The objective of the present study was to evaluate the chemical composition of elephant grass silages supplemented with different levels dried cashew bagasse (DCB). Our experiment used a randomized design replicated four times, each replicate consisting of the following five treatments: 100% elephant grass; 95% elephant grass + 5% DCB; 90% elephant grass + 10% DCB; 85% elephant grass + 15% DCB; and 80% elephant grass + 20% DCB. The elephant grass was cut manually to a residual height of 5 cm at 80 days of age, and cashew bagasse was obtained from the processing of cashew stalks used in fruit pulp manufacturing in Mossoró/RN. Plastic buckets were used as experimental silos, and 90 days after ensiling the experimental silos were opened and the contents analyzed. The addition of dried cashew bagasse to silage linearly increased the levels of dried matter and crude protein by 0.59% and 0.13%, respectively, for each 1% addition (P < 0.05). The neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent content of the silages was reduced by 0.22% and 0.09%, respectively, for each 1% addition of the bagasse. The total carbohydrate content was not influenced by the bagasse addition (P > 0.05), and averaged 82.29%. The levels of nonfiber carbohydrate showed linear growth (P < 0.05) as the dehydrated cashew bagasse was added, and pH and ammoniacal nitrogen levels were reduced. The addition of the dehydrated bagasse to elephant grass silage improves its chemical composition, and it can be effectively added up to the level of 20%. Key words: Additive. Fermentation. By-product. ResumoObjetivou-se com o presente estudo avaliar a composição químico-bromatológica das silagens de capim-elefante com diferentes níveis de adição de bagaço de caju desidratado. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com cinco tratamentos que foram compostos pelas seguintes proporções: 100% capim-elefante; 95% capim-elefante + 5% de DCB; 90% capimelefante + 10% DCB; 85% capim-elefante + 15% de DCB e 80% de capim-elefante + 20% de DCB, com base na matéria natural e quatro repetições. O capim-elefante foi cortado manualmente a uma altura residual de 5 cm com 80 dias de idade, e bagaço de caju foi obtido do processamento dos pedúnculos de caju utilizados na fabricação de polpa de frutas em Mossoró/RN. Foram utilizados baldes plásticos como silos experimentais e 90 dias após a ensilagem os silos experimentais foram abertos e realizados análises. Observou-se que a adição do bagaço de caju desidratado na ensilagem aumentou linearmente (P < 0,05) os teores de matéria seca e proteína bruta, em 0,59 e 0,13 pontos percentuais respectivamente para cada 1% de adição. Os teores de fibra em detergente neutro e fibra em detergente ácido das silagens foram reduzidos em 0,22 e 0,09 pontos percentuais respectivamente para cada 1% de adição do bagaço de caju desidratado na ensilagem. Os teores de carboidratos totais não sofreram influencia (P > 0,05) com a adição do subproduto, com média de 82,29%. Os teores de carboidratos não fibrosos foram influ...

The objective was to evaluate the intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance, and metabolic profile of lactating goats fed diets containing detoxified castor cake (DCC) by alkaline solutions during 150 days of lactation. Twenty-four Saanen and Anglo Nubian goats, approximately 17 months old (first lactation) and body weights of 43±2.97 kg, were distributed in a completely randomized block design with eight replicates. Treatments consisted of three diets, one containing soybean meal (SM) and two others containing DCC, with calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH) 2 ] and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The diets significantly influenced the intake of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and total digestible nutrients (TDN). We observed a higher dry matter intake (DMI) in goats fed SM, similar to that of goats fed Ca(OH) 2 DCC. Intake of nutrients followed the same trend as DMI. There was no significant effect of diets on digestibility of DM, CP, EE, and NDF; however, we observed a significant effect of diets on the levels of nitrogen intake (NI) and urinary nitrogen (UN). The goats fed SM consumed a larger quantity of nitrogen, but all had the same nitrogen balance, indicating that goats fed DCC were more efficient. The diets did not influence renal and hepatic parameters. Inclusion of castor cake in the diet of goats in confinement is an attractive option, considering that goats fed DCC present lower feed conversion, and its use does not cause hepatic and renal alterations, suggesting that SM can be completely replaced.

