RESUMO A estacionalidade da produção de forragem é um dos fatores limitantes na produção de ruminantes. Sendo assim, a utilização de silagens tem sido uma solução para períodos de baixa produção de forragens, proporcionando alimento de boa qualidade. Com isso, desenvolveu-se esse estudo com o objetivo de avaliar as características fermentativas e a composição químico-bromatológica da silagem de cultivares de Urochloa brizantha com níveis de estilosantes Campo Grande. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos completos ao acaso, com três repetições, em esquema fatorial 2 x 4, sendo dois cultivares de Urochloa brizantha (BRS Piatã e BRS Paiaguás) e quatro níveis de estilosantes Campo Grande (0, 10, 20 e 30%). Os resultados demonstraram que as silagens de Urochloa brizantha (BRS Piatã e BRS Paiaguás) com o estilosantes Campo Grande apresentam qualidades aceitáveis, com base nas características avaliadas, não havendo diferença entre os cultivares. A silagem mista de estilosantes Campo Grande com gramíneas na proporção de 30% demonstrou ser uma opção interessante, favorecendo o adequado processo fermentativo, bem como garantindo a manutenção da qualidade nutricional da silagem.

ABSTRACT The seasonality of forage production represents a limiting factor in the production of ruminants. The use of silages has been a solution for periods of low forage production, providing high quality food. This study was conducted to evaluate the fermentative characteristics and the chemical composition of silage of Urochloa brizantha cultivars with different levels of Campo Grande Stylosanthes. It was used a complete randomized block design with three replications in a 2 x 4 factorial design, being two cultivars of Urochloa brizantha (BRS Piata palisadegrass and BRS Paiaguas palisadegrass) and four levels of Campo Grande Stylosanthes (0, 10, 20 and 30%). Silages of Urochloa brizantha with Campo Grande Stylosanthes exhibit satisfactory quality, on the basis of the characteristics evaluated, with no significant difference between cultivars. The mixed silage of Campo Grande Stylosanthes with grasses at 30% has proven to be an interesting option, thus promoting adequate fermentation and maintaining the nutritional quality of silage.

This experiment assessed the effect of feed restriction in rabbits on performance and economic viability of the activity. Sixty New Zealand White rabbits, weaned at 33 days and slaughtered at 81 days of age, were used. The design was of randomized blocks with four treatments and five replications. The treatments were, as follows: 1 - free feeding, 2 - feed restriction from 35 to 40 days of age (50 g/d/rabbit), 3 - feed restriction from 54 to 61 days of age (90 g/d/rabbit) and 4 - feed restriction from 33 to 40 days (50 g/d/rabbit) and from 54 to 61 days of age (90 g/d/rabbit). There was no difference in the performance and carcass parameters, indicating that there was compensatory growth in the rabbits that suffered feed restriction. The best gross margin was obtained with feed restriction from 54 to 61 days age. Feed restriction in growing rabbits can be adopted at different ages because it does not interfere negatively in the performance and carcass parameters. In two periods and from 51 to 61 days, feed restriction was more economically viable for the sale of live and slaughtered rabbits, respectively.