-The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Azospirillum brasilense inoculation and different nitrogen (N) rates applied as topdressing on the productivity of a maize crop and the nutritional value of maize silage. Two experiments were conducted in the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 harvests. Treatments were distributed in a randomized block design in a factorial arrangement, which consisted of two maize hybrids (AS 1572 and Defender) coupled with nitrogen rates (0, 60, 120, 240, and 480 kg ha

The objective of the present study was to use electrical bioimpedance analysis (BIA) as an alternative method of evaluating the quality of bovine raw milk. Fourteen lactating purebred Dutch cows were used. For the analyses of milk quality and electrical bioimpedance, 140 ml milk per mammary quarter and a homogeneous sample of each animal were collected, totalling 70 samples. The criteria used to evaluate milk quality consisted of somatic cell count (CCS), total bacterial count (CBT), fat, protein, lactose, total solids (ST) and non-greasy solids (SNG) as required by IN No 62/2011. A monofrequential 50 kHz and 800 μA alternating current generator was used for electrical BIAs. The temperature of the raw milk was 5 °C for all samples. Primary resistance and reactance readings were obtained. From these values, the values of impedance, conductance and phase angle were obtained. Correlation analyses were performed to determine the variables used by the regression analyses. The regression analysis was performed using raw milk components as dependent variables and BIA measurements as independent variables. Lactose, ST and SNG were the components of milk that correlated best and presented moderate prediction equations in relation to BIA variables. The prediction equations using resistance showed R2 of 0.42 and 0.45 for ST and SNG, respectively. In the prediction equation for ST and SNG, the conductance resulted in R2 of 0.45, and 0.45, respectively. Regarding impedance, the R2 of 0.42 and 0.45 were obtained for the predicted equations ST and SNG, respectively. Thus, it can be concluded that BIA has the potential to estimate the composition and quality of bovine raw milk.

Biological nitrogen fixation and plant hormone synthesis promoted by Azospirillum spp. bacteria play a role in enhancing crop productivity and reducing losses. This may constitute a strategy to enhance crop productivity and reducing losses, thereby increasing nitrogen fertilization efficiency. This research aimed to evaluate the effects of Azospirillum brasilense Ab-V5 and Ab-V6 strain inoculation and nitrogen fertilization on the agronomic characteristics and productivity of two maize hybrids (Zea mays L.) AS 1572 and AG 9030. Experiments were carried out at Santa Maria, RS, Brazil in the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 growing seasons using a 2 × 2 × 5 factorial arrangement to distribute two maize hybrids, inoculated, or not, with Azospirillum brasilense, and five nitrogen doses (0, 60, 120, 240, and 480 kg ha−1). Kernel yield, mass, and dimensions, as well as kernel number on the cobs, stalk diameter, plant height, ear insertion height, prolificacy, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and their correlations were measured. Compared to uninoculated plants, higher kernel yield (p < 0.05) was observed for AS 1572 hybrid when inoculated with A. brasilense, with an increase of 0.978 Mg ha−1 or 10.95%. This effect was primarily due to the higher NUE rate and the increase (p < 0.05) in the number of kernels per cob. The AG 9030 hybrid showed no response to inoculation. A. brasilense inoculation increased the NUE rate of the AS 1572 hybrid in the condition N zero dose at N 60 kg ha−1 dose. Nitrogen fertilization increased crop productivity, notably by raising kernel mass and other productivity components, but reduced the NUE rate. The maximum technical efficiency obtained for the AS 1572 hybrid was of 10.705 Mg ha−1 with a N dose of 342 kg ha−1, whereas the AG 9030 hybrid produced a maximum grain yield of 10.089 Mg ha−1 with a dose of 350 kg ha−1 of N. We conclude that the inoculation with A. brasilense increases NUE, maize grain yield, and agronomic characteristic in the AS 1572 hybrid.

