The objective of this work was to evaluate the nutritional value of silages from tall-sized and dwarf elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) genotypes, intercropped or not with butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea). The experiment was performed in randomized complete blocks, in a 4x2 factorial arrangement (four genotypes × two cropping systems). The genotypes intercropped or not with butterfly pea were: IRI-381 and Elephant B, tall sized; and Taiwan A-146 2.37 and Mott, dwarf. Forage was harvested 60 days after regrowth. In the silage from Mott grass intercropped with butterfly pea, lower contents of lignin (78.1 g kg-1), neutral detergent fiber (636.0 g kg-1), and neutral detergent insoluble protein (13.15 g kg-1), besides a greater dry matter recovery (873.3 g kg-1), were observed. The silage from Taiwan A-146 2.37 intercropped with the legume showed a greater crude protein content (136.1 g kg-1). In both silages, the ammonia nitrogen contents were quite reduced (26.4 g kg-1). However, greater residual water-soluble carbohydrate contents were observed in the silages from the intercrop (1.85 mg g-1) and from the Mott grass monocrop (1.51 mg g-1). Moreover, there was a lower in vitro dry matter digestibility (676.7 g kg-1) for the silage from the intercrop. Dwarf genotypes increase the nutritional value of elephant grass silage, compared with the tall-sized ones. Intercropping with butterfly pea improves silage fermentation characteristics, despite reducing its digestibility. Therefore, the ensilage of dwarf Mott elephant grass intercropped with butterfly pea shows more promising results.

The aim of this study was to evaluate nutritional value, fermentation losses, and aerobic stability of elephant grass silage (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) treated with exogenous fibrolytic enzymes. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four replicates (experimental silos) and five levels of fibrolytic enzymes (0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0%). For this, the elephant grass was ensiled at 70 days of age in plastic buckets with 20L capacity. Silos were opened 60 days after sealing. Analyses were made for chemical composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), effluent losses (EL), gas losses (GL) and dry matter recovery (DMR), as well as the aerobic stability of the silage. Data were analyzed with PROC REG of SAS® University, at 5% probability. There was an increase in IVDMD content (p < 0.0001) and reduction in NDF and ADF contents (p < 0.0001) according to enzyme levels. These results were related to the increase in the degradation of fiber fractions. There were higher EL (p = 0.0062) as a function of enzyme levels and aerobic deterioration after silo opening, at all levels tested. Thus, it can be concluded that the exogenous fibrolytic enzymes change the chemical composition of elephant grass silage, and increase its digestibility and nutritional value. Moreover, when used alone as an additive, fibrolytic enzymes are not able to recover all dry matter of this silage (with effluent and gas losses), and are not able to maintain aerobic stability in the first hours after opening the silos.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the divergence among genotypes of Desmanthus sp. regarding morphological, productive, and qualitative characteristics, as well as to estimate the number of observations necessary to predict the real value of these characteristics. The experiment was conducted in the semiarid of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, using 26 genotypes of Desmanthus sp. from different locations in the region. Seven evaluations were carried out from July 2013 to July 2014. Tocher’s grouping method and standardized average Euclidean distance were used. The coefficients of repeatability (r) and determination (R2) were estimated using two models of the analysis of variance, principal components based on the correlation or covariance matrix, and structural analysis based on the correlation matrix. The variables with the greatest weights were stem diameter, leaf area index, and forage yield, with frequencies of 22.05, 17.57, and 14.58%, respectively. Morphological, productive, and qualitative variability was observed among the genotypes of Desmanthus sp. All characteristics presented r and R2 of high magnitude in the methods of analysis. Up to four evaluation cycles are required to predict (R2=95%) the real value of stem diameter, peduncle length, plant height, leaf length and width, number of leaves, and pod length.

