Sorghum Silage Research Articles

Sorghum silage substituted for corn silage in diets for dairy cows: Effects on feed intake, milk yield and quality, and serum metabolites

ABSTRACT Objective Whole-plant corn silage (CS) is the main forage fed to dairy cows in China, usually comprising about 35% of the total DM of the TMR. However, sorghum is more resistant to drought and tolerates soils that are less fertile compared with corn, and consequently, sorghum silage (SS) would be preferable to CS in many drought-prone areas of China. Sweet SS is characterized by a high content of water-soluble carbohydrates and energy yield. Previous studies examined the effects of feeding either CS or SS in the TMR of lactating cows. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of substituting different levels of sweet SS for CS in the TMR fed to dairy cows in a smallholder farm in western China. Materials and Methods Sixteen multiparous Holstein cows (mean BW of 454 ± 25 kg), producing approximately 12 kg/d milk, were assigned randomly to 4 dietary treatments. Experimental diets were formulated to be iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous with 45% forage and 55% concentrate, and the diets included 10% oat hay and variable proportions of CS and SS. Dietary treatments included (1) 100% CS (35% DM of TMR, control diet); (2) 35% of CS replaced by SS; (3) 65% of CS replaced by SS; and (4) 100% of CS replaced by SS. Results and Discussion The DMI decreased linearly (P = 0.002) as SS increased. Milk yield and lactose percentage did not differ among treatments, but lactose yield exhibited a cubic response (P = 0.004), whereas milk fat percentage tended to increase linearly (P = 0.077) as SS increased. Increasing SS resulted in a quadratic response in milk protein percentage and yield (P = 0.001) and MUN increased linearly as SS increased (P = 0.022). The ECM/DMI ranged between 0.75 and 0.82 and increased linearly as SS increased (P = 0.029). Although there were differences among treatments in serum concentrations of aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, urea nitrogen, and glucose, all concentrations were in the normal range for healthy, lactating cows. Serum β-hydroxybutyric acid concentrations were well below the subclinical levels in all treatments. The SCC decreased linearly (P = 0.024) with increasing SS. Implications and Applications We concluded that for low-producing dairy cows, SS can replace CS in total in the diet without adverse effects on milk yield and its components and on serum metabolites. This is particularly important for small dairy herds in dry areas.

SUBTITUSI PENGGUNAAN SILASE TEBON JAGUNG DENGAN SILASE SORGHUM TERHADAP KECERNAAN SERAT KASAR DAN PROTEIN KASAR PADA SAPI LOKAL PENGGEMUKAN

The research that aimed to find out the level of substitution of corn crop silage with sorghum silage as a future feed ingredient on the fiber and protein digestibility of beef cattle has been held in May -- July 2018 in the people's farm in Negla Sari village, South Lampung Regency, Lampung. This study used Completely Randomized Design with three treatments and three replications. The treatments given were R1: 30% corn crop silage + 70% concentrate; R2: 15% corn crop silage + 15% sorghum silage + 70% concentrate; and R3: 30% sorghum silage + 70% concentrate. This research used nine beef cattle which were allocated in individual cages. The data obtained were analyzed by analysis of covariance using a 5% significance level. Variables in this study were fiber and protein digestibility. The results showed that substitution of the use of corn crop silage with sorghum silage did not significantly affect (P>0.05) on the fiber and protein digestibility. 
 Keywords: Beef cattle, Digestibility fiber, Digestibility protein, Sorghum silage, Silage corn, crop

Вплив анаеробного зброджування органічних відходів на зміну вмісту біогенних елементів у ефлюенті біогазової установки

