-This experiment assessed the effect of feed restriction in rabbits on performance and economic viability of the activity. Sixty New Zealand White rabbits, weaned at 33 days and slaughtered at 81 days of age, were used. The design was of randomized blocks with four treatments and five replications. The treatments were, as follows: 1 -free feeding, 2 -feed restriction from 35 to 40 days of age (50 g/d/rabbit), 3 -feed restriction from 54 to 61 days of age (90 g/d/rabbit) and 4 -feed restriction from 33 to 40 days (50 g/d/rabbit) and from 54 to 61 days of age (90 g/d/rabbit). There was no difference in the performance and carcass parameters, indicating that there was compensatory growth in the rabbits that suffered feed restriction. The best gross margin was obtained with feed restriction from 54 to 61 days age. Feed restriction in growing rabbits can be adopted at different ages because it does not interfere negatively in the performance and carcass parameters. In two periods and from 51 to 61 days, feed restriction was more economically viable for the sale of live and slaughtered rabbits, respectively.

ABSTRACT. The seasonality of forage production represents a limiting factor in the production of ruminants. The use of silages has been a solution for periods of low forage production, providing high quality food. This study was conducted to evaluate the fermentative characteristics and the chemical composition of silage of Urochloa brizantha cultivars with different levels of Campo Grande Stylosanthes. It was used a complete randomized block design with three replications in a 2 x 4 factorial design, being two cultivars of Urochloa brizantha (BRS Piata palisadegrass and BRS Paiaguas palisadegrass) and four levels of Campo Grande Stylosanthes (0, 10, 20 and 30%). Silages of Urochloa brizantha with Campo Grande Stylosanthes exhibit satisfactory quality, on the basis of the characteristics evaluated, with no significant difference between cultivars. The mixed silage of Campo Grande Stylosanthes with grasses at 30% has proven to be an interesting option, thus promoting adequate fermentation and maintaining the nutritional quality of silage. Keywords: chemical composition, fermentation, inoculant.Qualidade da silagem de cultivares de Urochloa brizantha com níveis de Estilosantes campo grande RESUMO. A estacionalidade da produção de forragem é um dos fatores limitantes na produção de ruminantes. Sendo assim, a utilização de silagens tem sido uma solução para períodos de baixa produção de forragens, proporcionando alimento de boa qualidade. Com isso, desenvolveu-se esse estudo com o objetivo de avaliar as características fermentativas e a composição químico-bromatológica da silagem de cultivares de Urochloa brizantha com níveis de estilosantes Campo Grande. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos completos ao acaso, com três repetições, em esquema fatorial 2 x 4, sendo dois cultivares de Urochloa brizantha (BRS Piatã e BRS Paiaguás) e quatro níveis de estilosantes Campo Grande (0, 10, 20 e 30%). Os resultados demonstraram que as silagens de Urochloa brizantha (BRS Piatã e BRS Paiaguás) com o estilosantes Campo Grande apresentam qualidades aceitáveis, com base nas características avaliadas, não havendo diferença entre os cultivares. A silagem mista de estilosantes Campo Grande com gramíneas na proporção de 30% demonstrou ser uma opção interessante, favorecendo o adequado processo fermentativo, bem como garantindo a manutenção da qualidade nutricional da silagem.Palavras-chave: composição químico-bromatológica, fermentação, inoculante.

No abstract

The intercropping of annual crops with perennial grasses is a production system that is frequently adopted in the Midwest region of Brazil due to its economic viability resulting from the use of the same area for agriculture and livestock. Most agriculture-livestock integration studies have evaluated the use of forage of the genus Urochloa in intercropped systems with corn, sorghum and sunflower. Consequently, there is a lack of information regarding pearl millet cultivation when grown simultaneously with tropical forages. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of pearl millet Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br as well as the production and nutritional characteristics of Paiaguas palisadegrass (Urochloa brizantha cv. Paiaguas) under different forage systems and sowing periods in the offseason. The experiment was conducted at the Federal Institute of Goiás, Rio Verde campus. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement and three replications. There were two sowing periods (February and March) and five forage systems: monocropped pearl millet; monocropped Paiaguas palisadegrass; pearl millet intercropped in rows with Paiaguas palisadegrass; pearl millet intercropped between rows of Paiaguas palisadegrass and pearl millet oversown and intercropped with Paiaguas palisadegrass. The results indicated that the Paiaguas palisadegrass did not affect the pearl millet grain yield, indicating that the intercropping of pearl millet and Paiaguas palisadegrass in the offseason is a promising cultivation technique for the production of grains during the offseason in Southeastern Goiás. However, the second sowing period provided better grain yields and a higher number of sacks per hectare. With respect to forage yield, the Paiaguas palisadegrass sown in oversown pearl millet was impaired by the intercropping and produced low forage yield. With respect to forage quality, the intercropped sowing system did not affect the nutritional characteristics of the Paiaguas palisadegrass.

Tropical forage grasses compose the base diet of the Brazilian cattle herd due to their low production cost, high production potential, and good adaptation to various Brazilian ecosystems. In recent years, the search has intensified for alternatives that increase the yield in pasture milk production systems. Thus, the present study evaluated the production and quality of Tifton 85 grass in relation to the production parameters (e.g. greater leaf: stem ratio), and milk quality of Holstein cows in an intermittent grazing system during different seasons of the year. The experiment was conducted at the Córrego da Ponte Farm in Santa Helena de Goias, Goias, Brazil, from April 2014 to March 2015. The experiment used a completely randomized design with nine replicates and the four seasons (fall, winter, spring, and summer) as treatments. The Holstein cows had a live weight of 560±36.8 kg and averages four years of age. The grazing method used was a mob-stocking, with one day of grazing and 19 days of rest. The results showed that Tifton 85 was efficient regarding production parameters (total dry mass) and forage quality (IVDMD, NDF, ADF). The milk production was satisfactory during the fall, spring, and summer. The forage showed limited production during the winter, due the highest NDF, ADF levels and lower IVDMD (P < 0.05), which was directly reflected in the milk yield, fat, protein and lactose (P < 0.05). A reduction in the stocking rate or an increase in the number of paddocks is advisable during the winter to maximize milk production without compromising forage development. The correlation data showed the importance of consuming better-quality forage to increase milk production without compromising the levels of milk solids.