Sorghum Silage Research Articles

Effects of inoculation and dry matter content on microbiome dynamics and metabolome profiling of sorghum silage

Sorghum forage was ensiled for 90 days at two dry matter (DM) contents (27 vs. 39%) without or with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum inoculation. On day 90 of fermentation, silages were sampled to assess the microbial community dynamics and metabolome profile. L. plantarum inoculation improved silage quality, as shown by a lower pH and greater acetic acid concentration. Loss of DM remained unaffected by L. plantarum inoculation but was greater in low- vs. high-DM sorghum silages (14.4 vs. 6.62%). The microbiome analysis revealed that Pseudomonas congelans represented the dominant species of the epiphytic microbiota in both low- and high-DM sorghum forage before ensiling. However, L. buchneri represented the dominant species at the end of ensiling. Ensiling fermentation resulted in distinct metabolic changes in silages with varying DM content. In low-DM silages, ensiling fermentation led to the accumulation of 24 metabolites and a reduction in the relative concentration of 13 metabolites. In high-DM silages, ensiling fermentation resulted in an increase in the relative concentration of 26 metabolites but a decrease in the concentration of 8 metabolites. Compared to non-inoculated silages, L. plantarum inoculation resulted in an increased concentration of 3 metabolites and a reduced concentration of 5 metabolites in low-DM silages. Similarly, in high-DM silages, there was an elevation in the relative concentration of 3 metabolites, while a decrease in 7 other metabolites. Ten metabolites with bio-functional activity were identified, including chrysoeriol, isorhamnetin, petunidin 3-glucoside, apigenin, caffeic acid, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, trans-cinnamic acid, herniarin, and 3,4-dihydroxy-trans-cinnamate. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of microbiome and metabolome profiling of sorghum forage during ensiling as a function of DM content and L. plantarum inoculation, with a particular emphasis on identifying metabolites that may possess bio-functional properties.Key points• DM loss was not different by L. plantarum but higher in low- vs. high-DM silage.• L. buchneri dominated ensiling, regardless of DM level.• 10 metabolites with bio-functional activity were identified.

Reducing energy and carbon footprint in semi-arid irrigated cropping systems through crop diversification

Energy and carbon (C) footprints of agricultural production practices have garnered high attention due to rising energy costs and increasing global warming. However, the contribution of conservation and regenerative farming practices, including cover cropping, on energy and C footprints have not yet been documented for cropping systems in arid and semi-arid regions. This study evaluated the energy and C footprint of cover crop integrated silage maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) production systems in the semi-arid region of the southwestern US. The treatments were mixtures of winter cover crops: i) grasses and legumes (GL), ii) grasses, brassicas, and legumes (GBL), iii) grasses and brassicas (GB), and iv) no cover crops (NCC) control for each crop production system. Results showed cover crops had 24.1–24.5% greater energy input than NCC. In silage maize rotation, energy output was 17–22% greater in GBL and GL than in NCC. In silage sorghum rotation, the energy output was 15–24% greater in all cover crops than in NCC. The resulting net energy was 16–21% greater in GBL and GL than in NCC under silage maize, while it was 18–24% greater in GBL and GB than in NCC under silage sorghum. In the silage maize system, the C-footprint per kg yield was not different among treatments, whereas in silage sorghum, it was 58% greater in GBL than in NCC. The benefit-to-cost ratio was greater than one for all treatments, but the additional revenue through C credit programs could make cover cropping a more feasible and beneficial approach, improving economic and environmental sustainability while producing silage crops. While the C footprint was crop rotation specific, cover cropping should be encouraged over crop-fallow systems to producers in semi-arid environments to reduce energy usage and increase C-credit benefits. Clear national and state policy on the C credit program will also enhance economic and environmental benefits by adopting cover cropping and other regenerative farming practices.

