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Ruminants digest plant biomass more efficiently than monogastric animals due to their symbiotic relationship with a complex microbiota residing in the rumen environment. What remains unclear is the relationship between the rumen microbial taxonomic and functional composition and feed efficiency (FE), especially in crossbred dairy cattle (Holstein x Gyr) raised under tropical conditions. In this study, we selected twenty-two F1 Holstein x Gyr heifers and grouped them according to their residual feed intake (RFI) ranking, high efficiency (HE) (n = 11) and low efficiency (LE) (n = 11), to investigate the effect of FE on the rumen microbial taxa and their functions. Rumen fluids were collected using a stomach tube apparatus and analyzed using amplicon sequencing targeting the 16S (bacteria and archaea) and 18S (protozoa) rRNA genes. Alpha-diversity and beta-diversity analysis revealed no significant difference in the rumen microbiota between the HE and LE animals. Multivariate analysis (sPLS-DA) showed a clear separation of two clusters in bacterial taxonomic profiles related to each FE group, but in archaeal and protozoal profiles, the clusters overlapped. The sPLS-DA also revealed a clear separation in functional profiles for bacteria, archaea, and protozoa between the HE and LE animals. Microbial taxa were differently related to HE (e.g., Howardella and Shuttleworthia) and LE animals (e.g., Eremoplastron and Methanobrevibacter), and predicted functions were significatively different for each FE group (e.g., K03395—signaling and cellular process was strongly related to HE animals, and K13643—genetic information processing was related to LE animals). This study demonstrates that differences in the rumen microbiome relative to FE ranking are not directly observed from diversity indices (Faith’s Phylogenetic Diversity, Pielou’s Evenness, Shannon’s diversity, weighted UniFrac distance, Jaccard index, and Bray–Curtis dissimilarity), but from targeted identification of s

This technical report used a wireless device (CURO MkII) that recorded high-quality rumen sound waves from cows of different production statuses (dry cow vs. lactating cow) and physiological stages (pregnant vs. non-pregnant). Recordings from a dry Jersey heifer fed a diet based on haylage and straw showed a few high-amplitude spikes (3 at 6 dB) but mostly infrequent signals (9 at 12 dB and 22 at 18 dB), with pauses of approx. 2 min with no rumen sounds in between. Analysis of a few individual spikes in the 12 dB range showed that wave frequencies ranged from 230 to 250 Hz and lasted 4 s. Recordings of the high-yielding Red Danish cow fed a total mixed ration (TMR) showed an almost constant frequency of the rumen sounds with considerable amplitude of the waves. Rumen sounds from the Red Danish dry and pregnant cow fed on TMR were less frequent, with a lower amplitude than those from the high-yielding cow. These preliminary results demonstrate that wireless sound recording units are capable of measuring rumen sounds in a production setting and can discern between animals of different production and physiological stages, but more studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Increased food production is urgently needed to meet the high demand for agricultural products required by the world's growing population. Feed efficiency consists of achieving maximum output using minimum input on animal production. Improving feed efficiency is a valid strategy to increase food production without exhausting the natural resources of the planet. However, the biological mechanisms related to feed efficiency phenotype are not well understood yet. Ruminal activity is the major anaerobic biodigester that supplies energy for the animal, but only recently researchers have focused their attention on correlating rumen parameters to feed efficiency. Among these parameters, rumen microbial composition, gene expression of the rumen epithelium, rumen pH, metabolites, volatile fatty acid, methane production, feed digestibility, and microbial enzymes have been directly associated with feed efficiency. The rumen works as a stable and balanced ecosystem that influences the host, and modulating its microbial activity can be a useful strategy to mitigate emissions of pollutants into the environment (e.g., methane). This review provides an overview of all rumen parameters linked to feed efficiency in bovines and discusses how they can be better understood to improve animal productivity and sustainability.