ABSTRACT. Herbicides have been used to control Brachiaria grass in pastures established or in formation given their practicality, however their efficiency is questionable due to the lack of specific graminicides for different forage species. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of glyphosate and fluazifop-p-butyl in the control of Brachiaria decumbens (signalgrass) and the intoxication levels of Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania (Tanzania quinea grass) in pasture establishment. The experiments were designed in randomized blocks, in a 2 × 5 × 4 factorial arrangement of two herbicides (fluazifop-p-butyl and glyphosate), five doses equivalent to the commercial dosage of each herbicide (0.25; 0.50; 1.00; 1.50; 200), and four evaluation times after herbicide application (15, 21, 30 and 45 days). There was interaction between doses and evaluation times. The dose 1.5 L ha-1 fluazifop-p-butyl provides efficient control of signalgrass, however, leads to high intoxication in Tanzania guinea grass. Glyphosate is efficient in the control of signalgrass even at the lowest dose (90 g ha-1), however, it causes high intoxication in Tanzania guinea grass, preventing its use in developing pastures. It can be concluded that fluazifop-p-butyl and glyphosate herbicides are not recommended for the control of B. decumbens, cv. Basilisk in developing pastures of Tanzania guinea grass.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a substituição parcial de milho por cascas de soja, em dietas de alta percentagem de grãos, e seu efeito sobre o comportamento alimentar e os parâmetros de fermentação ruminal em ovinos confinados. Oito carneiros com rúmens canulados foram distribuídos em quatro grupos experimentais, compostos de um controle, alimentado com uma dieta de 50% de silagem de milho e 50% de concentrado, e em três grupos alimentados com as seguintes dietas com alta percentagem de grãos: 85% de milho (Diet85), 75% de milho e 10% de cascas de soja (Diet75), e 65% de milho e 20% de cascas de soja (Diet65). Os tratamentos de alta percentagem de grãos reduziram o tempo de ruminação e proporcionaram maior degradação da matéria seca do alimento, maior concentração de ácido propiônico, menor concentração de ácido acético, menor produção de gás metano e carbono, e menor valor de pH ruminal. A Diet65, com 20% de casca de soja, promoveu o aumento da proporção de ácido acético, com a redução da relação CO2:CH4 no rúmen. Ao final da incubação in vitro, o valor de pH foi maior na dieta-controle, e menor na Diet85. A inclusão de cascas de soja não altera a produção de metano nem a degradação da matéria seca e pode ser usada para substituir até 20% do milho em dietas de alta percentagem de grãos.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the partial replacement of corn grains by soybean hulls, in high-grain diets, and its effect on the feeding behavior and ruminal fermentation parameters of feedlot sheep. Eight rumen-cannulated crossbred sheep were assigned to four treatment groups composed of a control, to fed a diet of 50% corn silage and 50% concentrate, and to three groups fed high-grain diets, as follows: 85% corn (Diet85), 75% corn plus 10% soybean hulls (Diet75), and 65% corn plus 20% soybean hulls (Diet65). High-grain diets reduced rumination time and provided a higher degradation of feed dry matter, a higher-propionic acid concentration, a lower-acetic acid concentration, a lower methane and carbon dioxide gas production, and a lower ruminal pH value. Diet65, with 20% soybean hulls, promoted an increase in the acetic acid proportion, with a reduction in the CO2:CH4 ratio. At the end of in vitro incubation, the pH value was higher for the control diet, and it was lower for Diet85. The inclusion of soybean hulls does not change methane production and dry matter degradation, and it can be used to substitute up to 20% of corn grain in high-grain diets.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding crude glycerin with food additives (sodium monensin or essential oils) to the diets of beef cattle on feed intake, ruminal parameters, in vitro digestibility, and production of greenhouse gases. Five ruminally cannulated Nellore steers were randomly assigned in a 5×5 Latin square design. The treatments were: control, without crude glycerin and additives; with essential oils and without crude glycerin; with sodium monensin and without crude glycerin; with essential oils and crude glycerin; and with sodium monensin and crude glycerin. The addition of crude glycerin caused a reduction in dry matter (DM) intake, increase in vitro dry matter digestibility, and decrease in vitro crude protein digestibility, regardless of the food additive. All treatments were effective in maintaining the rumen environment with pH values above 6.2 and ammonia nitrogen concentrations above 10 mg dL−1. No difference was observed in the production and quality of protozoal and bacterial fractions. The addition of crude glycerin at 200 g kg−1 DM in the total diet can partially replace corn grain and soybean hulls and be combined with either sodium monensin or essential oil without impairing the rumen fermentation, being effective in reducing gas methane production and, when combined with sodium monensin, enables more efficient utilization of the diet by the animal. Therefore, feedlot experiments at large scales of production should be evaluated to prove these positive results.