Comparative production performance and rumen bacterial diversity of fattening beef cattle supplemented with different levels concentrated feed

The production performance and rumen bacterial diversity were compared for different silage-based diets supplemented with common concentrate or bio-concentrate to develop an alternative of common concentrate for fatten cattle feeding. The daily gain of fattening cattle was increased by 0. 99 kg and 1.04 kg, respectively, when fed with single corn silage or mixed silage-based diet supplemented with bio-concentrate. There was no significant difference in water loss rate and cooked meat rate among groups (P>0.05), but the tenderness of beef in the bio-concentrate group was significantly higher than that in the common concentrate group (P<0.05). There were no adverse effects on beef quality and blood biochemical indexes in each group. Compared with the normal concentrate group, the OTU number and α-diversity index of rumen microorganisms of fattening cattle fed with mixed silage as the basic diet supplemented with bio-concentrate increased significantly. At generic level, the relative abundances of Prevotella, Porphyromonadaceae (unclassified), and Succiniclasticum were increased by adding bio-concentrate in the diets based on mixed silage and single sorghum silage. Relative abundances of Bacteroidetes (unclassified), Ruminococcaceae (unclassified), and Firmicutes (unclassified) decreased. In conclusion, the bio-concentrate might be a better choice than common concentrate for beef cattle breeding.

Effect of pineapple peel addition on sorghum ensilage

Silage mixed with forage and byproducts is an alternative nutritional strategy for ruminant production. This study aimed to characterize chemical–nutritional aspects, fermentative profile, and digestibility of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) silage with different contents of pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr.) peel inclusion at 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, or 80% of fresh matter. The experimental design was completely randomized with five replicates per treatment. Mixed feeds were ensiled in experimental silos for 65 days, subsequently opened, and samples were analysed. The increase in the proportions of pineapple peel caused a linear increase in dry matter, crude protein, mineral matter, ether extract, soluble carbohydrate, cellulose, lignin, and in vitro digestibility of dry matter in sorghum silage. The mean concentrations of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) had a negative quadratic relationship with the inclusion of pineapple peel, reducing from 0% to 40% (-2.56% for NDF and -3.14% for ADF) followed by stabilization at subsequent contents. Silage pH was not influenced, however, acetic and propionic acids increased linearly, while butyric acid decreased linearly with pineapple peel inclusion. The highest losses in gases and effluents were obtained in silage with 0% pineapple peel inclusion (1.77% of dry matter and 4.06 kg t-1 of dry matter), which resulted in lower dry matter recovery (93.56%). Adding pineapple peel to sorghum benefits composition, fermentation, in vitro digestibility, and decreases silage losses. An inclusion of 40–80% sorghum can be recommended.

Digestive kinetics of sorghum silages grown in the Amazon Biome

The objective of this work was to evaluate the digestibility and kinetic parameters of silages of commercial and experimental sorghum genotypes grown in a crop in amazon biome to identify materials that present the best performance. The experiment was carried out in Sinop/MT with silages from 15 genotypes to evaluate gas production and in vitro digestibility and energy estimation, including BRS 658, BRS 659, Volumax, BRS Ponta Negra, 15F30005, 15F30006, BRS 511, CMSXS 5027, 5030, 5043, 5045, BRS 716, AGRI-002E, 201934B008 and CMSXS 7501. Gas production, pH, ammonia-N, and in vitro digestibility analyses were carried out, in addition to energy estimation using equations. The silages of materials with the highest gas production and digestibility were forage because they have a greater amount of digestible carbohydrates. On the other hand, the biomass and saccharine standard biomass presented lower performance because they have a higher concentration of lignin and structural carbohydrates in their composition. For pH and ammonium-N, there was no difference between treatments. The greatest digestibility and energy potential come from the genotypes BRS 658, BRS 659 Volumax, 15F30006, CMSXS 5027, and CMSXS 5030, making the last three capable of commercial launch and use in the production of silage in animal feed.

AGE DYNAMICS OF CHANGES IN LINEAR GROWTH PARAMETERS OF REPLACEMENT HEIFERS UNDER DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THEIR FEEDING TECHNOLOGY

