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This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of whey permeate, bacterial inoculant and periods of fermentation and aerobic exposure on some characteristics of Pennisetum purpureum silage. The experimental design was completely randomized with three factors: whey permeate (0, 25, 50 and 100 g kg−1 of fresh matter—FM), bacterial inoculation with Lactobacillus buchneri (inoculated or non-inoculated), and periods of fermentation (from 1 to 35 days) or aerobic exposure (from 0 to 15 days). Cumulative losses increased sharply up to 14 days, but relative losses persisted up to 21 days in silage with 100 g kg FM−1 of permeate. The addition of permeate reduced neutral detergent fiber by between 16.2% (non-inoculated) and 17% (inoculated), and increased non-fibrous carbohydrates by between 66% (non-inoculated) and 79.3% (inoculated) during fermentation. Carbohydrate fractions followed opposing trends with air exposure, particularly up to 9 days of aerobiosis. Around 9 days of aerobiosis, the pH had the greatest increase (3.7 to 6.8), with NH3-N increasing after that time. L. buchneri increased aerobic stabilization, but higher levels of permeate increased temperature changes. Permeate must be used at 25 g kg−1 of fresh matter to increase the energy status of Elephant grass silage while providing substrate for fermentation and reducing fermentative losses. The best performance of this level of permeate should also be associated to L. buchneri for effective preservation of nutrients and to keep the aerobic stability of high-moisture Elephant grass silage, being indicated to improve silage conservation.

SUMMARY This study evaluated the addition of inoculants on the aerobic stability, nutritional value, and fermentation and microbiological profiles of white oat silages (Avena sativa L.). The trial was carried out in a completely randomized design with three treatments and six replicates. The treatments consisted of three ensiling approaches: oat (O); oat with homofermentative bacterial inoculant (OB); and oat with bacterial-enzymatic inoculant (OBE). The aerobic stability was 9 days for silage O and 14 days for silages OB and OBE. The non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) decreased (16.67 to 14.05% DM) and the crude protein (CP) did not change (mean of 8.98% DM) during the aerobic exposure in all silages. The buffering capacity (BC) decreased, while pH and the ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) increased during the aerobic exposure in all silages. Independent from the aerobic exposure period, BC of OBE silage was higher than O silage (29.67 vs. 24.80 meq/100 g DM). Lactic acid bacteria count in OB silage (7.83 log CFU/g) was higher than in O and OBE silages (5.24 log CFU/g, on average). Also, the OB silage showed high enterobacteria count compared to OBE silage (2.49 vs. 0.76 log CFU/g). The inoculation with Lactobacillus plantarum, Pediococcus acidilactici and amylase enzyme at the dose of 1×105 CFU/g does not improve the aerobic stability, nutritional value and the fermentation and microbiological profiles of oat silages. RESUMO Objetivou-se através deste estudo avaliar o efeito da adição de inoculantes sobre a estabilidade aeróbia, a composição químico-bromatológica, o padrão de fermentação e o perfil microbiológico da silagem de aveia branca (Avena sativa L.). O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado, com três tratamentos e seis repetições. Os tratamentos foram três formas de ensilagem: aveia (A); aveia com inoculante bacteriano homofermentativo (AB); e aveia com inoculante bacteriano-enzimático (ABE). A estabilidade aeróbia foi de 9 dias para a silagem A e 14 dias para as silagens AB e ABE. O teor de carboidratos não fibrosos (CNF) diminuiu (16,67 para 14,05% MS), enquanto o teor de proteína bruta (PB) não foi alterado (média de 8,98% MS) no período de aerobiose em todas as silagens. A capacidade tampão (CT) diminuiu, enquanto o pH e a concentração de nitrogênio amoniacal (N-NH3) aumentaram no período de aerobiose em todas as silagens. Independente do período de aerobiose, a CT da silagem ABE foi maior do que a silagem A (29,67 vs. 24,80 meq/100 g MS). A contagem de bactérias ácido láticas na silagem AB (7,83 log UFC/g) foi maior do que nas silagens A e ABE (média de 5,24 log UFC/g). A silagem AB apresentou maior contagem de enterobactérias que a silagem ABE (2,49 vs. 0,76 log UFC/g). A inoculação com bactérias homofermentativas e com a enzima amilase na dose de 1×105 UFC/g não melhora a estabilidade aeróbia, a composição químico-bromatológica, o padrão de fermentação e o perfil microbiológico da silagem de aveia branca.