Goal. To establish the influence of anaerobic fermentation of plant and animal origin on changes in the content of biogenic elements in the liquid and solid fractions of effluent after the production of biogas. Methods. Analytical, calculation, mathematical-statistical. Results. It is established that the transformation of organic compounds in anaerobic fermentation process causes an alkaline reaction of biogas effluent. Comparing samples of the liquid fraction (fugate) and the solid fraction (digestat) of waste biogas production from different raw materials (bagasse, corn, and sorghum silage), it is determined that the content of nitrogen and potassium in the samples of discharge exceeds the corresponding figures of digestat, but the phosphorus content is higher in digestat (almost double). As to the content of biogenic elements the effluent after anaerobic fermentation of silo id better than the waste after processing the pulp. Liquid and solid fractions of the waste of biogas plant are enriched with ammonium nitrogen compared with the raw material more than on 40–60% (depending on raw material). Fugate contains less than 5% of solids and a major amount of potassium. Up to 80% of the mass fraction of nitrogen in fugate is in its ammonium form. On the background of low ash content of digestat the content of total carbon is high (over 30%). Conclusions. The studied wastes of biogas plants which work on raw materials of plant and animal origin on agrochemical indicators are not worse than other raw materials and have a high fertilizing potential, especially in acidic soils, because of their alkaline reaction. Waste of biogas plants is characterized by low ash content and high content of total carbon, which confirms their value to potential humus creation ability in soils.

Physical-Chemical Composition, Fatty Acid Profile and Sensory Attributes of Meat of Lambs Fed With Saccharine Sorghum Silage

The objective of this work was to evaluate the qualitative and sensory characteristics and the fatty acid profiles of the meat of lambs fed with silages of two saccharine sorghum varieties and compare them with forage sorghum and maize silages. Twenty non-castrated male Suffolk lambs were arranged in a completely randomised block design, and the treatments consisted of the following silages: forage sorghum (FORSOR), saccharine sorghum (‘BRS506’), saccharine sorghum (‘BRS511’) and maize (MAIZE). The animals were slaughtered after 70 days in the feedlot. The carcasses were cooled at 4 °C for 24 h. The longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle was removed for analysis. No differences (p > 0.05) between treatments were found for chemical composition and qualitative and sensory characteristics of the evaluated meat. Lambs fed with ‘BRS506’ presented muscles with higher total unsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids and with higher percentages of oleic acid. The BRS506 saccharin sorghum silage increased the meat total unsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acid contents, which are beneficial to human health; thus, this silage can replace maize silage in the feed for finishing lambs.

Evaluation of silages of hybrids of napier grass and sorghum in the low country wet zone of Sri Lanka

Summary Silages of hybrids of napier grass (CO-3 or CO-4) and sorghum and their combinations (50% napier grass hybrid + 50% of sorghum) were tested under three cutting intervals (4, 6 and 8 weeks). Sorghum silage had a leafy and soft texture with a fruity smell, which proved its desirable character with normal lactic acid fermentation. As such, it was with its comparatively higher dry matter content at the 6 or 8 weeks cutting interval, more suitable for ensiling. The crude protein concentration was not modified by the ensiling process, which was proved by the low ammoniacal nitrogen content. Sorghum silage had lower pH values at all three cutting intervals. On the basis of the NH3-N/TN content (<10%), all silages could be considered as of good quality. Sorghum silage could be considered as the best among tested silages as compared with hybrid napier var. CO-3 or CO-4. The optimum quality of the sorghum silage with the highest soluble carbohydrates concentration and lactic acid >3% could be obtained at the 6-week cutting interval.

In situ and in vitro techniques for estimating degradation parameters and digestibility of diets based on maize or sorghum

AbstractAn experiment was conducted to evaluate: (1) the effects of ensiling maize or sorghum grains after reconstitution on readily soluble fraction (a), potentially degradable fraction in the rumen (b) and rate constant for degradation of b (c) of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and starch (STA); and (2) an appropriate incubation time for in situ or in vitro procedures to estimate in vivo digestibility. Four rumen-cannulated Nellore bulls (body weight = 262 ± 19.6 kg) distributed in a 4 × 4 Latin square were used. Diets were based on dry ground maize (DGM); or dry ground sorghum (DGS); or reconstituted ground maize silage; or reconstituted ground sorghum silage. In vitro and in situ incubations of the individual grains and diets were simultaneously performed with in vivo digestibility. In general, reconstituted grains and diets based on reconstituted grains presented greater (P < 0.05) fraction a and lower (P < 0.05) fraction b of DM, OM and STA compared to dry grains and diets based on dry grain. However, the magnitude of response of the reconstitution and ensiling process on DM and OM degradability parameter was greater for maize than that for sorghum. Moreover, no differences (P > 0.05) were observed between DGM- and DGS-based diets for c estimates. The results suggest that the reconstitution process promotes grains protein matrix breakdown increasing STA availability. The incubation times required for in vivo digestibility estimations of DM, OM and STA are 24 h for in situ and 36 h for in vitro procedures.