The dynamics of changes in body weight and parameters of linear growth of replacement heifers of the Ukrainian black-and-white dairy breed under different approaches to the organization of their feeding technology were studied. The research was conducted on replacement heifers of the Ukrainian black-and-white dairy breed with a body weight of 170 kg, since they were 6 months old. For the formation of the experimental groups, different approaches to the organization of their feeding technology were used, namely, heifers of the control group received a diet that included corn silage. In feeding the animals of the second and third (experimental) groups, respectively, 50% and 100% of such silage was replaced by mixture of corn and sorghum. After analyzing the silage used in the experiment, no significant differences in their chemical composition were found. Therefore, the use of silage prepared from the green mass of compatible crops of corn and sorghum as part of the diets of replacement heifers did not have a significant effect on changes in their nutritional value and the content of nutrients in them, as well as the content of crude protein, provided that detailed feeding standards are met. In particular, the increase in the content of crude fiber, based on 1 kg of dry matter of the diets, was 3 and 6 g, respectively, in the animals of the second and third groups. In the course of the experiment, no significant and probable difference was established in terms of the increase in body weight of replacement heifers from the control and experimental groups. However, at the end of the experiment, a statistically significant difference in growth intensity was established between the animals of Group III (experimental) and Group I (control), while the differences between the latter and Group II (experimental) increased to the trend level. In particular, an increase in average daily gains of heifers of experimental groups, compared to animals of the control group, on the fourth and fifth months of the experiment, respectively, by 4.0 and 6.4% and by 5.2 and 11.2% (р≤ 0.05). It was also established that the use of both traditional corn and corn and sorghum silage in the organization of animal feeding technology accelerates the achievement of economic maturity by heifers. It was determined that the body weight of replacement heifers, from the age of eight months, exceeded the requirements of the breed standard. In particular, the body weight of 8-month-old heifers was higher than the standard by 5.0 – 10.2 kg or 2.4 – 4.9%, at the age of 9 months it was higher by 11.0 – 15.7 kg or 4.8 – 6 .9%, at the age of 11 months it was higher by 30.2 – 33.0 kg or 11.4 – 12.4%. The variability and level of body structure indices in the age dynamics of experimental animals of the Ukrainian black-and-white dairy breed proved the positive dynamics of the formation of the exterior in the direction of the dairy type. Thus, the obtained results proved the expediency of using corn and sorghum silage in the technology of rearing replacement heifers.

Relative palatability and preference of sorghum silage, moringa or sesbania leaf meals by red Maasai sheep

Relative palatability and preference of sorghum silage, moringa or sesbania leaf meals by red Maasai sheep

Characterization of the Ruminal Microbiome of Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) Kept in Different Ecosystems in the Eastern Amazon.

Increasing the efficiency of rumen fermentation is one of the main ways to maximize the production of ruminants. It is therefore important to understand the ruminal microbiome, as well as environmental influences on that community. However, there are no studies that describe the ruminal microbiota in buffaloes in the Amazon. The objective of this study was to characterize the rumen microbiome of the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in the eastern Amazon in the dry and rainy seasons in three grazing ecosystems: Baixo Amazonas (BA), Continente do Pará (CP), Ilha do Marajó (IM), and in a confinement system: Tomé-Açu (TA). Seventy-one crossbred male buffaloes (Murrah × Mediterranean) were used, aged between 24 and 36 months, with an average weight of 432 kg in the rainy season and 409 kg in the dry season, and fed on native or cultivated pastures. In the confinement system, the feed consisted of sorghum silage, soybean meal, wet sorghum premix, and commercial feed. Samples of the diet from each ecosystem were collected for bromatological analysis. The collections of ruminal content were carried out in slaughterhouses, with the rumen completely emptied and homogenized, the solid and liquid fractions separated, and the ruminal pH measured. DNA was extracted from the rumen samples, then sequenced using Restriction Enzyme Reduced Representation Sequencing. The taxonomic composition was largely similar between ecosystems. All 61 genera in the reference database were recognized, including members of the domains Bacteria and Archaea. The abundance of 23 bacterial genera differed significantly (p < 0.01) between the Tomé-Açu confinement and other ecosystems. Bacillus, Ruminococcus, and Bacteroides had lower abundance in samples from the Tomé-Açu system. Among the Archaea, the genus Methanomicrobium was less abundant in Tomé-Açu, while Methanosarcina was more abundant. There was a difference caused by all evaluated factors, but the diet (available or offered) was what most influenced the ruminal microbiota.

