The objective of this trial was to evaluate the chemical composition and fungal microbiota of different proportions of elephantgrass and mesquite pod silages: 100:0, 67:33, 34:66, and 0:100, respectively. A complete randomized design with four replications per treatment was used. The material was ensiled in PVC silos and remained sealed during a 120-days period. After opening the silos, silage samples were collected followed by fungi isolation and identification and determination of the chemical composition of the silages. Addition of mesquite […]

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of wilting and the application of bacterial enzymatic additive (BEA) or buffered propionic acid (BPA) on the fermentation characteristics and chemical composition of Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) silage stored in big square bales wrapped with plastic sheet. The experimental treatments were: five forage dry matter contents (250, 350, 450, 550 and 650 g/kg DM) without BEA (WoA), three forage dry matter contents (250, 350 and 650 g/kg DM) with BEA […]

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of nitrogen fertilization upon the morphogenetical and structural characteristics of Brachiaria decumbens under grazing. Four nitrogen rates (75, 150, 225 and 300 kg/ha.yr) were applied before the beginning of the experimental evaluations, which were performed during the Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring seasons. The randomized complete block design was used with two replications. Linear increases were observed for the leaf elongation rate, final leaf length, leaf area index, stem and leaf […]

This trial was carried out from November 2001 to November 2002, aiming at the evaluation of the effects of nitrogen fertilization upon the tiller demography and forage biomass in Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk pastures fertilized with nitrogen and subjected to the same grazing height. The treatments consisted of four nitrogen rates (75, 150, 225 and 300 kg/ha.yr.) applied before the beginning of the experimental evaluations, which were performed during the Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring, 2002. A completely randomized block […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the fermentative characteristics and nutritional quality of sugarcane treated with microbial additives and 10% of soybean crop residue based on sugarcane fresh weight. The variety RB855536 harvested at 16 months of age was used in a completely randomized design with tree repetitions. Addition of soybean crop residue reduced 33% of DM losses and 60% of ammonia-N (% total N) although final silage pH increased. Use of inoculants reduced silage pH only in […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the nutritional quality and fermentation characteristics of sugarcane silages treated with inoculant (Lactobacillus plantarum in doses of 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 x 106 cfu/g NM), 40% sodium hydroxide solution (3% dry matter basis), or 10% of soybean crop residue added according to the sugarcane fresh weight. The variety RB855536 harvested at 11 and 13 months of age was used. The experiment was conducted at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa Animal Science Department, […]

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of forage allowances on canopy changes, the grazing time and forage intake by steers grazing tanzaniagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) pasture. The four levels of herbage allowance (HA) (kg of leaf blade /100 kg animal live weight/day, %) were: 6.1 ± 0.59; 11.1 ± 0.77; 18.0 ± 1.24 and 23.9 ± 1.15%. Eight Nelore animals averaging 229.0 and 249.5 kg grazed each paddock in the first and second sampling periods, respectively. A completely randomized […]

In this study, individuals of setariagrass (Setaria anceps Stapf.), limpograss (Hemarthria altissima [Poir] Stapf. & Hubbard), nilograss (Acroceras macrum Stapf.) and angola grass (Brachiaria purpurascens [Raddi] Henr.) were submitted to moderate drought. The characteristics of chlorophyll a fluorescence (inicial fluorescence, Fo; maximum fluorescence, Fm; photochemistry efficiency, Fv/F­m; photochemical quenching, qP; non-photochemical quenching, qN and relative electron transport rate, ETR) were investigated in an experiment carried out in greenhouse, using plastic pots. The experimental treatments were allocated in a randomized complete […]

A grazing trial was carried out to evaluate the effect of two forage masses on the animal yield from natural pasture over-sown with exotic legumes species (white clover – Trifolium repens, red clover – Trifolium pratense and birdsfoottrifoil – Lotus corniculatus). The grazing method consisted of a variable continuous stocking rate over the period from July 2003 to April 2004. The experimental treatments were two forage masses: low forage mass (LFM) (1,021 kg of DM/ha) and high forage mass (HFM) […]

The effect of genetic drift in populations under selection with different effective sizes was evaluated using data simulated by the GENESYS program. Selection was applied during 20 generations based on Individual selection (IS) using breeding values predicted by classical best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) and BLUP associated with molecular markers (BLUPM). The similarity matrix used in BLUPM was obtained by simulation of 100 micro-satellites markers (simple sequence repeats) using a similarity coefficient corresponding to the mean Euclidean distance for quantitative […]