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This study aimed to evaluate the productive performance and nutritional status of crossbred sheep fed a diet containing buffel grass silage (BGS) in substitution of corn silage (CS). Thirty-two male Santa Inês sheep with an average body weight of 20.09 ± 2.0 kg were distributed in a completely randomized block design with four treatments (0, 33.3, 66.6, and 100 % of substitution of corn silage with buffel grass silage) and eight animals per treatment. Dry matter intake, apparent nutrient digestibility, water balance, nitrogen balance, and productive performance of animals were evaluated. The different levels of substitution of corn silage by buffel grass silage promoted a linear decrease in the consumption of ether extract (P=0.001) and non-fibrous carbohydrate (P<0.001), apparent digestibility of non-fibrous carbohydrate (P=0.019), water intake via food (P<0.001), total water intake (P=0.008), water excretion via urine (P=0.004), total water excretion (P=0.001), among which the highest values were observed in animals fed 100% corn silage. Water excretion via feces (P=0.017) and nitrogen balance (P=0.047) showed a quadratic function, increasing as substitution with buffel grass silage increased from 0 to 33.3 %. No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in sheep productive performance, with an average daily weight gain of 140.16 g/d. The replacement of 66.6 % of CS for BGS provides satisfactory results for dry matter and nutrients intake, and water intake, with weight gain of up to 155 g/d for Santa Inês crossbred sheep in Brazilian semi-arid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed was to evaluate the intake, apparent digestibility, water balance, nitrogen balance, and productive performance in lamb fed cactus pear silage associated with tropical forages. Forty male intact crossbred lambs, with an initial body weight of 18.85 ± 1.2 kg, were used in the experiment. The experimental design was completely randomized, with 5 treatments and 8 replications. The treatments consisted of diets with different proportions of buffelgrass and wheat bran as sources of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), in total feed silage (TFS) based on cactus pear: TFS1 - 279 g/kg of buffelgrass; TFS2 - 240 g/kg of buffelgrass and 17 g/kg of wheat bran; TFS3 - 198 g/kg of buffelgrass and 34 g/kg of wheat bran; TFS4 - 108 g/kg of buffelgrass and 74 g/kg of wheat bran; TFS5 – 118 g/kg of wheat bran. The lowest NDF intake was found in lambs that consumed TFS5 (402 g/d). The non-fibrous carbohydrates apparent digestibility was higher for TFS5, while the NDF apparent digestibility of TFS5 and TFS4 was higher than TFS1. Diets promoted an average daily weight gain of 180.8 g/d. Under experimental conditions, the use of forage cactus pear and concentrate in the form of total mixed rations silage leads to greater intake of crude protein, non-fibrous carbohydrates, ether extract and greater digestibility of non-fibrous carbohydrates and neutral detergent fiber, however, all diets were viable in the feed of confined sheep, providing gains of up to 198 g/d according with the formulation of the diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to evaluate the fermentation process, nutritional quality, and aerobic stability of mixed silages of arboreal cotton and cactus pear. This was a completely randomized design, with five levels of inclusion of cactus pear (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60%) in the arboreal cotton silage and four replications per treatment, totaling 20 experimental units. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and regression at a 5% probability level for type I error. The inclusion of cactus pear resulted in increased losses from gases (P<0.001), effluents (P<0.001), buffering capacity (P<0.001), aerobic stability (P = 0.010), and pH upward trend (P<0.001). There was a decreasing linear effect on dry matter recovery (P<0.001), pH (P<0.001), ammonia nitrogen (P <0.001), the maximum difference in the temperature of the silage in relation to the environment (P = 0.005) and maximum pH (P<0.001) of silages. The inclusion of cactus pear affected the maximum temperature (P<0.001) of silages in a quadratic way. There was a decreasing linear effect of dry matter (P<0.001), ether extract (P<0.001), Organic matter (P<0,001), crude protein (P = 0,002) and neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (P = 0.030). The use of cactus pear promoted an increasing linear effect for the levels of mineral matter (MM) (P<0.001), corresponding to an increase of 0,271%, for each 1% inclusion of cactus pear. The increase in the proportions of cactus pear in the silages promoted an increasing linear effect for mineral matter (P<0,001). The inclusion of cactus pear by up to 60% in arboreal cotton silages alters the fermentation profile with increased fermentation losses and nutritional reduction. However, it still