Effects Of Crude Fiber, Organic Mater, And Crude Protein Contents In Sorgum Silage Of Samurai 2 First Ratoon

Samurai 2 Ratun 1st sorghum silage’s crude protein, organic matter, and fiber content will be examined in this research to see how curing time affects them. The experiment used a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments and four replications. In this study, the medications P1 (7 days of relief), P2 (14 days of restoration), P3 (21 days of restoration), P4 (28 days of restoration), and P5 (35 days of restoration) were tested. Samurai sorghum silage 2‘s rough fiber, natural matter, and unrefined protein content all showed a significant (P<0.01) effect of the restoration time on the results of the variety analysis. During the 35-day ripening period, the crude fiber content was higher, according to HSD’s subsequent tests. Non significantly different (P>0.05) after ripening for 28 days and significantly different (P<0.01) after ripening for 7 days, 14 days, and 21 days. Crude protein levels were found to be significantly (P<0.01) higher at 28 days of ripening than at 7 days and 14 days, but not significantly (P>0.05) different from those at 21 days and 21 days in the BNJ follow-up test. 35 days. When subjected to the P4 treatment for 28 days, the samurai variety 2 ratun to 1 sorghum silage produced the highest levels of crude protein, organic matter, and crude fiber, according to the study’s findings.

Effect of new strains of Lentilactobacillus buchneri as inoculants in sorghum silage on the fermentative profile, aerobic stability, and voluntary intake in lambs

ABSTRACT We evaluated the effects of various wild strains of Lentilactobacillus buchneri on the fermentation and aerobic stability of sorghum silages as well as on their intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance, and ruminal fermentation in lambs. Four Santa Inês × Dorper crossbred lambs with rumen fistulations were distributed using a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The experimental diets were as follows: silage without inoculation (Control), silage inoculated with a commercial inoculant (Lalsil As), silage inoculated with L. buchneri strain LB 50.4 (LB 50.4), and silage inoculated with L. buchneri strain LB 90.14 (LB 90.14). All inoculated silages and their total mixed ration (TMR) remained stable over 7 d of air exposure, while the control silage and its TMR lost their aerobic stability after ±40.96 h (P < 0.001). The silage containing LB 50.4 exhibited the lowest digestibility of dry matter (P = 0.037), organic matter (P = 0.037), and non-fibrous carbohydrates (P = 0.012). The diet based on LB 50.4 silage showed the highest acetate to propionate ratio (P = 0.005). The strains of L. buchneri used in this study effectively improved the aerobic stability of sorghum silage and the respective diets without compromising nutrient intake or ruminal fermentation.

Organoleptic Quality and pH of Silage of Young Corn and Sorghum

Effective processing of young corn and sorghum silage can be evaluated based on physical attributes like fragrance, colour, texture, and the properties and transformations that happen in the feed during the ensiling process. These attributes can be employed to assess and establish the quality of the feed. The purpose of this research is to determine the characteristics of young corn and sorghum silage by conducting pH testing and organoleptic analysis. The study used three types of silage: P1 - young corn, P2 - sorghum, and P3 - a mix of young corn and sorghum. The variables examined included colour, aroma, texture, presence of fungi, and pH. The data indicates that the silage produced from young corn and sorghum plants was of high quality. The feed before the silage production process was the same shade, and the end product had a sour scent. Texture-wise, the majority of the silage was slightly rough and not slimy, with no signs of fungal contamination. The pH ranged from 3.63-3.92, confirming the silage's acidic nature. Silage made from young corn and sorghum plants exhibits organoleptic qualities such as a brownish-green hue, mildly fragrant aroma, slightly mushy consistency, and no detected presence of fungus. Moreover, due to its acidic properties resulting from the pH value, it is highly conducive for the proliferation of lactic acid bacteria.

