ABSTRACT This study evaluated animal and plant production in multispecies pastures across integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) during winter, spring, and summer in Paraná, Brazil. The treatments consisted of Crop-Livestock System (CL), Silvopastoral System (SS), Agroforestry System (AS), and Livestock System (LS). During winter, the unshaded systems (LS and CL) outperformed the systems with the a tree component (SS and AS) presenting a greater forage mass that was 770 kg DM ha−1 higher (P

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effects of two forage allowance levels (5 and 10 kg DM/100 kg LW/day) and mowing on species diversity, botanical composition, and structural attributes in native subtropical grasslands of Northeast Argentina. Over three grazing cycles, all treatments maintained high species diversity (Shannon–Wiener ≈ 2; richness >30). Significant cycle effects were observed for species richness and evenness, which increased in the third cycle. Lower forage allowance favored short Poaceae and legumes, while higher allowance maintained taller swards […]

ABSTRACT Condensed tannins and α-tocopherol are important antioxidants produced by forage plants, with potential benefits for grassland sustainability and ruminant productivity. The objective of this study was to quantify the concentrations of phenolic compounds in Desmodium incanum DC. and Paspalum notatum Flüggé in subtropical grasslands of the Brazilian Pampa and Atlantic Forest. Pasture samples were randomly collected from eight sites selected to represent different climatic conditions of the southernmost grasslands of Brazil. Six sites were located in the Pampa biome […]

ABSTRACT This survey was conducted to assess the fermentation profile and nutritional composition of tropical grass silages on beef farms. Grass silage samples were collected from 51 beef cattle operations located in four Brazilian states (MT, MS, SP, and PR). Additionally, a questionnaire about silage production and utilization was completed. The lack of correlation between the concentration of n-butyric acid and the IVDMD (P = 0.368) indicated that fermentation pattern and nutritional value were independent and therefore required separate grouping […]

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate commercially purified essential oil compounds to assess molecule-specific effects when applied as additives to rehydrated corn grain silage (RCGS). Dry ground corn grains were rehydrated to 350 g/kg moisture and packed (>1,000 kg/m3) in 5-L plastic buckets. Treatments were prepared as a factorial arrangement of two storage lenghts (30 and 60 d) × fifteen strategies (compound × application rate), being: control RCGS; carvacrol at 200, 600 and 1,000 mg/kg fresh matter (FM); cinnamaldehyde at […]

ABSTRACT Three experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of the following commercial inoculants: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, and L. buchneri (LP+LB) at 2.5 × 105 CFU g−1; as well as L. rhamnosus, L. buchneri, and L. diolivorans (LB+LD) at 2.5 × 105 CFU g−1; and the same inoculants at double dosage (2LB+2LD) at 5.0 × 105 CFU g−1. In Exp. 1, corn silage was uninoculated and inoculated with LP+LB and LB+LD and stored in 5-L jars for 15, […]

ABSTRACT Five bagger configurations were evaluated for their effects on physical characteristics, fermentation, and starch degradability in corn (Exp. 1) and sorghum (Exp. 2) grain silages. Both experiments were conducted using five treatments, involving baggers with different nominal power ratings (60, 75, and 90 hp; designated as M-60, M-75, and M-90). The treatments consisted of the following configurations: M-60 equipped with a standard roll; M-75 and M-90 equipped with intermediate and coarse rolls for corn; and fine and intermediate rolls […]

ABSTRACT The objective was to evaluate the structural traits and forage accumulation of elephant grass genotypes under two stubble heights. The experiment was conducted in a factorial scheme, with five genotypes (P 2022 S1, 1810, 2111, 2035 and BRS Kurumi) and two stubble heights (25 and 45 cm), in a randomized block design, with three replications, considering the rainy and dry periods. Forage accumulation of the rainy period was higher for genotype 2111 (P

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of nitrogen (N) input via fertilizer or through the inclusion of an N-fixing legume mixed with grass on canopy structural characteristics, forage production, and stocking rate in grazing systems. Three pastures type (PT), with Marandu palisadegrass (U. brizantha), were assessed: i) monoculture without N fertilizer application (Unfertilized); ii) monoculture fertilized with 150 kg N ha⁻1 year⁻1 (N-fertilized); iii) and mixed pasture with forage peanut (A. pintoi), without N fertilizer […]

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different dry matter contents at ensiling on the chemical composition, fermentation products, microbial profile, and aerobic stability (AS) of wilted ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) silages, with or without microbial inoculants. The ryegrass was wilted in the field until it reached 32 or 45% DM. In addition to DM contents, the effect of adding or not adding microbial inoculants to the forage was evaluated, resulting in the following […]