Evaluation and characterization of triticale silage (x. Triticosecale wittmack) to replace Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (S. vulgare Pers.) silage as feed for beef cattle

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional quality of silages containing 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% triticale replacing sorghum silage feed for beef cattle. It was carried out fractionation of carbohydrates and proteins, and the parameters of ruminal degradation kinetics estimated by semiautomatic in vitro method of cumulative gas production of the silages. The experimental design completely randomized with five treatments and four replicates. Sorghum silage has less non-fibrous carbohydrates, and its substitution may explain the linear increase in the composition of fractions A and B1. In general, the proportions of fractions “A” and “B1 + B2” demonstrated that as sorghum replaced by triticale, the abundance of high availability proteins increased, as did the abundance of rapidly degradable proteins in the rumen. The final volume of gases produced by the fermentation of non-fibrous carbohydrates presented a negative linear relationship with increased triticale silage (P = 0.0001), while the degradation rates presented a positive linear relationship (P = 0.0001). Thus, there was rapid release of energy and nitrogen, which may meet the needs of microorganisms. Therefore, triticale silage can be substituted for sorghum silage in cattle feed as an excellent source of protein and energy without altering nutritional parameters.

Evaluation and characterization of triticale silage (x. Triticosecale wittmack) to replace Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (S. vulgare Pers.) silage as feed for beef cattle

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional quality of silages containing 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% triticale replacing sorghum silage feed for beef cattle. It was carried out fractionation of carbohydrates and proteins, and the parameters of ruminal degradation kinetics estimated by semiautomatic in vitro method of cumulative gas production of the silages. The experimental design completely randomized with five treatments and four replicates. Sorghum silage has less non-fibrous carbohydrates, and its substitution may explain the linear increase in the composition of fractions A and B1. In general, the proportions of fractions "A" and "B1 + B2" demonstrated that as sorghum replaced by triticale, the abundance of high availability proteins increased, as did the abundance of rapidly degradable proteins in the rumen. The final volume of gases produced by the fermentation of non-fibrous carbohydrates presented a negative linear relationship with increased triticale silage (P = 0.0001), while the degradation rates presented a positive linear relationship (P = 0.0001). Thus, there was rapid release of energy and nitrogen, which may meet the needs of microorganisms. Therefore, triticale silage can be substituted for sorghum silage in cattle feed as an excellent source of protein and energy without altering nutritional parameters.

Quality of re-ensiled sorghum silages after prolonged periods of environmental exposure

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of re-ensiling on the fermentability coefficient (FC), chemical composition and fermentation profile of untreated whole-crop sorghum silage after prolonged periods of environmental exposure. Treatments comprised eight times of exposure to the environment (0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h) and two procedures for conservation (conventional and re-ensiling) in a completely randomized design with two factors and three replicates. Experimental silos made of 12-L plastic buckets were used in trials. Silage nutritive value, fermentation profile, and dry mass (DM) losses were analyzed before and 90 days after re-ensiling. Regression analyses were performed, and ANOVA was used to compare means. The FC was higher than 45 even when the silage was exposed to air for 120 h before re-ensiling (59.2±2.54). Regression equations were fitted to the data with low accuracy (R2 < 0.47). Moreover, we observed that the main effect occurred between before and after re-ensiling, decreasing the contents of DM (42 to 37 %) and water-soluble carbohydrates (7.0 to 5.8 % DM), neutral detergent fiber (60.4 to 55.4 % DM), and acid detergent fiber (49.5 to 33.5 % DM), but increasing those of lactic acid (0.52 to 0.96 % DM) and ammoniacal nitrogen (1.58 to 2.51 % total N). The DM losses were linear with increasing times of air exposure; however, silage nutritive value and fermentation profile showed no disturbing changes for silage conservation and animal feeding.