Quality of mixed silages of sorghum, BRS Capiaçu grass, and cactus pear in a semiarid region of Brazil

ABSTRACT The study aimed to assess the impact of mixed silages of biomass sorghum and BRS Capiaçu with cactus pear on the fermentative profile and nutritional value. The silages included forage sorghum cv. Volumax, biomass sorghum cv. ‘BRS 716,’ BRS Capiaçu grass, a mix of 60% biomass sorghum ‘BRS 716’ with 40% Opuntia ficus indica Mill (‘Gigante’) cactus pear (based on fresh matter), and a mix of 60% BRS Capiaçu grass with 40% Opuntia ficus indica Mill (‘Gigante’) cactus pear (based on fresh matter). The experiment followed a randomized experimental design with five treatments and eight repetitions. The highest gas losses (P < 0.01) and lowest dry matter recovery (DMR; P < 0.01) were observed in the BRS Capiaçu grass and BRS Capiaçu grass with cactus pear silages. The lactic acid concentration in the biomass sorghum with cactus pear silage was 49.96% higher than in the Volumax sorghum silage . Volumax sorghum and ‘BRS 716’ biomass silages demonstrated higher DM contents (P < 0.01; mean 33.44%) compared to other silages. There was no significant difference (P = 0.24) among silages regarding the potentially degradable insoluble fraction of the DM, with a mean of 51.75%. The mixed silage of biomass sorghum with cactus pear exhibited lower losses and higher DMR.

PSXIII-17 Feeding Sorghum Silage: Effects of Grain Processing on Intake and Apparent Total Tract Digestibility of Backgrounding Beef Heifers

Abstract This study evaluated the effect of processing sorghum silage (SS) at harvest on dry matter intake and nutrient digestibility of beef cattle. A dual-purpose sorghum (ADV2450IG, Advanta seeds, Irving, TX) was harvested (Claas Jaguar 930, Harsewinkel, Germany) at the late-dough stage of grain maturity and processed (PRO) or not (NPR) with a specific SS cracker (196 mm rolls of 125 teeth each, 40% speed differential, 1.1 mm roll gap). Whole-plant was chopped at 15 mm and ensiled in polyethylene ag-bags (60 m long and 2.74 m diameter) for 60 d until the beginning of a performance trial which was followed by the digestibility trial. From a performance trial with eight heifers/pen and 12 pens total (six per treatment), one heifer (13 ± 1.5 mo and 251,4 ± 36.3 kg of BW) by pen was randomly selected for the digestibility trial. Two backgrounding diets containing (DM basis), 90.5% SS either PRO or NPR, 6.5% soybean meal (expeller) and 3% supplement (ROC90, Provimi, Argentina); continued to be offered ad libitum for an extra 3 d of adaptation, while feed and feces were collected the next 4 d. Feed was individually offered once daily, and orts were collected the following day. Fecal samples were collected twice daily and apparent total tract digestibility was determined using uNDF240h as a marker. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design using pen as the experimental unit, and initial BW as a covariate. Dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) intake tended (P &amp;gt; 0.07) to be greater, while starch intake was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.03) for the NPR treatment. intake of NDF, ADF and CP were not affected by treatments. No differences (P &amp;gt; 0.10) were detected for DM, OM, NDF, ADF and CP digestibility, while starch digestibility was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.001) by processing (93.55 vs. 86.48 for PRO and NPR, respectively). In conclusion, processing sorghum silage at harvest increased apparent total tract digestibility of starch when SS was fed to backgrounding beef heifers.

PSXIII-19 Feeding One-Year Storage Sorghum Silage Base Diets: Effects of Grain Processing on Performance of Backgrounding Beef Cattle

Abstract The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of feeding a one-year stored sorghum silage (SS), grain processed or not at harvest, on ADG, DMI and feed efficiency (FE) of beef heifers. A total of 96 Angus heifers were used in a completely randomized design with 6 pens/treatment of 8 heifers per treatment. Mixed model of SAS was used, and the model included the fixed effect of treatment: SS processed (PRO) or not (NPR), with initial BW used as covariate. Significance was declared at P &amp;lt; 0.05. A dual-purpose sorghum (ADV2450IG, Advanta seeds, Irving, TX) was harvested (Claas Jaguar 930, Harsewinkel, Germany) at the late-dough stage of grain maturity and PRO or NPR were obtained with a specific SS cracker (196 mm rolls of 125 teeth each, 40% speed differential, 1.1 mm roll gap). Each treatment was chopped at 15 mm theoretical length of cut and ensiled in polyethylene ag-bags (60 m long and 2.74 m diameter), for 388 d until starting the feeding trial. Two backgrounding diets containing (DM basis) 90.5% SS either PRO or NPR (31.4±1.4% grain content on average), 6.5% soybean meal (expeller) and 3% supplement (ROC90, Provimi, Argentina) were offered for a 12 d of adaptation and 60 d of experimental period. Diets were adjusted daily to a score of 0.5, using the SDSU 4-point bunk scoring system, and samples were taken for analyses. Initial, middle and final BW was measured, while DMI was calculated from differences between DM offered and refused within each pen (Table). In conclusion, feeding sorghum silage stored for 388 to 460 d, and either grain processed or not, resulted in similar ADG and FE when used as the base of the diet of backgrounding beef heifers.