The effects of growing pinto peanut mixed with elephant grass-based pastures are still little known. The aim of the current research was to evaluate the performance of herbage yield, nutritive value of forage and animal responses to levels of pinto peanut forage mass mixed with elephant grass in low-input systems. Three grazing systems were evaluated: (i) elephant grass-based (control); (ii) pinto peanut, low-density forage yield (63 g/kg of dry matter – DM) + elephant grass; and (iii) pinto peanut, high-density dry matter forage yield (206 g/kg DM) + elephant grass. The experimental design was completely randomized with the three treatments (grazing systems) and three replicates (paddocks) in split-plot grazing cycles. Forage samples were collected to evaluate the pasture and animal responses. Leaf blades of elephant grass and the other companion grasses of pinto peanut were collected to analyse the crude protein, in vitro digestible organic matter and total digestible nutrients. The pinto peanut, high-density dry matter forage yield + elephant grass treatment was found to give the best results in terms of herbage yield, forage intake and stocking rate, as well as having higher crude protein contents for both elephant grass and the other grasses, followed by pinto peanut with low-density forage yield + elephant grass and finally elephant grass alone. Better results were found with the grass–legume system for pasture and animal responses.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a method based on the different levels of opposition to the flow of an ionic current through the different body tissues. Results are expressed by primary measures of resistance (Rs) and reactance (Xs). From such measures, equations are applied to determine the phase angle (PA) and impedance (Z). Bioimpedance analysis has been indicated as a reliable and precise method to determine the body composition and nutritional status in humans. BIA has recently been adapted to be applied on animal production. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide an analysis on the potential use of bioelectrical impedance on zootechnical production. Through BIA, correlations among bioelectrical measures and tissue composition of swine, bovine, ovine, bubaline and fish carcasses can be established. In this regard, a growing number of demands were led by more precise and cost-effective methods to evaluate the body composition in the zootechnical sector, in which the analysis of bioelectrical impedance proved to be a promising and minimally invasive technology to replace traditional methods.

With the aim to evaluate the effects of the use of additives (milk whey and inoculant containing Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus acidophillus) in sorghum silage, an experiment was conducted in which the productive parameters, fermentative and the nutritional quality of silage were analyzed. The experimental design was completely randomized, testing different levels of inclusion of whey and live Lactobacillus strains based on forage green matter, constituting the following treatments: 1) Sorghum without inclusion of additives (CON); 2) Sorghum + 5 x 10 2 cfu/g L. casei and L. acidophillus (LAC); 3) Sorghum 5 x 10 2 cfu g-1 whey (SL); 4) Sorghum + 5x10 2 cfu/g-1 L. casei and L. acidophillus and 5x10 2 cfu/g whey (LAC + SL). When Lactobacillus was included the mixture used was 50 ml of water and 10 grams of Lactobacillus. To measure silage fermentation, pH, dry matter recovery, gas and effluent losses, ammonia nitrogen, buffer power and density were estimated. The addition of whey and Lactobacillus inoculant in sorghum silage did not significantly change the bromatological values of silage when compared to the original material. The inclusion of additives increased (P <0.05) the effluent losses during fermentation. The use of whey presents a viable alternative for producers, as it does not compromise the fermentation and chemical composition of sorghum silage and assists in the reduction of dairy residues in nature.KEY WORDS: silage, fermentation, grass, by-product. EFEITO DA ADIÇÃO DE ADITIVOS: SORO DO LEITE, LACTOBACILLUS CASEI E ACIDOPHILLUS SOBRE A QUALIDADE DA SILAGEM DE SORGORESUMO: Com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos do uso de aditivos (soro de leite e inoculante contendo Lactobacillus casei e L. acidophillus) em ensilagem de sorgo, foi conduzindo um experimento em que se analisou os parâmetros produtivos, fermentativos e a qualidade nutricional das silagens. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, sendo testados diferentes níveis de inclusão de soro de leite e cepas de Lactobacillus vivos com base na matéria verde da forragem, constituindo os seguintes tratamentos: 1) Sorgo sem inclusão de aditivos (CON); 2) Sorgo + 5 x10 -2 ufc g -1 L. casei e L. acidophillus (LAC); 3) Sorgo 5 x10 -2 ufc g -1 soro de leite (SL); 4) Sorgo + 5x10 -2 ufc g -1 L. casei e L. acidophillus e 5x10 -2 ufc g -1 de soro de leite (LAC+ SL). Quando houve inclusão de Lactobacillus a mistura utilizada foi 50 ml de água e 10 gramas de Lactobacillus. Para mensurar a fermentação da silagem, estimou-se o pH, recuperação de matéria seca, perdas de gases e efluentes, nitrogênio amoniacal, poder tampão e densidade. A adição de soro de leite e do inoculante com Lactobacillus na ensilagem de sorgo, não modificou significativamente os valores bromatológicos da silagem, quando comparada ao material original. A inclusão dos aditivos aumentou (P<0,05) as perdas por efluentes durante a fermentação. A utilização do soro de leite apresenta uma alternativa viável para os produtores, pois não compromete a fermentação e a composiç...