Quality of re-ensiled sorghum silages after prolonged periods of environmental exposure

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of re-ensiling on the fermentability coefficient (FC), chemical composition and fermentation profile of untreated whole-crop sorghum silage after prolonged periods of environmental exposure. Treatments comprised eight times of exposure to the environment (0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h) and two procedures for conservation (conventional and re-ensiling) in a completely randomized design with two factors and three replicates. Experimental silos made of 12-L plastic buckets were used in trials. Silage nutritive value, fermentation profile, and dry mass (DM) losses were analyzed before and 90 days after re-ensiling. Regression analyses were performed, and ANOVA was used to compare means. The FC was higher than 45 even when the silage was exposed to air for 120 h before re-ensiling (59.2±2.54). Regression equations were fitted to the data with low accuracy (R2 < 0.47). Moreover, we observed that the main effect occurred between before and after re-ensiling, decreasing the contents of DM (42 to 37 %) and water-soluble carbohydrates (7.0 to 5.8 % DM), neutral detergent fiber (60.4 to 55.4 % DM), and acid detergent fiber (49.5 to 33.5 % DM), but increasing those of lactic acid (0.52 to 0.96 % DM) and ammoniacal nitrogen (1.58 to 2.51 % total N). The DM losses were linear with increasing times of air exposure; however, silage nutritive value and fermentation profile showed no disturbing changes for silage conservation and animal feeding.

Effects of Different Percentages of Sorghum Silage and Napier Grass on Nutrient Intake and Growth Performance of Goats

Effects of Different Percentages of Sorghum Silage and Napier Grass on Nutrient Intake and Growth Performance of Goats

PSXII-22 Performance of Nellore bulls fed with rehydrated corn silage or rehydrated sorghum silage or sorghum grain in substitution of corn grain

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the corn grain cracked substitution by sorghum grain, rehydrated corn silage, or rehydrated sorghum silage on animal performance. Thirty-two Nellore bulls initially weighing 324.76 ± 36.0 were used in a completely randomized design distributed in four treatments: corn grain (CG), sorghum grain (SG), rehydrated corn silage (RCS) and rehydrated sorghum silage (RSS). Pen was considered the experimental unit. Response variables included: final body weight (FBW) and dry matter intake (DMI). The basal diet consisted of (DM basis) of 30% sorghum silage as roughage, and 70% of concentrate, consisted of corn grain or sorghum grain or rehydrated corn silage, or rehydrated sorghum silage, soybean hulls, soybean meal, and mineral supplement. The data were analyzed using PROC GLM of SAS and means were compared by Tukey test. Feeding sorghum grain, rehydrated corn silage or rehydrated sorghum silage did not affect the DMI and, consequently, did not affect significantly the final body weight (FBW). The FBW means of each treatment were 444.38, 434.69, 464.22, 443.44, and the DMI were 9.57, 9.23, 9.06, 9.19, respectively to corn grain (CG), sorghum grain (SG), rehydrated corn silage (RCS) and rehydrated sorghum silage (RSS) treatments. It was concluded that diets based on corn grain or sorghum grain, rehydrated or not, can support a similar performance of Nellore bulls finished in feedlot.