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as características agronômicas de cinco cultivares de milho (BRS 1055, BRS 3035, BRS 2022, SÃO JOSÉ and BRS CAIMBÉ) recomendados para produção de silagem no Agreste de Pernambuco. Para tanto foram determinadas as produtividades de matéria verde (PMV), de matéria seca (PMS), número de espigas (NE), altura de planta (AP), altura de inserção de espigas (AIE), população de plantas (PP), porcentagem de plantas quebradas (PQB) e as proporções de espiga (%EMS), colmo (%CMS) e folha (%FMS) na matéria verde e na matéria seca. Foi utilizado o delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos (cultivares) e cinco repetições. O cultivar SÃO JOSÉ destacou-se em relação à altura de planta, de inserção de espigas e porcentagem de plantas quebradas, apresentando média de 2,05m, 1,15m e 7,62%, respectivamente. Os cultivares BRS 3035, BRS 2022 e BRS CAIMBÉ obtiveram as maiores produções de matéria seca (9,68, 9,66 e 8,62 Mg ha-1, respectivamente). Os cultivares avaliados apresentaram bom equilíbrio na relação folha: colmo: espiga e estão de acordo com os resultados apresentados para cultivares de milho consagrados para produção de silagem em distintas regiões brasileiras. Em geral, os cultivares BRS 2022, BRS 3035, and BRS CAIMBÉ se destacaram em relação aos demais nas características agronômicas para produção de silagem na Serra da Borborema, que é uma zona semiárida do estado de Pernambuco., The objective of this study was to assess agronomic characteristics of five corn cultivars (BRS 1055, BRS 3035, BRS 2022, SÃO JOSÉ and BRS CAIMBÉ) recommended for silage production in Pernambuco State. At this productivity of green matter (PGM), productivity of dry matter (PDM), number of cornears (NCE), plant height (PH), ear insertion height (EIH), plant population (PP), percen tage of broken plants (PBP) and proportions of ear, stem, and leaf in the GM and DM were determined. The experiment was set up in a randomized block design with five treatments (cultivars) and five replications. SÃO JOSÉ was prominent for PH, EIH, and PBP, with mean values of 2.05 m, 1.15 m, and 7.62%, respectively. BRS 3035, BRS 2022, and BRS CAIMBÉ attained the highest PDM (9.68, 9.66, and 8.62 Mg ha-1, respectively). The evaluated cultivars had a good balance of leaf:stem:ear ratios and were in accordance with those exhibited by corn cultivars selected for silage production in different Brazilian regions. In general, the cultivars BRS 2022, BRS 3035, and BRS CAIMBÉ excelled in the most agronomic characteristics for silage production in the Borborema Plateau, a semiarid zone of Pernambuco State, when compared with the other cultivars.

The objective of this study was to assess agronomic characteristics of five corn cultivars (BRS 1055, BRS 3035, BRS 2022, SÃO JOSÉ and BRS CAIMBÉ) recommended for silage production in Pernambuco State. At this productivity of green matter (PGM), productivity of dry matter (PDM), number of corn ears (NCE), plant height (PH), ear insertion height (EIH), plant population (PP), percentage of broken plants (PBP) and proportions of ear, stem, and leaf in the GM and DM were determined. The experiment was set up in a randomized block design with five treatments (cultivars) and five replications. SÃO JOSÉ was prominent for PH, EIH, and PBP, with mean values of 2.05 m, 1.15 m, and 7.62%, respectively. BRS 3035, BRS 2022, and BRS CAIMBÉ attained the highest PDM (9.68, 9.66, and 8.62 Mg ha-1, respectively). The evaluated cultivars had a good balance of leaf:stem:ear ratios and were in accordance with those exhibited by corn cultivars selected for silage production in different Brazilian regions. In general, the cultivars BRS 2022, BRS 3035, and BRS CAIMBÉ excelled in the most agronomic characteristics for silage production in the Borborema Plateau, a semiarid zone of Pernambuco State, when compared with the other cultivars.

