The cattle breeding in Brazil is almost entirely from pasture based systems, a fact that justifies the inconsistent production of meat and milk during the different seasons of the year. This inconsistency is manly derived from the productive seasonality of forages, and the ensiling of tropical grasses is a practice of great relevance for equating the balance between demand and forage supply. The use of grasses in the form of silage has advantages such as the extensive area availability, high productivity and greater management flexibility when compared to the traditional forages used for this purpose. However, problems related to the ensiling process, such high moisture content at the ideal cutting time, high buffering capacity, low content of soluble carbohydrates and undesirable fermentation profile contribute to the low use of these grasses in the form of silage. However, research results have shown a good quality of these silages, when the appropriate techniques are adopted during the ensiling process. This review aims to demonstrate the main advantages and hindrances for silage of tropical forage grasses.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of powder cinnamon in the diet of Japanese quails, regarding their performance and egg quality. A total of 360 quails, 18 weeks old, were distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments and six replicates of 12 animals. The experimental period lasted 84 days. The treatments were the inclusion of 0; 3.0; 6.0; 9.0 and 12.0 g kg-1 of cinnamon powder in the diet. The performance and quality of eggs produced were evaluated. A sensorial analysis of the eggs was carried out to evaluate the color of the egg yolk, the taste of the egg and the purchase intention. There was no significant effect on the performance and egg quality variables, except for the specific gravity and color of the yolk, which increased linearly. The evaluators presented a higher intention to purchase eggs from the treatment with 6g kg-1 of cinnamon addition in the diet. We concluded that the inclusion of 12.0 g kg-1 of cinnamon powder in the diet for laying quail does not affect the performance and the taste of the eggs, nevertheless, this level of inclusion provides an improvement in the specific gravity and color of the yolk.

This study aimed to determine the effects of digestible lysine levels in the diets of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) on performance, blood parameters and the expression of insulin-like growth factor I, and growth hormone receptor (GHR), apolipoprotein A-I (APOA-I), acetyl-CoA-carboxylase (ACC), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) genes. A total of 288 seven-day-old female Japanese quails were randomly assigned to one of three diets that contained 0.8%, 1.10%, or 1.40% digestible lysine. The birds were slaughtered at 42 days old, and relative gene expression was evaluated in the liver by qRT-PCR using the 2-ΔCT method. Lysine supplementation had no effect on weight gain and feed conversion. Abdominal fat was lower in birds supplemented with 0.8% digestible lysine than those supplemented with 1.10% and 1.40%. Increased total cholesterol and triglycerides were elevated in quails that received supplementation of 1.10% digestible lysine compared with the other diets. High density lipoproteins were decreased in birds that received 0.8% digestible lysine. Quails fed with 1.40% digestible lysine had greater expression of GHR and APOA-I than quails fed diets with 0.8 and 1.10% (P <0.05). The greatest expressions of ACC and FAS were observed in the liver of quails fed with 0.8% digestible lysine. The current results suggest that lysine supplementation in the pre-laying phase allows birds to deposit muscle mass to reach the optimal conformation and body fatness that provides an energetic reserve for the productive phase by modulating the expression of genes related to growth and lipid metabolism. Keywords: Coturnix coturnix japonica, growth, growth hormone, lipid synthesis, lipid metabolism

With the objective of determining the optimal digestible tryptophan to lysine ratios (Trp : Lys) in feed, 192 crossbred piglets were weaned at 26.3 ± 2.0 days, with initial weights of 8 ± 0.360 kg. The piglets were blocked by bodyweight and randomly allotted into six treatments, eight repetitions and four piglets per experimental unit. The treatments included five ratios of digestible Trp : Lys of 0.15, 0.17, 0.19, 0.21 and 0.23 with 1.26% digestible lysine and one positive control treatment (C+) with a Trp : Lys ratio of 0.19 and digestible lysine of 1.33%. The piglet’s performance and other characteristics were evaluated in phases: Phase I lasted from weaning up to Day 14 of the experiment, and Phase II lasted from weaning up to Day 21 of the experiment. The feed intake during Phase I, including the protein and fat deposition rates, the kidney relative weights and carcass yield were not influenced by the Trp : Lys ratios (P > 0.05). The Trp : Lys ratios had a linear effect on the liver and kidney absolute weights (P < 0.05). The ratio also had a linear effect (P < 0.01) on the bodyweight, the average daily gain, the gain : feed ratio of the piglets during Phases I and II and on the feed intake during Phase II (P < 0.05). The effect of the Trp : Lys ratios on the digestible lysine level (P = 0.04) demonstrated that digestible lysine was a limiting factor. The Linear Response Plateau model indicated that the best Trp : Lys ratio (P = 0.04) was 0.20 during Phase I and 0.22 (P < 0.01) during Phase II. Thus, the optimal digestible Trp : Lys ratio for piglets during the initial growth phase (from 26 to 47 days of age) is 0.22.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of supplementation on sun tolerance and physiological parameters of goats in grazing. Sixty goats (20 Alpine, 18 Anglo-Nubian and 22 crossbred Boer) primiparous and multiparous, with average body weight of 49.33 ± 1.41 kg were used in this experiment. The goats were kept in rotational pastures of Panicum maximum cv. Tobiatã and supplemented with two levels of concentrate: 300 (NS30) and 600 g/ kg (NS60) of the daily dry matter requirements, assessed from pre-breeding season to approximately 110 days of lactation. Visual observations of tolerance of goats in the sun were made monthly, each 15 minutes during the entire period that the animals remained in the pasture. The respiratory rate and rectal temperature were evaluated monthly, being measured at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Temperature and air relative humidity were recorded every hour, on the days of data collection. Breed influenced the respiratory rate and rectal temperature at 1 p.m., and the crossbred Boer animals showed more appropriate physiological parameters, leading to greater heat tolerance. There was no influence of treatment on the physiological variables of the goats. The Anglo-Nubian goats showed higher resistance to direct sun radiation, staying longer in the sun, being the most suitable for the production system in pasture.

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