The use of legumes is an important strategy for animal feeding, especially during the dry season. The aim was to evaluate the effect of planting densities (40,000; 15,625 and 10,000 plants ha−1) and harvest heights (20 and 40 cm) on the morphology, accumulation and survival of Desmanthus (Desmanthus pernambucanus [L.] Thellung), cultivated in subhumid tropical region, as well as to estimate the repeatability of the evaluated characteristics and the optimal number of measurements. The treatments were randomized in blocks, with subdivided plots and four replicates. Planting densities were evaluated in the plots and the harvest heights in the subplots. Eight harvests were carried out with an interval of 84 days. Morphological and productive characteristics and survival were evaluated. Cultivation under density of 40,000 plants ha−1 produced taller plants, with higher leaf area index (LAI = 0.98), light interception (LI = 49%), individual accumulations (18.8 g DM plant−1) and by area (576.5 kg DM ha−1 harvest−1), although resulting in reduced plant stand (66%). Harvest heights do not affect accumulation and survival. It is possible to reduce the number of measurements for stem diameter, number of leaflets per leaf (R2 = 95%), plant height, canopy diameter, LAI, LI, leaf length and width, number of leaves per branch, branch diameter and LBR (R2 = 90%), optimizing resources for future research. Desmanthus has potential for use in protein banks, being harvested in the rainy season, conserved and supplied in addition to animals, but plant growth is minimal during the dry season under rainfed conditions.

A análise dos alimentos constitui um dos principais fatores observados na nutrição animal. A forma mais eficiente de identificação do teor de nutrientes dos alimentos, é através da composição química e valor nutritivo. Na quantificação analítica do valor nutritivo dos alimentos, os principais parâmetros utilizados são: matéria seca (MS), métodos de secagem em estufa, forno de micro-ondas e destilação com tolueno (silagens); matéria mineral (MM), método da incineração em altas temperaturas em mufla; proteína bruta (PB) ou nitrogênio total (N), método Dumas, Linder, Nessler, e Kjeldahl (padrão);  fibra detergente neutro (FDN) e fibra detergente ácido (FDA), método Van Soest, com adaptações de equipamentos; lignina, método hidrólise ácida (padrão), com permanganato de potássio, Klason, e lignina solúvel em brometo de acetila; e digestibilidade, métodos in vivo, in situ, in vitro, e marcadores de digestibilidade. No entanto, estes podem ser onerosos, caros e demandar bastante tempo. Como método alternativo e indireto, tem-se a espectrometria de reflectância no infravermelho próximo (NIRS), que possui vantagens com custos, rapidez, usa um pequeno número de amostras e amostragem não destrutiva, é multiparamétrico, e não poluente. Considerando as diversas variáveis que podem ser utilizadas para determinação do valor nutritivo dos alimentos para ruminantes e a gama dos métodos analíticos disponíveis na literatura, cabe ao observador adotar aquele que melhor convém ao objetivo proposto, levando em consideração o tipo de alimento, custo, disponibilidade de reagentes, materiais, equipamentos, e animais à disposição. A metodologia adotada foi um estudo descritivo, resultando em uma revisão bibliográfica embasada em artigos científicos mundiais.

Visando alternativas para minimizar os problemas gerados pela salinidade, cada vez mais comum no mundo, é necessário entender o crescimento e o desenvolvimento das plantas em ambientes salinos. O objetivo foi caracterizar a produção de biomassa e determinar a composição químico-bromatológica de plantas de Desmanthus pernambucanus (L.) Thellung (jureminha) submetidas à salinidade. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com 5 tratamentos (0, 25, 50, 75 e 100 mM NaCl) e 6 repetições. Em cada 54 dias foram realizados cortes separados em frações como caule, folha e vagem. Durante outubro e novembro, plantas submetidas a 100 mM de NaCl apresentaram 83 e 100% de mortalidade, respectivamente, e apenas 50% das plantas submetidas a 75 mM sobreviveram até novembro. Em agosto, as plantas na fase de enchimento de grãos apresentaram as seguintes alterações: aumento da produção de biomassa de vagens (148%), compostos fibrosos (FDN: 11 e 9% para folhas e caules, respectivamente) e prolina nos caules (62%); redução na relação folha/caule (33%), proteína bruta (16 e 14% para folhas e caules, respectivamente) e carboidratos solúveis (28 e 17% para folhas e caules, respectivamente). A fase de enchimento de grãos potencializou os efeitos nocivos da salinidade, em que houve aumento de Na+ e redução de K+ nos tecidos vegetais. A salinidade afeta negativamente a produção e composição químico-bromatológica da forragem de jureminha.