este estudo testar o aumento linear da inclusão de glicerina bruta (86% de pureza) em substituição ao milho moído, como aditivo, na forragem de capim-elefante destinada a ensilagem, avaliando-se a qualidade nutricional do alimento e a viabilidade da ensilagem do material. Foram testados cinco níveis de substituição do milho pela glicerina em taxas que variaram de 3,12 a 12,5% sobre a matéria natural da forragem, além de um tratamento controle (apenas forragem). Realizaram-se análises bromatológicas e de digestibilidade para avaliar o valor nutricional da mistura durante a ensilagem e após o processo fermentativo, na silagem. Para avaliar a qualidade fermentativa foram feitas avaliações de pH, nitrogênio amoniacal, recuperação de matéria seca e densidade. A inclusão do milho moído incrementou (P<0,05) o teor de matéria seca em até 28%, tanto na forragem fresca, bem como na silagem. Tanto a inclusão do milho, bem como a substituição deste pela glicerina resultou (P<0,05) em um incremento médio de 25% e 32% na digestibilidade in situ e valor energético da silagem, respectivamente quando comparado ao capim puro. Isto, devido ao decréscimo (P<0,05) dos teores de fibra em detergente neutro e fibra em detergente ácido na silagem. A inclusão de glicerina aumentou (P<0,05) as perdas de proteína bruta durante a fermentação e diminuiu a recuperação da matéria seca. O teor de matéria seca da forragem parece ser fator chave para o sucesso de inclusão da glicerina como aditivo na ensilagem do capim-elefante, no intuito de evitar perdas expressivas de qualidade nutricional durante a fermentação.Palavras-chave: avaliação nutricional, fermentação, subproduto. REPLACEMENT OF GROUND CORN WITH GLYCERIN IN ELEPHANT GRASS SILAGEABSTRACT: This study was performed to test the linear inclusion of crude glycerin (86% purity) replacing ground corn as an additive mixed with elephant grass forage for silage, evaluating the nutritional quality of the food and the viability of silage. Five levels of glycerin as corn substitute were tested, ranging from 3.12 to 12.5% of total forage green matter, in addition to a control treatment (forage only). Bromatological and digestibility analyses were carried out to evaluate the nutritional value of the mixture during ensiling and of the silage after the fermentation process. The pH, ammoniacal nitrogen, dry matter recovery, and density were measured to evaluate the fermentative quality. The inclusion of ground corn increased (P<0.05) by 28% the dry matter content in both fresh forage and silage. The inclusion of corn and its substitution with glycerin improved (P<0.05) by 25 and 32% in in situ digestibility and the energy value of the food, respectively, when compared to the control treatment. This finding was due to a decrease (P<0.05) in neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber in silage. The inclusion of glycerin increased (P<0.05) crude protein losses during fermentation and decreased dry matter recovery. The dry matter content of forage seems to be a key factor for the successful inclusion ...

A inoculação com Azospirillum brasilense apresenta potencial de uso na cultura do sorgo (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) pela possibilidade de alterar a fisiologia e morfologia das plantas. Neste sentido, o presente estudo tem por objetivo avaliar a influência da inoculação via semente com a bactéria promotora de crescimento da estirpe Azospirillum brasilense sobre a composição morfológica, parâmetros fermentativos, perdas nutricionais, frações nitrogenadas e de carboidratos em silagem de sorgo do híbrido AG 2005. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, constituindo-se de dois tratamentos (com e sem inoculação), com quatro repetições de silos. O fracionamento nitrogenado, foi determinado conforme descrito por Licitra et al. (1996) e para mensurar o fracionamento dos carboidratos, foi avaliado de acordo com a metodologia proposta por Lanzas et al. (2007). As plantas inoculadas apresentaram menor porcentagem de colmo, mas houve maior participação de panícula mais grãos. O híbrido inoculado produziu silagem com menor teor de nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente ácido (NIDA) e nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente neutro (NIDN). Com relação ao fracionamento de carboidratos, as silagens de sorgo com inoculação diferiram significativamente em CHO (carboidratos totais) e CC (fibra indigestível) em relação ao controle. Sobre o fracionamento proteico, a fração   indigestível (PC), a inoculação apresentou redução de 0,29 unidade percentuais quando comparado ao controle. Desta forma, a inoculação de sementes com A. brasilense pode ser uma alternativa viável, pois apresenta potencial de reduzir a fração de proteína e glicídios insolúvel e indigestível no trato gastrointestinal em silagens de sorgo.