PSXII-12 Silages and roughage sources in the Brazilian beef feedlots

Abstract The aim of this survey was to identify silages and roughage sources adopted in the beef finishing diets. Eighty-two feedyards, located in 10 states, were surveyed from January to March 2019 for their feeding practices. Feedlot owners and nutritionists were interviewed by using a common survey form. The form consisted of 5 questions, including feedlot location, feedlot capacity and the number of animals serviced yearly, breed, silages and roughage sources, and roughage: concentrate ratio. Results were tabulated in an Excel spreadsheet for each feedlot. The number of responses per question, and the mean, minimum value, maximum value, and mode (most frequently occurring value) were calculated. Feedlot capacity ranged from 300 to 35,000 (mode = 3,000) and cattle serviced yearly per feedlot ranged from 400 to 90,000 (mode = 6,000). Nellore breed and crossbreed represented 74 and 26% % of finished animals, respectively. Roughage: concentrate ratio ranged from 40: 60 to 10: 90. Thirty-five percent of feedlots adopted 20: 80 ratio, followed by 15: 85 (16%) and 10: 90 (16%) ratios. Whole-plant corn silage was the most common roughage source (57%; Figure 1), followed by sugarcane bagasse (17%), tropical grass silages (16%), and whole-plant sorghum silage (11%). Nutritionists also cited hay (9%), sugarcane silage (5%), and fresh sugarcane (4%) as roughage sources. High-moisture corn, snaplage (grain, cob, husk, shank), and reconstituted grain corn were used by 20, 11, and 1% of feedlots, respectively. Reconstituted grain sorghum was included in 4% of the diets. Thus, 36% of feedlots adopted grain silages (corn and sorghum) in the diets. Overall, Brazilian feedlots have used high-energy finishing diets and corn is the most widely grown crop for silage. Feedlots have shown interest in using grain silages to maximize starch digestion, especially because Brazil grows flint corn and silage machinery industry has made available new equipment.

Hay or silage? How the forage preservation method changes the volatile compounds and sensory properties of Caciocavallo cheese

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the forage preservation method (silage vs. hay) on volatile compounds and sensory properties of a traditional Caciocavallo cheese during ripening. A brown-midrib sudangrass hybrid was cultivated on a 7-ha field and at harvesting it was half ensiled in plastic silo bags and half dried to hay. Forty-four lactating cows were equally allotted into 2 groups fed a isonitrogenous and isoenergetic total mixed ration containing as the sole forage either sorghum hay (H group) or sorghum silage (S group). Milk from the 2 groups was used to produce 3 batches/diet of Caciocavallo ripened for 30, 60, and 90 d. Milk yield and composition as well as cheese chemical and fatty acid composition were not markedly affected by the diet treatment and ripening time. By contrast, ripening induced increased levels of the appearance attribute "yellowness," along with the "overall flavor," the odor/flavor attributes "butter" and "hay," the "salty," "bitter," and "umami" tastes, and the texture attribute "oiliness," whereas the appearance attribute "uniformity" and the texture attribute "elasticity" were reduced. The silage-based diet induced higher perceived intensities of several attributes such as "yellowness"; "overall flavor"; "butter"; "grass" and "hay" odor/flavors; "salty," "bitter," and "umami" tastes; and "tenderness" and "oiliness" textures. In S cheese we also observed higher amounts of ketones and fatty acids. Conversely, H cheese showed the terpene α-pinene, which was not detected in S cheese, and a higher intensity of the appearance attribute "uniformity." These differences allowed the trained panel to discriminate the products, determined an increased consumer liking for 90-d ripened cheese, and tended to increase consumer liking for hay cheese.

Crop Sorghum Ensiled With Unsalable Vegetables Increases Silage Microbial Diversity.

