In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of cutting height (25 or 40 cm above ground) and bacterial inoculation (a combined inoculant of Lactobacillus plantarum and Propionibacterium acidipropionici) on the chemical and microbial compositions, fermentative profile, and aerobic stability of whole-plant corn silage and nitrogen balance, intake, and apparent nutrient digestibility by sheep. To evaluate silage characteristics and sheep metabolism, we performed analyses based on a completely randomized block design with a 2×2 factorial arrangement (two cutting heights, with or without bacterial inoculant). We evaluated the chemical and microbial compositions, pH, fermentation end-products, and aerobic stability of silage. To examine nutrient digestibility of silage, we used 24 male sheep over a 21-day period. We found that the aerobic stability did not differ among the silages. Sheep fed silages produced from corn harvested at 40 cm had increased intakes of crude protein, non-fiber carbohydrate, and total digestible nutrients, whereas the non-fiber carbohydrate intake of inoculated corn silages was found to be higher than that of uninoculated silage. Furthermore, the amounts of nitrogen retained by sheep fed silage produced from corn harvested at 40 cm were higher than those of sheep fed silage produced from corn harvested at 25 cm. Collectively, our findings indicate that, despite the observed effects, a difference of 15 cm in cutting height results in relatively small changes in the chemical composition of corn silage and a limited effect on the nutrient intake and nitrogen balance of animals fed this silage. Moreover, although bacterial inoculation promotes an efficient fermentation, it has no marked effects on the aerobic stability of silage.
We aimed to determine the effect of relocation of whole-plant corn silage (WPCS) with different fermentation profiles on ingestive behavior of lambs. Twenty-four male Santa Inês lambs, were used in a completely randomized block design based on initial body weight (17.5 ± 1.8 kg) for the following treatments: CS: WPCS (not inoculated and not relocated); R-12h: WPCS relocated for 12h; IR-12h: WPCS inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum and relocated for 12h; and R-24h: WPCS not inoculated and relocated for 24h. Ingestive behavior was observed as continuous (feeding, ruminating, and idling) and specific (urination, defecation, and water and salt access frequency) activities for 48h (3h intervals for a total of eight periods in 24h). The behavioral activities were affected only by periods (p = 0.0001). Feeding peaks was high at 8:00–11:00am (54.2%) and 5:00-8:00pm (54.9%) in compare to ruminating and idling at the same period. Rumination time was intense at night, at 63.7% (2:00–5:00am) and 69.7% (5:00–8:00am). Idling time (49.7%) was long after silage supply. The specific activities were intense during the morning periods. Supply of WPCS relocated up to 24h did not alter the ingestive behavior.
The aim of this study was to assess the nutritive value of snaplage as affected by hybrid and maturity. Five corn hybrids were grown at 70,000 plants/ha on three replicate plots (5 x 5 m) in each of three blocks (21°14′ S, 44°58′ W). Hybrids were harvested at target maturity stage of 40, 35, and 30% of moisture (M1, M2, and M3, respectively) by removing ears from two rows in each plot. Ears were weighed and split into two subsamples. One was split into kernels, husk and shank, and cob, weighed and oven-dried. The second subsample was processed and ensiled in 5-L jars for 90 d. Measurements included dry matter (DM) yield, nutrient analysis and in vitro digestion of neutral detergent fiber (NDF-D, 48h). The experimental design was randomized complete blocks using a mixed repeated-measures model. Data were analyzed using MIXED procedure of SAS, followed by a Tukey test at P ≤ 0.05. Mean moisture at harvest were 42.9, 36.8, and 31.3% for M1, M2, and M3, respectively. The DM yield was unaffected by hybrid and maturity (on average = 19 t/ha). The NDF concentration of husk increased at each maturity (81.5, 83.4, and 83.7% DM, respectively) and NDF-D decreased (45.5, 43.4, and 41.4%, respectively). The NDF concentration of cob increased at each maturity (76.0, 79.5, and 81.6% DM, respectively) and NDF-D decreased (47.3, 43.7, and 38.4%, respectively). Among hybrids, NDF concentration of snaplage varied from 20.9 to 24.5% DM (P = 0.014). The NDF-D of snaplage decreased at each maturity (Figure 1; P = 0.001). The starch concentration of snaplage increased from M1 to M2, but no difference between M2 and M3 (P = 0.009). Snaplage has a wide harvest window; however, changes in the nutritive value of snaplage as affected by maturity should be considered when formulating diets.
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