PSXIII-18 Feeding One-Year Stored Sorghum Silage: Effects of Grain Processing on Intake and Apparent Total Tract Digestibility of Backgrounding Beef Heifers

Abstract This study evaluated the effect of feeding sorghum silage after one-year of storage (SS) based diets, on dry matter intake and nutrient digestibility of beef cattle. A dual-purpose sorghum (ADV2450IG, Advanta seeds, Irving, TX) was harvested (Claas Jaguar 930, Harsewinkel, Germany) at the late-dough stage of grain maturity and processed (PRO) or not (NPR) with a specific SS cracker (196 mm rolls of 125 teeth each, 40% speed differential, 1.1 mm roll gap). Whole-plant was chopped at 15 mm and ensiled in polyethylene ag-bags (60 m long and 2.74 m diameter), for 388 d until the beginning of a 60 d-performance trial which was followed by the digestibility trial. From a performance trial with eight heifers/pen, and 12 total (six per treatment), one heifer (13.5 ± 1 mo and 259,4 ± 38 kg of BW) by pen was randomly selected for the digestibility trial. Two backgrounding diets containing (DM basis), 90.5% SS either PRO or NPR, 6.5% soybean meal (expeller) and 3% supplement (ROC90, Provimi, Argentina); continued to be offered ad libitum for an extra 3 d of adaptation while feed and feces were collected the next 4 d. Feed was individually offered once daily, and orts were collected the following day. Fecal samples were collected twice daily and apparent total tract digestibility (TTD) was determined using uNDF240h as a marker. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design using pen as the experimental unit, and initial BW as a covariate. No differences among treatments were detected for DM, OM, NDF, ADF, CP and starch intake (P &amp;gt; 0.35). No effects of treatment were observed (P &amp;gt; 0.40) for DM, OM, NDF, ADF, CP and starch TTD. In conclusion, no effects of processing on apparent total tract digestibility were detected when feeding a one-year stored sorghum silage to backgrounding beef heifers.

PSIV-20 The Effect of Silage Additives on Male Sterile Sorghum Fermentation Heat Production and Feed-Out Stability

Abstract The objective was to compare the effect of applying silage additives to male sterile sorghum hybrids on temperature production during ensiling time (30 d) and at feed-out period after 30 or 90 d of ensiling period. Two male-sterile sorghum hybrids; F430 and F465, with and without BMR12 trait, respectively (Richardson Seed Ltd.); were randomly allocated in plots blocked by irrigation section in a dairy farm in West Texas. During harvest, duplicate samples from each plot were obtained, placed on plastic trays, and transported to one of three stations to be treated with chemical silage preservative (SG, SiloGuard), heterofermentative bacteria inoculant with mold inhibitor solution (SM, Silage Maker 250) or distilled water (DW, control). Treatments were applied with spray bottles following a protocol that consisted of two sets of 5 sprays (1.1 mL each and 11 mL total) followed by mixing of the forage. Personnel applying the treatment were blind as to which treatment they were applying and all spray bottles, trays and tables from each station were color coded to prevent cross contamination. After treated, 3.63 kg of forage was packed in three consecutive steps using a manual press on 4.7L buckets (Uline) and a temperature data logger was placed in the center of each of the 30 d mini silos. The amount of material packed was estimated to achieve a 230 kg of DM/m3 compaction at 30% DM of the forage. At opening, the material from each silo was moved to a tray and mixed to be homogenized and exposed to oxygen. Then, the material was added back to its correspondent bucket until it filled up to the border without compressing. Heat production during the feed-out period and air-stability were assessed for both ensiling periods, whereas fermentation heat production during ensiling period was only assessed for 30 d silos. Statistical analysis was performed using mixed linear regression models (GLIMMIX procedure of SAS) with ensiling period, hybrid, treatment and the interaction of day and treatment included in the model as independent variables. Fourth root and natural log transformation were performed to obtain a normal distribution of residuals, back transformed LSM and 95% CI are reported in Table 1. Treatment effected the silage temperature during the feed-out period (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) and air-stability test (P = 0.02). Whereas a tendency was observed for daily heat production during the ensiled period (P = 0.07). Male-sterile sorghum silage treated with SG had the least temperature during the ensiling period and longer air-stability than SM.