presents characteristics of good quality silages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to evaluate the forage yield and structural responses of spineless cactus 'Orelha de Elefante Mexicana' (OEM) (Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw) at different planting densities. The experimental design was a randomized block with five treatments and four replicates, during two production cycles of 12 months each. The evaluated densities were 20,000; 25,000; 33,333; 50,000; and 100,000 plants ha-1. The increase in planting density caused a linear reduction in plant height, width, and mass, as well as in number of primary, secondary, tertiary, and overall cladodes. It also caused a linear increase in cladode area index, dry and green yield, water use efficiency, and forage accumulation rate. The increase in planting density promoted a quadratic effect on cladode thickness and dry matter content. Cladode thickness decreased with planting densities up to 47,500 plants ha-1 and increased from this point onwards. As for dry matter content, there was an increase up to the planting density of 61,428 plants ha-1 and a decrease from this point onwards. The increase in planting density of spineless cactus 'Orelha de Elefante Mexicana' caused changes in structural responses and in forage yield. The use of greater planting densities increased forage yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Water availability is often a limiting factor for herds in the arid and semiarid regions worldwide. Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the productive performance and nutritional status of Santa Inês sheep receiving water containing different levels of salinity. Methods: Thirty-two intact Santa Inês lambs, with an average bodyweight of 21.76 ± 1.25 kg, were distributed in a completely randomised design with four treatments (concentrations of total dissolved solids (TDS) in the drinking water: 640, 3200, 5760 and 8320 mg/L TDS), and eight animals per treatment. Intake, apparent nutrient digestibility, water balance, nitrogen balance, and performance of animals were evaluated. Key results: Concentrations of TDS in water promoted an increasing linear effect for water intake offered via drinking trough (P = 0.01), total water intake (P = 0.02), total urine excretion (P = 0.02), total water excretion via urine (P = 0.01), water excretion via faeces (P = 0.04), total water excretion (P = 0.01), absorbed water (P = 0.02), total nitrogen intake (P = 0.04), and water intake to total weight gain ratio (P = 0.01). No effect of increasing TDS concentration was observed for intake of dry matter and nutritional fractions, nutrient digestibility, water intake via food, total faeces excretion, water balance, nitrogen excretion via faeces, nitrogen excretion via urine, total nitrogen excretion, absorbed nitrogen and nitrogen balance (P > 0.05). No difference was observed in the performance of Santa Inês sheep consuming water with TDS concentration up to 8320 mg/L, which presented a daily mean weight gain of 0.105 kg/day. Conclusions: Water with a concentration of TDS of up to 8320 mg/L can be used as drinking water for Santa Inês sheep. Implications: Therefore, the water from wells, which is usually saline, may be an alternative to supplying small ruminants. The effect of water with different levels of salinity was investigated on the productive performance and the nutritional status of Santa Inês sheep. The supplied waters contained 640, 3200, 5760 and 8320 mg/L of total dissolved solids. Results showed that the water with a concentration of total dissolved solids of up to 8320 mg/L can be used as drinking water for Santa Inês sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to quantify the forage yield, percentage of plant components, the morphometric characteristics and the rain use efficiency of five genotypes of sorghum silage in semiarid of Paraiba. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Station Pendência, municipality of Soledade-PB. The experimental design used was randomizedblocks with four replicates, being experimental treatments represented by five sorghum genotypes: Ponta Negra, SF 15 IPA 1011, IPA 2502 and IPA 46742. No differences had been observed between genotypes for the production of natural matter and dry matter production. For the percentage of leaf blade was not significant difference (P>0.05), however for the percentage of stem showed higher (P<0.05) for genotypes Ponta Negra and IPA 46742. The percentage of panicle was high (P<0.05) for cultivars 'IPA 1011' and 'IPA 2502'. The cultivars 'IPA 1011' e 'IPA 2502' showed panicle percentage above 38% DM. There was no difference (P<0.05) in rain-use efficiency among genotypes, with values ranging from 94.37 to 126.25kg DM ha-1 mm-1. The genotypes showed high use efficiency of rain can and productivity, which is recommended by the IPA 1011 increased participation panicle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]