-This study evaluated the effect of different cutting intensities and years of harvesting on the morphological characteristics and production of fresh (FMP) and dry matter (DMP) of cactus pear cv. Gigante (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill) under conditions of irrigation, high planting density and fertilization, with 12 months of regrowth. The experimental was completely randomized in a factorial design (3 × 2) with 12 replicates. The treatments were three cutting intensities (preserving the mother cladode (PMC), primary cladodes (PPC), or secondary cladodes (PSC)), and two years of harvesting. The soil was classified as Cambisol Haplicum and the irrigation water was classified as C4S1 (EC 5.25 dS.m -1 ) density of 50,000 plants ha -1 . The research evaluated plant height, number of cladodes per plant (NCP), length, width, perimeter and thickness of the cladodes, cladode area (CA), cladode area index (CAI), FMP and DMP. There was no significant interaction between treatments (P > 0.05) for the variables plant height, NCP, CAI and FMP. The variables related to cladode morphology showed a significant interaction (P < 0.05). The treatment PSC resulted in a greater DMP (P < 0.05) with a mean of 27.17 Mg ha -1 yr -1 , compared to PPC (18.58 Mg ha -1 yr -1 ) or PMC (11.78 Mg ha -1 yr -1 ). The treatment PSC promoted greater NCP and forage productivity at harvest and can be considered as a management practice for the sustainability of cactus pear cv. Gigante under irrigation. The more important morphological characteristics were also influenced by the lower cutting intensities.

Resumo -Objetivou-se avaliar a degradação in situ da matéria seca, proteína bruta e fibra em detergente neutro de silagens de capim-elefante contendo cinco níveis (0; 4; 8; 12 e 16%, com base na matéria natural da massa ensilada) de inclusão do subproduto do grão do urucum (SGU). O delineamento utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado em parcelas subdivididas, sendo os níveis de adição às parcelas e os tempos de incubação as subparcelas, com quatro repetições. Para a confecção da silagem, foi utilizado capim-elefante cortado aos 70 dias de crescimento e misturado ao subproduto, armazenado em 20 tambores. As amostras foram pré-secas, moídas em moinho, com peneira de 5 mm, colocado 3 g de amostra em sacos de náilon, para incubação no rúmen por 0; 6; 48 e 96 horas em 2 ovinos sem padrão racial definido, machos e castrados. Observou-se um aumento no desaparecimento da MS até o nível 13,37% de adição de SGU à ensilagem de capim-elefante para 48 horas de incubação. Para a FDN o desaparecimento com 96 horas de incubação aumentou até 16% de adição. Para o conjunto de parâmetros de degradação estudado, observou-se que o nível de inclusão de 16% do SGU apresentou maiores valores para a degradabilidade potencial e efetiva das variáveis em questão. A inclusão do subproduto do grão do urucum à ensilagem de capim-elefante resulta em silagens com maior degradabilidade potencial e efetiva. Palavras-chave -Bixa orellana L. Degradabilidade. Ensilagem. Ovinos. Pennisetum purpureum Schum.Abstract -To evaluate the dry matter, neutral detergent fiber and crude protein in situ degradation of elephant grass silages with five levels (0; 4; 8; 12 and 16%, on a fresh matter basis) of annatto grain by-product (AGBP), this work was carried out. A split-plot design, consisting on the addition levels the plots and the incubation times the sub-plots, with four replicates, was adopted. For the silages making, the elephant grass was cut 70 days-old and mixed to the by-product, in 20 plastic drums. The samples were dried, grid in a bolter of 5 mm mesh, being used 3 g of samples in each nylon bag, for incubation in the rumem for 0; 6; 48 e 96 hours; 2 ram without defined breed were used. Was observed increased the disappearance of the DM until the level 13.37% of addition of (AGBP) the elephant grass silages for the incubation time 48 hours, this level was that presented the most disappearance DM. For the NDF the disappearance increased until 16% of addition. For the whole of parameters of degradation, was observed that the level of addition of 16% of (AGBP) presented the most values for the potential and effective degradability of variables in question. The inclusion of the annatto grain by-product for elephant grass silage results in greater potential and effective degradability.

-This study was carried out to evaluate the nutritive value of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.) silages with the addition of 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16% dehydrated mango (Mangifera indica, L.) by-product (DMB), on the fresh matter basis. A randomized complete design with four replications was used. As experimental silos, 210L plastic drums were used. Dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose (HCEL), ether extract (EE), total carbohydrates (TC), non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC), neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen (NDIN, % total N), acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN, % total N), pH values, ammoniacal nitrogen (% total N), lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid and propionic acid levels were determined. The DM, OM, CP, EE, NFC, NDIN, lactic acid and propionic acid levels increased with the DMB addition while the NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, N-NH 3 /ammoniacal nitrogen levels and the pH values decreased with the DMB addition. The addition of DMB had a quadratic effect on the acetic and butyric acid levels but there was no effect with the addition of DMB on TC and ADIN. The DMB can be used at the ensiling of the elephant grass, because the addition of 8.6% improves the silages fermentative process. However, these silages have low crude protein levels and high contents of ether extract and nitrogen compounds mixed with the fiber (NDIN and ADIN) in the silages, that may damage their use by animals.

-The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritive value of elephant grass silages with increasing levels of dried mango by-product (DMB). Five addition levels were studied (0, 4, 8, 12 and 16%) using 20 rams, in a randomized complete design with five treatments (addition levels) and four replications. Dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ether extract (EE), total carbohydrates (TC), nonfibrous carbohydrates (NFC) intake and digestibility were evaluated, as well as the total digestible nutrients (TDN) and the silage nitrogen balance (NB). Mango by-product addition did not influence the DM, CP and TC intakes, the TDN level or the OM, CT and NFC digestibilities. On the other hand, DMB addition reduced the NDF and the ADF intakes, as well as the DM, CP, NDF and ADF digestibilities, and the NB of the silages. There was also a increasing linear effect of DMB addition on the EE and NFC intakes, and on EE digestibility. The elephant grass silage with DMB by-product may not be used as a single feed to ruminants because it reduces the NDF and the ADF intakes and the DM, CP, NDF and ADF digestibilities, as well as the nitrogen balance.

-The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritive value of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.) silages with the addition of 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16% dried cashew stalk (Anacardium occidentale L.) -DCS, based on the fresh matter. A randomized complete design with four replications was used. Twenty 210 L plastic drums were used as experimental silos. The levels were determined of the dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose, ether extract (EE), total carbohydrates (TC), non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC), neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen (NDIN,% total N), acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN, % total N), pH values, ammonia nitrogen (in percentage of the total nitrogen, N-NH 3 , % total N), lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid and propionic acid. Adding DCS resulted in higher values of DM, CP, EE, NFC, NDIN (% total N), ADIN (% total N), pH, lactic acid and propionic acid. On the other hand, with increasing DCS levels, a linear decline was observed in values of NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, ammonia nitrogen (% total N) and butyric acid. DCS did not show effect on the TC and acetic acid in the silages. As a result, up to 16% dehydrated cashew stalk may be added to elephant-grass silages, based on the fresh matter, to increase CP and NFC levels and decrease NDF and ADF and improve the fermentation patterns. It should be taken into account that higher NDIN and ADIN values may interfere in nitrogen availability and therefore in further DM intake.