This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of chemical and physical treatments on the chemical composition and in vitro dry matter (IVDMD) and organic matter (IVOMD) digestibility of corn stover. Seventy five bales of corn stover (25 ground, 25 chopped, and 25 whole) were treated with 4% ammonia (NH3) of the dry matter weight. A completely randomized design with factorial array 2x3 (0.0 and 4.0% NH3 and three particle sizes). Results indicated that dry matter content decreased as particle size increased. Protein content increased by 110, 116 and 91 units for the ground, chopped and whole corn stover treated with NH3 with respect to the control. Ether extract increased by 7.3% for corn stover treated with NH3. Similar trend was followed by the ash content which increased by 6.0% for corn stover treated with NH3. Ammonia treatment affected negatively the neutral detergent fiber values by 20.0, 7.0 and 7.7% for ground, chopped and whole corn stover, respectively. Similar results were found for acid detergent fiber with values of 7.17, 12.53 and 11.42% lower for ground, chopped and whole corn stover, respectively; than those found for the untreated material. IVDMD and IVOMD were increased with NH3 treatment.
This research was conducted to evaluate 16 corn varieties cultivated for silage. The evaluation included: fodder production of green and dry matter, protein content and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and organic matter digestibility (IVOMD). A completely randomized design was used for statistical analysis and Tukey mean separation was used when appropiated. Fodder production as kg/ha was higher for AN446 (114028), AN445 (110993), and AN430R (106389). Dry matter fodder production was higher for AN447 (29270), AN461 (28026), VS373 (25434). Protein content (%) was higher for G4657 (7.58), AN388 (7.28), and AN448 (7.17). The best values for IVDMD (%)were for G1990 (69.14), AN446 (63.78), and AN430RR (63.50), while the higher values for IVOMD (%) were for G1990 (71.78), AN446 (65.20), and AN447 (65.12). Varieties AN446 and AN447 appeared frequently with the best values in the parameters evaluated, therefore, new research has to be performed with these varieties to confirm results found in this study.
The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary-induced insulin enhancement during the late luteal phase on subsequent fertility of gilts. Fifty-two littermate cyclic gilts were subjected to dietary treatments where two energy sources were tested: corn starch (T1) and soybean oil (T2). The experimental diets were supposed to provide similar amounts of dietary energy, but from different sources. Gilts were fed ad libitum, starting day 8 of the estrous cycle, until the next standing heat. Blood sampling was performed in a subgroup of 20 gilts on days 14 and 21 of the cycle for analyses of glucose and insulin, and after ovulation detection until 18 h after ovulation for progesterone. All gilts were slaughtered on day 28 of pregnancy and the reproductive tracts recovered for further analysis. T1 gilts showed higher postprandial insulin peak on days 14 and 21 and lower glucose levels 4 h after feeding on day 14 ( P < 0.05), however, there were no treatment effects on plasma progesterone concentrations. Dietary energy sources did not affect average daily feed intake, body weight and backfat on day 28 of pregnancy. Estrous cycle length, estrus duration and time of ovulation were not affected by previous nutritional treatments either. T1 gilts showed higher ovulation rates, number of embryos, embryo weight and placental weight ( P < 0.05). There were no treatment effects on pregnancy rate, embryo survival rate and volume of amniotic fluid. A positive correlation between progesterone concentration 18 h after ovulation and ovulation rate was observed (r = 0.75; P < 0.01). These results suggest that it is possible to manipulate dietary insulin response in cyclic gilts and, thus, improve reproductive efficiency when feeding starch as the main energy source during the late luteal and follicular phases of the cycle.
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