Productive performance for silage production of five forage sorghum genotypes (BRS Ponta Negra, BRS 655, BR 601, BRS 506 and BRS 610) was evaluated through the yield of dry matter, digestible dry matter, and fresh matter, plant height, percentage of lodged and broken plants, and anatomical fractions in Brazilian semi-arid region. BRS 506 and BRS Ponta Negra varieties achieved the highest fresh forage yields (89.4 and 76.2 ton. ha-1), and BRS 506, stood out for dry and digestible dry matter yield (25.2 and 12.1 ton. ha-1, respectively). Regarding the participation of the plant fractions, BRS 655 and BRS 610 genotypes showed a higher percentage of panicles (50.2 and 41.0% respectively), while BRS 506 stressed out the stem participation (84.6%), and BRS Ponta Negra, the leaf participation (17.9%). Among the materials evaluated for silage production, stood out the BRS 506 and BRS Ponta Negra genotypes. The results obtained for production of dry and digestible dry matter, and the ratio of plant fractions indicates the possible use of these genotypes on silage production in the Brazilian semiarid.

Fermentation profile and nutritional value of sisal co-product silage (SC) subjected to seven treatments (additives), were evaluated. The SC was ensiled in natura and added with: soy meal, urea, wheat meal, palm kernel cake, A. sisalana dust, licuri cake and cottonseed cake. Experimental silos with capacity for approximately 15 kg of silage, were used. The silos were opened 60 days after ensilage process. It was used a completely randomized design with three replications. The SC in natura present low values of dry mater (DM) 12.3% and the additives increased dry matter silages, exception for urea. The SC silage additivated with soybean meal (pH 4.9) and palm kernel cake (butyric acid = 0.07% DM) differed, respectively, for pH and butyric acid, compared with in natura SC silage (pH = 4.1 and butyric acid = 0.03% DM). The addition of soybean meal, urea, cottonseed meal, wheat bran and palm kernel, increased crude protein (CP) of in natura SC silage. The NDF in silage increased with addition of cottonseed meal or palm kernel cake (60.1 and 66.2% DM) in relation in natura SC silage (42.9% DM). The in natura and additivated silages of SC were considered as good or excellent quality.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the daily intake and total apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, gross energy, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, total and non-fibrouscarbohydrates, total digestible nutrients, energy intake and nitrogen balance of silages of six maize varieties with early orsuper early cycles recommended to Northeast Brazil. Twenty-four male castrated lambs were lodged in metabolic cages.A completely randomized design with six treatments and four replications was used, with means compared by Tukey test at5%. There were no differences among varieties for any of the evaluated variables regarding intake and apparent digestibility. Concerning the intake of digestible energy, metabolizable energy and the ratio content of digestible and metabolizableenergy, significant differences were observed between varieties and BRS Assum Preto showed highest values of metabolizableenergy (2.650,8 kcal/day). All of the treatments presented positive nitrogen balance and did not differ among themselves. The varieties asessed can be an additional option to the semiarid regions in Brazil.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the dry and fresh matter yield, height of ear insertion, number of ears per plant, plant height and the ear stem-1 leaf-1 ratio of six maize varieties recommended for the Brazilian semi-arid region (BR 5033 - Asa Branca, BR 5028 - São Francisco, BRS 4103, BRS Caatingueiro, BRS Assum Preto and Gurutuba) aiming at silage production. The experiment was carried out at Embrapa Semi-Arid, in a completely randomized design with six treatments and four replications. The varieties Gurutuba and BRS 4103 achieved the highest yields of fresh forage (38.7 and 40.0 t ha-1). These two varieties and BR 5028 - São Francisco showed the highest dry matter yield (16.0, 16.5 and 15.8 t ha -1, respectively). However, the variety BRS Caatingueiro presented a higher number of ears per plant (1.6) than those of the other varieties. Among the materials evaluated for silage production in the Submédio São Francisco river Valley, Gurutuba, BR 5028 - São Francisco and BRS 4103 stood out. The results obtained for dry matter production (t ha-1) and number of ears per plant, as well as the ear stem-1 leaf -1 ratio, indicate the possibility of using the evaluated varieties for silage production in the Brazilian semi-arid.