Measurement and evaluation of the factors that may influence milk composition has been shown to determine the actual gains in milk quality and quantity. The study was conducted to evaluate the influence of daily milk yield on the physicochemical composition of milk and analyze the correlations between milk yield and somatic cell count (SCC) on the fat, protein, lactose, total solids and nitrogen urea contents in Holstein cows’ milk. A total of 3,544 data collected from 467 cows were evaluated. In the analysis, the animals were divided into groups – I (5-15 kg milk day-1), II (15-30 kg milk day-1) and III (above 30 kg milk day -1) – based on their daily production. Animals of Group I had higher SCC (P < 0.05) and fat and protein percentage when compared with Group III. However, the lactose content was lower (P < 0.05) than Group II and III. No correlation (P > 0.05) between SCC and fat, protein and total solids contents was observed. A lower milk yield is significantly associated with a higher SCC, which, besides hindering the quality of milk, compromises the cow's udder health.

Avaliou-se o desempenho e as características de carcaça de tourinhos mestiços confinados, alimentados com dieta contendo diferentes níveis de silagem de bagaço de laranja (0, 20, 40 ou 60%) substituindo a silagem de sorgo (% da matéria seca). Foram utilizados 36 animais distribuídos em baias individuais, em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com nove repetições. A ingestão de matéria seca (IMS) apresentou incremento quadrático (P0,05), apresentando valor médio de 6,52. As características de carcaça não sofreram alterações (P>0,05) em função dos tratamentos. Foram observados valores médios de 298,37 kg; 13,50; 135,14 cm; 26,35 cm; 72,17 cm²; 5,26 mm; 5,81; 64,54%; 21,05%; 15,09%, para peso de carcaça quente, conformação, comprimento de carcaça, espessura de coxão, área de olho de lombo, espessura de gordura subcutânea, marmoreio e porcentagens de músculo, gordura e osso, respectivamente. A silagem de bagaço de laranja pode substituir a silagem de sorgo em até 40% da matéria seca, mas o nível de 24,5% é o que proporcionou máximo desempenho dos animais. The study was conducted to evaluate the performance and carcass characteristics of crossbred young bulls in feedlot, fed rations with different levels of orange peel silage (0; 20; 40 or 60%) replacing the sorghum silage (% of dry matter). Thirty-six animals were allotted to individual pens, in a completely randomized design, with four treatments and nine replicates. The dry matter intake (DMI) showed a quadratic increase according to the level of orange peel silage in the diet. Average daily gain (ADG) was also quadratic behavior due to the increase of orange peel silage. It is estimated that level that allows maximum ADG is 24.50%. However, the ADG of the animals receiving diets with 20% of orange peel silage did not differ from those receiving sorghum silage or 40% of orange peel silage. The feed conversion ratio was not significantly affected (P>0.05) by treatments, with an average value of 6.52. Carcass characteristics were not altered (P>0.05) by treatments. Average values of 298.37 kg; 13.50; 135.14 cm; 26.35 cm; 72.17 cm²; 5.26 mm; 5.81; 64.54%; 21.05%; 15.09%, were observed for hot carcass weight, carcass conformation, carcass length, cushion thickness, rib eye area, subcutaneous fat thickness, marbling, and muscle, fat and bone yield, respectively. Orange peel silage can replace up to 40% of sorghum silage dry matter, with the same daily gain and without affecting carcass characteristics.

Forages ensiled with high moisture content produce increased quantities of effluents, losing highly digestible nutrients (McDonald 1981). The silage making process usually involves gaseous and effluent losses, which are related to the moisture content of the plants used for forage conservation. The additions of material with high dry matter content and material to improve the fermen-tation pattern have been strategies to reduce these effluent losses. Whole maize plants and maize grain, because of their physical and fermentative characteris-tics, are possible materials to reduce the losses in the process (Anaya-Ortega et al. 2009). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the addition of whole plant maize and maize grain to Pioneiro grass at ensiling as a way to reduce dry matter (DM) losses.

Pioneiro grass (Pennisetum purpureum) has gained importance in silage production mainly due to its robust habit, perenniality and high yield capacity, although its typically high moisture content may reduce its potential for conservation as silage. High moisture content at the time of ensilage has resulted in increased losses as gases and effluents (Balsalobre et al. 2001; Nussio 2005). Despite these losses, the high yields of tropical forages still justify their use and study as roughage and silage in ruminant nutrition. However, maize silage is still used widely across different systems because of its favorable natural characteristics for fermentation, resulting in production of high quality silage (Anaya-Ortega et al. 2009). An experiment was conducted to evaluate the individual and combined effects of maize and Pioneiro grass on the total losses from the silages during the ensiling process.