This study aimed to verify the existence of genetic variation among guineagrass cultivars regarding the effect of maturity on chemical composition and digestibility, and to classify the genotypes according to productive characteristics and nutritional quality. A randomized block design, with split- plots and three replications, was used. Dates of the cuts were considered as the plots, and the genotypes were considered as the sub- plots. Dry matter yield differed among the genotypes only at 90 days of growth, but the […]

This paper aims to discuss the scientific progress obtained in the past ten years in genetics and plant breeding, soil fertility and plant nutrition and the importance of target sward conditions for planning, controlling and recommending management grazing of tropical grasses. In addition, progress in crop-livestock integration systems and management alternatives for mitigation of greenhouse gas emission by beef cattle production systems, two very important areas related to sustainable production systems, will also be discussed.

It was evaluated in this work, crop yield, fermentative quality and nutritional value of the silage of cultivars of white (Avena Sativa L.) and black (Avena Strigosa Schreb) oats cut at two development stages. It was used an experimental randomized block design in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme, consisting of four oat cultivars (two cultivars of black oats: Aveia Preta Comum and UTFP 971; and two cultivars of white oats: ER 91156- 1- 2- 1 and SI 98105- b), […]

It was evaluated the addition of calcium oxide (0; 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; and 2.0% of dry matter) effect on the chemical composition and ruminal degradability of the dry matter and neutral detergent fiber, on the losses of dry matter, and on the microbial population in sugar cane silages. A design with five levels of calcium oxide and three replications was used. All the variables were influenced by the addition of calcium oxide in the silages, except the composition in acid […]

Human activities are contributing to Global Climate Change through the production of Green House Gases (GHG), which result in increased air, land and ocean temperatures and extreme changes in precipitation in regions of low and high rainfall. The most important GHG’s are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). It is estimated that 18 % of the annual GHG emissions come from different types of livestock and that 37% of CH4, with higher global warming potential (23) relative […]

Caatinga is the most important biome for the livestock in the Brazilian semi-arid region. This review paper aimed to present information on different forage aspects of caatinga vegetation for ruminant feeding. Caatinga vegetation is formed mainly by shrubs and small trees, usually presenting thorns, deciduous leaves, and leaf abscission occurring frequently at the onset of the dry season. Additional components of the botanical composition in this biome includes the families cactaceae, bromeliaceae, and a herbaceous component formed by grasses, legumes, […]

Ensiling is a method of preserving a moist crop. A moist crop can support the growth of a wide range of microorganisms, most of which will degrade the nutrient value to livestock. However, ensiling generally controls microbial activity by a combination of an anaerobic environment and a natural fermentation of sugars by lactic acid bacteria on the crop. This fermentation and the resulting low pH primarily suppress the growth of other anaerobic microorganisms. The fermentation can also inhibit yeasts, molds […]

It was evaluated in this work the contents of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), total digestible nutrients (TDN), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) in the aerial section of the Tanzania grass (Panicum maximum), fertilized with nitrogen and phosphorus during the summer and autumn. The experimental design was complete randomized, with a 4 × 3 factorial scheme, and four N rates (0, 100, 200, and 300 kg/ha/year), and three pentoxide diphosphorus (P2O5) rates (0, […]

This trial was conducted with the objective of evaluating the nutritive value of three tropical forage species: tanzania grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.), marandu grass (Brachiaria brizantha) and Tifton 85 bermudagrass (Cynodon spp) in two different periods of the year (January-March and April-June) and in three cutting ages (28, 35 and 42 days), based on the chemical composition, protein and carbohydrate fractions, and in vitro digestibility of dry matter (DMD) and organic matter (OMD). Marandu grass, in the period January-March, had […]

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of the alkaline treatment of sugarcane with virgin lime or hydrated lime on the bromatologic composition and in vitro digestibility of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber. It was used a complete random design with a 3 × 3 factorial scheme composed by three forms of of sugarcane processing (in natura sugarcane; hydrolyzed sugarcane with 0.5% virgin lime; and hydrolyzed sugarcane with 0.5% hydrated lime) and […]