrim-do-campo” (Baccharis dracunculifolia), and the brown propolis derived from “alecrim-do-campo” (B. dracunculifolia) and “assa-peixe” (Vernonia polyanthes). We used five levels of inclusion (0; 0.625; 0.125; 0.25; 0.5g) of the residue, and control for the inoculum (CI) and six bacterial strains, two of which are Gram-positive and four Gram-negative. The method used was to count colony-forming units in petri dishes (pour plate). Among the Gram-positive bacteria, the greatest inhibitory effect was detected for Staphylococcus aureus strains, and increased susceptibility was observed for Escherichia coli among Gram-negative bacteria. There was antimicrobial effect of the residue of the propolis extract on S. aureus and S. intermedius. The residue of brown propolis extract showed greater inhibition for S. intermedius only in 0.5 and 0.25g of residue inclusion levels. There was no effect of residues extraction hydroalcoholic of propolis, green and brown on the growth of Pseudomonas. The residues of the extraction of propolis green and brown acted as inhibitors of growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus intermedius and Escherichia coli, and to a lesser extent Salmonella and Klebsiella. The residue has greater inhibitory effect on Gram-positive bacteria.

The present study tested brown propolis in crude or extract form as a feed supplement for feedlot lambs to identify the type that most improves in vivo nutrient digestibility. Digestibility was assessed by both total fecal collection and internal markers and the results obtained by these techniques were compared. The completely randomized design was used to compare feed intake and nutrient digestibility of 24 male lambs aged seven months among four dietary treatments (crude brown propolis, propolis ethanol extract, monensin sodium, and control). Methods of feces collection were compared using a completely randomized split-plot design, with experimental diets corresponding to the main factor and the methods to estimate fecal production as the sub-factor. The diets had a roughage:concentrate ratio of 50:50, with Tifton-85 bermudagrass hay (Cynodon spp.) as roughage, and ground corn, soybean meal and minerals as concentrate. The lambs fed diets with crude propolis had higher feed intake than those fed diets containing monensin sodium. The different diets did not affect dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, or acid detergent fiber digestibility, but crude propolis supplementation provided higher ether extract digestibility than monensin sodium. Nutrient digestibility, as indicated by indigestible neutral detergent fiber, indigestible acid detergent fiber and sequentially-determined indigestible acid detergent fiber, was lower than that found with the fecal collection method. The addition of brown propolis has the same effect as monensin, but neither maximized nutrient availability in the diet of feedlot lambs at 7 months of age. Digestibility assessment using the internal markers indigestible neutral detergent fiber, indigestible acid detergent fiber and sequentially-determined indigestible acid detergent fiber is not an efficient method compared with total feces collection.

Objetivou-se avaliar os parâmetros fermentativos, a composição química e a digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS) de silagens de grãos úmidos de milho, confeccionados com ou sem o uso de inoculante microbiano, em diferentes processamentos. No experimento 1, avaliou-se a inoculação de silagens de grãos úmidos de milho triturados, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. No experimento 2, avaliou-se a inoculação de silagens de grãos úmidos de milho, triturados e laminados, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2 x 2. O material foi ensilado em silos experimentais de PVC (50cm de comprimento e 100mm de diâmetro) e amostras foram tomadas antes e após a ensilagem. No experimento 1, a DIVMS de silagens inoculadas foi superior à de silagens controle, com médias de 80,67 e 79,80%, respectivamente. O pH, N-NH3 (% N-total) e perdas de MS não foram influenciados pela inoculação, com médias de 3,91, 1,19% N-total e 1,18% MS, respectivamente. No experimento 2, não houve influência da inoculação e do processamento sobre a DIVMS, com média de 74,59%. O pH e N-NH3 foram influenciados pela inoculação, com médias de 3,89 vs 3,94 e 0,63 vs 0,72% N-total, para silagens inoculadas e controle, respectivamente. De maneira geral, a inoculação microbiana não altera o padrão de fermentação, composição química e perdas da MS nas silagens de grãos úmidos de milho, independente do processamento. Houve melhoria de 1,09% na DIVMS de silagens inoculadas de grãos úmidos de milho.

Two experiments were run to evaluate the pattern of fermentation, the chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDDM) of high moisture corn grain silages, with or without microbial inoculation, in different processing. Experiment 1 dealt with inoculation of high moisture corn triturated grain silages, in completely randomized experimental design. Experiment 2 dealt with inoculation of high moisture corn triturated and laminated grain silages, in completely randomized experimental design, in 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. The material was ensiled in experimental silos of PVC (50cm length and 100mm diameter). Samples were taken before and after ensilage. In the experiment 1, the IVDDM of inoculated silages was major than control silages, with averages of 80.67 and 79.80%, for inoculated and control silages, respectively. pH and NH3-N (% total N) and DM losses were not influenced by inoculation, with 3.91, 1.19% total N and 1.18% DM, respectively. In the experiment 2, there was not influence by inoculation and processing on IVDDM, mean of 74.59%. pH and NH3-N were influenced by inoculation, 3.89 vs 3.94 and 0.63 vs 0.72% total N, by inoculated and control silages, respectively. The microbial inoculation of high moisture corn grain does not promote alterations either in the fermentative pattern, chemical composition or in the DM losses in corn high moisture silages, independent of processing. There was an improvement of 1.09% in IVDMD of high moisture corn silages inoculated.

The objective of this paper is to assess the effects of the inclusion of different levels of green propolis extract in the diet of lambs in feedlot on ingestive behavior, nutrients digestibility, physiological parameters and performance. Eight lambs were distributed in double Latin Square with four treatments, corresponding to the inclusion levels (4, 8, 12, 16 mL) of green propolis ethanolic extract (30 g of ground crude propolis was infused in a 100-mL hydroalcoholic solution, 700 mL/L). The diets were composed of Brachiaria brizantha cv. MG5 hay and a commercial concentrate (roughage:concentrate ratio was 50:50) in a dry matter basis. No effect was observed on dry matter (31.2 g/kg of BW), crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, non-fibrous carbohydrates and total digestible nutrients content (TDN) intakes. No significant effect was seen on the digestibility coefficients, presenting an average of 65.94% of TDN. The green propolis extract levels do not have a significant effect on behavior or physiologic parameters. Seeking to maximize feeding efficiency, the inclusion of 7.60 mL/day (2.1189 mg of dry matter and 0.1123 mg of flavonoids) of green propolis extract in the diet of lambs in feedlot is recommended.