Ensiling vegetables with forage crops is a suggested method of waste diversion and can be directly utilized as a livestock feed. Carrot or pumpkin, ensiled at 0, 20, or 40% dry matter (DM) with crop sorghum, and with or without a second-generation silage inoculant were assessed for nutritive composition, organic acid profiles, aerobic stability and in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics. The study was a completely randomized design, with the fixed effects consisting of vegetable type (carrot vs. pumpkin), level (i.e., the level of vegetables), inoculant (inoculant or non-inoculant) and the interactions, and mini-silos within treatment as the random effect. The experimental unit for sorghum treatments represented by each mini-silo (5 kg capacity). Silage was sampled after 70-days ensiling for nutrient composition, 14-day aerobic stability, organic acid profiles and microbial diversity. After 24 h in vitro incubation, rumen fermentation parameters were assessed, measuring gas and methane (CH4) production, in vitro digestibility and volatile fatty acid concentrations. Sorghum ensiled with carrot or pumpkin at 20% or 40% DM increased crude fat (P ≤ 0.01) and decreased (P ≤ 0.01) silage surface temperature upon aerobic exposure compared to the control. Bacterial communities analyzed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing linearly increased (P ≤ 0.01) in diversity across both vegetables when the vegetable proportion was increased in the silage; dominated by Lactobacillus species. ITS analysis of the fungal microbiota upon silage opening and after 14 days (aerobic stability) identified increased (P ≤ 0.03) fungal diversity with increasing vegetable proportions, predominantly populated by Fusarium denticulatum, Issatchenkia orientalis, Kazachstania humilis, and Monascus purpureus. Upon assessment in vitro, there was an increase (P ≤ 0.04) in in vitro digestibility and some CH4 parameters (% CH4, and mg CH4/g DM), with no effect (P ≥ 0.17) on remaining CH4 parameters (mL CH4/g DM, mg CH4/g digested DM), gas production or pH. However, increasing vegetable amount decreased percentage of acetic acid and increased percentage of propionic acid of the total VFA, decreasing A:P ratio and total VFA concentration as a result (P ≤ 0.01). The results from this study indicate including carrot or pumpkin at 20 or 40% DM in a sorghum silage can produce a highly digestible, microbially diverse and energy-rich livestock feed.

Effect of sorghum varieties and molasses addition on prussic acid content and of silage quality

The study was conducted to determine the effect of sorghum varieties and molasses addition in silage making on the physical quality, pH, dry matter, organic matter (OM), Fleigh score, and prussic acid content. The study was designed using Completely Randomized Design in the factorial pattern. The first factor was sorghum varieties (super and BMR), and the second factor was the level of molasses (0% and 4% molasses). The pH of silage with molasses (4.45±0.28) was significantly lower (P<0,05) than silage without molasses addition (4.65±0.26). The DM content (16,13±1,83) and Fleigh score (49,91±12,43) were significantly higher (P<0,05) on silage with molasses addition. It can be concluded that BMR sorghum silage resulted in better physical and chemical quality than super sorghum silage. The addition molasses on sorghum silage decrease the pH but increases OM content and Fleigh score. Ensilage process decreases the prussic acid content of sorghum forage. The combination of sorghum varieties and molasses addition was significantly different.

BIOCONVERSION OF CRUDE GLYCEROL INTO REUTERIN BY LACTOBACILLI ISOLATED FROM SILAGE

Heterofermentative lactobacilli were isolated from sorghum and maize silage, and their ability to produce the antimicrobial compound reuterin (3-hydroxypropionaldehyde, 3-HPA) was investigated. Additionally, reuterin production from crude and partially purified biodiesel-derived glycerol was evaluated as an alternative to the utilization of these by-products. Only two out of 148 lactobacilli isolated produced reuterin in the presence of glycerol. The gene encoding a subunit of glycerol dehydratase was detected by PCR in isolates SO8 and SO23, identified as Lactobacillus reuteri by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Levels of reuterin produced by these two isolates and strain L. reuteri DSM 17938, used as control, were different. For each bacteria, the amount of reuterin detected from biodiesel-derived glycerol was comparable with that obtained from aqueous solution of pure glycerol. Among silage isolates, L. reuteri SO23 yielded the highest levels of reuterin production. In addition, cell-free supernatants revealed inhibitory activity against silage spoilage microorganisms like spore-forming bacteria, yeast and mould. L. reuteri SO23 proved to be a valuable candidate for use of crude glycerol and its bioconversion to reuterin. Addition of glycerol together with reuterin-producing lactobacilli strains could represent a good alternative as silage biopreservant and help optimize profit in biodiesel production.