PSX-27 The Impact of Feeding Young Nellore Bulls with a Low Concentrate Diet for Different Periods Followed By a High Concentrate Diet on Dry Matter Intake and Performance

Abstract In Brazil, it is common practice to feed young bulls a low-concentrate diet (LCD) after weaning, followed by a high-concentrate diet (HCD) during the finishing phase to optimize animal growth while reducing the cost of concentrated feed. By restricting the concentrate intake during the early phase, the animals can potentially adapt better to a high-energy diet during the finishing phase, leading to improved performance. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different LCD feeding periods after weaning, followed by feeding a HCD, on dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency (G:F), and final body weight (BW) of young Nellore bulls. Thirty-two young Nellore bulls (average initial BW = 265 ± 5 kg; age = 7 ± 1 mo) were used in a completely randomized design into four groups (n = 8/group) and assigned to receive one of 4 treatments containing different periods of LCD. The LCD consisted of 800 g/kg of forage sorghum silage and 200 g/kg of concentrate, while the HCD contained 200 g/kg of corn silage and 800 g/kg of concentrate. The diets were formulated according to BR-CORTE (2016) to achieve ADG of 0.6 kg/day and 1.2 kg/day for the LCD and HCD, respectively. The experiment lasted 154 days (14 days for adaptation to the HCD). The LCD and HCD feeding periods respectively were 0 and 140 (T0), 28 and 112 (T28), 56 and 84 (T56), and 84 and 56 (T84) days. All animals were fed ad libitum in an electronic feeder (INTERGADO, Intergado Ltd., Contagem, MG, Brazil), and individual daily feed intake was recorded. The bulls were weighed at the beginning and the end of the LCD and HCD feeding periods after undergoing 16 h of fasting to measure BW and ADG of both periods. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) assuming the significance level of 0.05. There was no evidence that different LCD feeding periods impacted DMI (P = 0.99), ADG (P = 0.59), or G:F (P = 0.48) during the LCD feeding period. The DMI during the HCD feeding period of T0 did not differ from the others, the T28 was not significantly different from the T84, and the T56 treatment was greater than T28 and T84 (P &amp;lt; 0.05). No significant difference was found between the treatments for ADG (P = 0.09) and G:F (P = 0.98) during the HCD feeding period. The T0 had the heaviest final BW, while there was no difference between the T28 and T56 groups, and the T84 group had the lightest final BW(P &amp;lt; 0.01). Given that the final BW was heavier for T0, it may be inferred that there are no benefits to using LCD feeding periods.

PSVI-3 Effects of Different Concentrate Inclusion Levels in Diets Containing Agri002E Sorghum Silage on Intake and Digestibility in Growing Nellore Bulls