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RuminantsFull-length research article Detoxified castor in the diets of dairy goats: II. Lactation curves, composition, and fatty acid profile of milk ABSTRACT -We aimed to evaluate the lactation curves, composition, and fatty acid profile of milk of lactating goats fed diets containing detoxified castor cake (DCC) by alkaline solutions during 150 days of lactation. Twenty-four Saanen and Anglo Nubian goats, approximately 17 months old (first lactation) and 43±2.97 kg body weight, were distributed in a completely randomized block design with eight replicates. Treatments consisted of three diets, one containing soybean meal (SM) and two others containing DCC, with calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH) 2 ] and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The lactation curves showed greater persistence of lactation in Saanen goats. There were significant effects of diets on the profile of some fatty acids present in the milk. We observed that the NaOH DCC diet led to an increase in desirable fatty acid content. Both Ca(OH) 2 and NaOH DCC diets led to decreased milk production during the lactation period; however, the NaOH DCC diet led to high productive efficiency. Furthermore, NaOH DCC did not negatively affect the desirable fatty acid content, unlike Ca(OH) 2 DCC. Diets formulated with detoxified castor decrease the production of milk from goats during lactation phase. It should be emphasized that milk produced by goats fed DCC diets does not contain unwanted waste.

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RESUMENEl correcto manejo y uso adecuado de los pastos deben tener como objetivo una mayor producción y eficiencia de uso. En este sentido, las tecnologías de fácil acceso y uso se han estudiado cada vez más. En geotecnologías de teledetección, mediante el uso de índices de vegetación, es posible determinar varios parámetros agronómicos. Algunos sensores dan como resultado el NDVI (Índice de vegetación de diferencia normalizada), que tiene una excelente correlación lineal con la biomasa, por ejemplo. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la relación entre las variables altura del dosel (AD), densidad de la población de macollos (DPP) y biomasa total de forraje (BFT) de pasto búffel (Pennisetum ciliare cv. Molopo), pasto corriente (Urochloa mosambicensis) y pasto massai (Megathyrsus maximus cv. Massai) en relación al NDVI generado por el sensor terrestre GreenSeeker. El experimento se realizó en la Unidad de Docencia, Investigación y Extensión (UEPE) del Instituto Federal de Educación, Ciencia y Tecnología de Ceará (IFCE), ubicado en el Perímetro Irrigado Jaguaribe-Apodi, en Chapada do Apodi, en Limoeiro do Norte -CE, durante el período de febrero a mayo de 2019. Se analizaron la altura del dosel (cm), la densidad de la población de macollos (perf.m²), la biomasa total de forrajes (kg.ha -1 ) y el NDVI. Los datos se sometieron a análisis de regresión mediante el software SISVAR versión 5.6 y se calcularon los coeficientes de correlación de Pearson. Se pudo observar que las correlaciones entre las variables DPP, AD y BFT en relación al NDVI se explican mejor mediante funciones polinomiales. Las variables que más afectan las lecturas del NDVI, en orden creciente de importancia, son DPP, BFT y AD. Al calcular los coeficientes de correlación de Pearson, fue posible identificar los parámetros que mejor se correlacionaron con los índices de vegetación, a saber, la altura del dosel y la biomasa total de forraje. El uso de sensores ópticos activos tiene un gran potencial para estimar el potencial productivo de las gramíneas.

The objective was to evaluate the structural and production characteristics of Opuntia stricta (Cactus pear Orelha de Elefante Mexicana) and Nopalea cochenillifera (Cactus pear Miúda) under different arrangements of caatinga trees. The study was carried out at the Teaching, Research and Extension Unit (UEPE) of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Ceará (IFCE), Limoeiro do Norte Campus, state of Ceará. The experimental area consisted of nine systems, arranged in strips of Caatinga trees (woody component), with dimensions of 6.0 x 100.0 m, directed in the north-south direction. Among the tree strips, Opuntia stricta and Nopalea cochenillifera were implanted in plots, according to the following treatments: cactus pear grown under 46.15% woody cover (ICS46; 1,418 trees per hectare), cactus pear grown under 30.00% woody cover (ICS30; 925 trees per hectare) and cactus pear grown under 17.64% woody cover (ICS18; 524 trees per hectare). The experimental design was completely randomized, in a split-plot arrangement. Mean canopy height (H), number of cladodes per linear meter (NC) and total forage biomass (TFB) were evaluated, considering the east, center and west positions. The lowest H and NC was found for Nopalea cochenillifera in the east position. Nopalea cochenillifera and Opuntia stricta cultivated in system ICS46 had the lowest TFB in the center position. The silvopastoral systems ICS30 and ICS18 can be adopted without negatively affecting the structural and productive characteristics of cactus pears Opuntia stricta and Nopalea cochenillifera.