Forage sources in diets for dairy goats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of sorghum silage, Buffel grass hay and forage palm fodder in the diet of dairy goats by means of performance tests and economic viability of different roughage sources. Eight Anglo-Nubian goats, multiparous, weighing around 40.13 ± 2.76 kg of live weight were used. The experiment lasted 84 days, consisting of four periods of 21 days, distributed in two Latin squares (4x4). The treatments represented by diets with different volumetric sources: SSCF: (sorghum silage+ forage palm+ concentrate); BHCF: (Buffel grass hay + cactus forage+ concentrate); SS: (sorghum silage+ concentrate) and BH: (Buffel grass hay + concentrate). Nutritional intake, digestibility, feed behavior, milk production and chemical composition and economic analysis were evaluated. Animals fed the BHCF diet had higher nutrient intakes and consequently were more productive in fat, protein, lactose, fat free solids and total solids. The BHCF diet led to a higher gross income in Brazilian currency. The safety margin of the SSCF diet presented the highest percentage, with 43.06%, and the BHCF diet, the lowest percentage, of 14.89. The association of forage palm with sorghum silage and Buffel grass hay can be used as a bulky source in lactating goat diets.

Yield of sorghum silage intercropped with pigeon pea and marandu grass in two spacings and chemical composition before and after ensiling

The aim of the present study was to evaluate yield of sorghum grown either solely (monoculture) or intercropped with Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu and pigeon pea cv. BRS Mandarin in two spacings. The experiment was carried out in field condition and the experimental design was in a 2 x 4 factorial scheme with four replications. The treatments consisted of two sorghum spacings, combined with four forms of cultivation as follows: (T1) sorghum as a monoculture (SOR); (T2) sorghum intercropped with marandu grass (SMG); (T3) sorghum intercropped with pigeon pea (SPP); and (T4) sorghum intercropped with marandu grass and pigeon pea (SMP). The evaluated traits were: sorghum height, stem diameter of sorghum, number of sorghum leaves, and a ratio sorghum/pigeon pea /marandu grass. The data were submitted to the statistical program SISVAR, and averages compared by the Tukey test at 5% probability. The 0.45 m spacing between rows provided higher silage yield in relation to 0.90 m between sorghum rows. The highest silage yield was produced at 0.45 m spacing between rows for single sorghum and triple intercropped (T4). The triple intercropped (sorghum + pigeon + marandu grass brachiaria) did not affect silage yield with the advantage of 10% of a legume in the final composition.

Nutritional and productive parameters of Holstein/Zebu cows fed diets containing cactus pear

ObjectiveThis study ascertained effects of cactus pear in association with different roughage in the diet of F1 Holstein/Zebu cows on intake, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, ingestive behavior and performance.MethodsEight cows with 72±11 days of lactation were used. The experimental design was simultaneous in two 4×4 Latin squares. Four experimental diets were used: Diet 1, sorghum silage as exclusive roughage; Diet 2, sorghum silage associated with cactus pear in a proportion of 50% of the roughage (dry matter basis); Diet 3, elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Roxo) as exclusive roughage; Diet 4, elephant grass associated with cactus pear in a proportion of 50% of the roughage. The roughage:concentrate ratio was 75:25.ResultsDry matter intake (p = 0.01) was higher with sorghum silage. There were differences in dry matter intake (p = 0.01), crude protein (p<0.01), ether extract (p = 0.01), non-fibrous carbohydrates (p<0.01) and total digestible nutrients (p = 0.01) among the diets. Cactus pear in the diet reduced water intake by 44.52% (p<0.01). The nitrogen balance was 59.71% and 27.49% lower in animals treated with exclusive sorghum silage and sorghum silage associated with cactus pear in relation to diets with elephant grass and elephant grass associated with cactus pear, respectively (p<0.01). The diets did not influence the milk production (p = 0.70), 3.5% fat corrected milk production (p = 0.72) or feed efficiency (p = 0.61).ConclusionThe association of cactus pear with sorghum or elephant grass silage does not alter milk production, reduces the intake of dry matter and water and improves the digestibility of nutrients.