Abstract The sorghum hybrid, AGRI002E, sorghum was developed for high dry matter (DM) production per area. However, there are no reports in the literature evaluating the use of this silage with different inclusion levels of concentration on the ingestive and digestive variables of beef cattle. Therefore, this study aimed to access the effects of different concentrate levels in diets containing AGRI002E sorghum silage (SS) on feed intake, ruminal and apparent total tract digestibilities of organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber corrected for contaminant ash and protein (apNDF), and starch. Nellore rumen-cannulated bulls (n = 5; BW = 242 ± 5 kg) were used in a 5×5 Latin square design. The experimental treatments consisted of five concentrate levels (0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 g of concentrate/kg of diet DM) in SS-based diets. The concentrates used in the experimental diets were based on corn, soybean meal, sulfated urea, virginiamycin, and mineral supplement. The diets were formulated to provide approximately 120 g of crude protein per kg dietary DM. In the 0% concentrate diet, the protein level was adjusted with sulfated urea. All diets contained the same amount of virginiamycin and mineral supplement. Each experimental period lasted 24 d, with 17 d adaptation, 4 d of total feces collection, and 3 d collection to obtain omasal flow using a double marker technique (indigestible NDF and Co-EDTA). Data were analyzed using MIXED-SAS. Starch and OM intake linearly increased (P &amp;lt; 0.001) with increasing concentrate inclusion. Intake of apNDF decreased linearly (P = 0.018) and tended to be quadratically influenced (P = 0.022) with increasing concentrate inclusion (Table 1). Ruminal digestibility of OM increased linearly (P &amp;lt; 0.001) with increasing concentrate inclusion. Starch ruminal digestibility decreased linearly (P = 0.003) and tended to be influenced quadratically (P = 0.0015) with increasing concentrate inclusion. Ruminal digestibility of apNDF tended to decrease linearly (P = 0.057) with increasing concentrate inclusion. Total apparent digestibility of OM increased linearly (P &amp;lt; 0.001) and apNDF and starch total apparent digestibility decreased linearly (P ≤ 0.002) with increasing concentrate inclusion. Increasing inclusion of concentrate in AGRI002E sorghum silage-based diets increased OM and starch intake, and ruminal and total apparent OM digestibility and decreased apNDF intake and ruminal and apNDF and starch total apparent digestibility.

Perubahan Status Energi Pada Proses Reproduksi Induk Domba Garut Yang Diberi Pakan Komplit Berbasis Hijauan Sorgum dan Indigofera

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) is an indicator of the efficiency of protein use in metabolism which is correlated with energy adequacy status. This study aimed to analyze and measure differences in energy adequacy status of arrowroot ewes in the premating, pregnancy, and lactation phases that were fed a complete diet of sorghum indigofera. The method used experimentally with Completely Randomized Design (CRD). There were 2 feed treatments, namely field grass (RL) as control and complete feed based on forage sorghum indigofera with a composition of 50% sorghum silage + 40% indigofera hay + 10% fine bran (SI) and repeated 14 times. The data obtained were analyzed using a two sample t-test. The results showed that there was a decrease in BUN in both treatments in each phase, but overall the average BUN value did not show a significant difference (P&gt;0.05). Significant differences (P&lt;0.05) only occurred at the beginning of pregnancy, mid and late lactation with BUN values of 21.18±1.04; 13.25±0.60; 15.18±0.67 for RL and 18, respectively. ,61±1.10; 15.86±0.82; 12.43±0.56 for SI. So it can be concluded that complete feed based on sorghum indigofera has the same energy change status as field grass, and in SI it can be used as a substitute for field grass.

Nutrients intake, milk production, and production costs of dairy goats fed with high proportions of cactus cladodes genotypes Opuntia and Nopalea in association with different forage sources

This study aimed to evaluate the nutrient intake, milk production, and production costs of dairy goats fed diets containing the rations with cactus cladodes (Opuntia stricta or Nopalea cochenillifera) associated with silage (Sorghum bicolor) or Tifton hay (Cynodon spp). Twelve pluriparous Saanen and Anglo Nubiana goats (42.25 ± 5.48 kg) at eight weeks of lactation were used. Treatments lasted 60 days, consisting of four periods of 15 days, distributed in three Latin square (4×4) with four diets. The treatments represented by diets with different associated feed: SSOP (Sorghum Silage + Opuntia); THOP (Tifton hay + Opuntia); SSNO (Sorghum Silage + Nopalea); and THNO (Tifton hay + Nopalea), in addition to concentrate in all diets. There were differences (p &lt; 0.05) for the intakes of DM, OM, with higher values observed for goats fed the diets THNO, THOP, and SSNO, and for CP, NDF and ADF were higher for THNO and SSNO diets. Similar behavior occurred for voluntary and total water intake. The milk production and feed efficiency did not differ (p &gt; 0.05). Costs with food, milk revenue, and gross revenue were not influenced by diets (p &gt; 0.05). The Opuntia or Nopalea cactus cladodes genotypes associated with sorghum silage or tifton hay can be used to feed dairy goats in the semiarid region.