RESUMO: A crescente disponibilidade de glicerina bruta proveniente da produção de biodiesel tem gerado grande estoque nas indústrias. Para resolver esse problema, a glicerina bruta está sendo utilizada na alimentação animal como fonte energética. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da associação da glicerina bruta (10% da MS das dietas) com diferentes volumosos sobre o pH e amônia ruminal, degradabilidade, digestibilidade da matéria seca e nutrientes, e produção de gás de efeito estufa. Seis novilhos da raça Nelore foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em um quadrado latino 6×6. Os tratamentos avaliados foram cana-hidrolisada associada ou não à glicerina, silagem de milho associada ou não à glicerina ou feno de Tifton 85 associado ou não à glicerina. A concentração de amônia ruminal e pH não foram afetados pela associação glicerina bruta com volumosos e consumo de matéria seca, mas reduziu o consumo de FDN para dietas com cana-hidrolisada e silagem de milho, e reduziu a digestibilidade de MS, MO, FDN, EE, CNF e amido para dietas com Feno de Tifton 85, além de reduzir a degradação efetiva na taxa de 8% h-1 nesta dieta. A associação glicerina bruta com cana-de-açúcar hidrolisada reduziu a produção de CH4 e de CO2 em mL g-1 de MS. A associação da glicerina bruta afeta a utilização de nutrientes, independente do volumoso utilizado. Além disso, promove a mitigação de gases de efeito estufa em dietas com cana-de-açúcar hidrolisada e, quando associada à silagem de milho, mostrou melhores condições de fermentação ruminal e utilização dos nutrientes.

ABSTRACT: The increasing availability of crude glycerin from biodiesel production has generated great stock in the industries. To solve this problem, crude glycerin is being used as an energy source to replace corn in livestock diets. This study evaluated the effects of the association of crude glycerin (10% on DM of diets) with different roughages in Nellore cattle diets on ruminal pH and ammonia, degradability, digestibility of dry matter and nutrients, and greenhouse gas production. Six ruminally cannulated Nellore steers were assigned to a 6×6 Latin square design. The following treatments were evaluated: Hydrolyzed Sugarcane associated or not with crude glycerin, Corn Silage associated or not with crude glycerin or Tifton-85 Hay associated or not with crude glycerin. Association of crude glycerin with roughages did not affect the rumen ammonia concentration and pH and dry matter intake, but reduced the intake of NDF for diets with Hydrolyzed Sugarcane and Corn Silage and reduced the digestibility of DM, OM, NDF, EE, CNF and starch and decreased the effective degradation at the rate of 8% h-1 for diets with Tifton-85 Hay. The association crude glycerin with Hydrolyzed Sugarcane reduced the production of CH4 and CO2 in mL g-1 of DM. The inclusion of crude glycerin affects differently nutrient utilization in diets with Corn Silage, Hydrolyzed Sugarcane or Tifton-85 hay. Moreover, promotes mitigation of greenhouse gases in diets with Hydrolyzed Sugarcane. Association of crude glycerin with Corn Silage in Nellore cattle diets showed better conditions of ruminal fermentation and utilization of nutrients.

Variações metodológicas sobre a quantidade de amostra incubada e o tipo de líquido ruminal utilizado são comumente observadas nas pesquisas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos de três quantidades de amostra incubada (0,6; 1,3 ou 2,6g MS 100mL-1) e dois tipos de líquidos ruminais (LRT-líquido ruminal tamponado ou LRP-líquido ruminal puro) sobre a produção total dos gases (VT) e de metano, a degradação da matéria seca (DegMS) e o pH final da incubação in vitro da silagem de milho. A maior DegMS da silagem de milho foi obtida com as menores quantidades de amostra incubada (0,6 e 1,3g MS 100mL-1). Para o LRP, a quantidade de 2,6g MS 100mL-1 reduziu (P<0,05) a produção de metano em comparação às quantidades de 0,6 e 1,3g MS 100mL-1, as quais não diferiram entre si (P>0,05). Utilizando o LRT, a quantidade de amostra não modificou (P>0,05) a produção de metano. Com o aumento da quantidade de amostra, houve redução do pH final da incubação em ambos os líquidos utilizados (P<0,05). Os resultados do presente experimento sugerem proceder a incubação com a menor quantidade de amostra, por proporcionar pH e DegMS mais elevados. A utilização de líquido ruminal tamponado reduz a produção de metano da silagem de milho. Novas pesquisas devem ser conduzidas para verificar a possibilidade de incubação ruminal in vitro com líquido ruminal puro utilizando outros ingredientes.

Methodological variations in the amount of sample incubated and the type of rumen fluid used are commonly observed. This study evaluated the effect of three sample amounts (0.6, 1.3 or 2.6g DM 100mL-1 of rumen fluid) incubated in rumen fluid buffered (BRF-buffered rumen fluid) or not (PRF-pure rumen fluid) on total gas volume (TV), methane (CH4) production, dry matter degradation (DM Deg) and final pH of corn silage incubated in vitro. The highest DM Deg was reached with the lowest amounts of sample (0.6 and 1.3g of DM 100mL-1 of rumen fluid). The sample amount of 2.6g associated with PRF reduced CH4 production (P<0.05), compared with the amounts of 0.6 and 1.3g DM 100mL-1, which had similar CH4 production (P>0.05). The use of BRF caused no effect on CH4 production (P>0.05), independent of the sample amount. Increasing the amount of substrate resulted in lower final pH of incubation in both fluids (P<0.05). Our results indicate that incubations should be performed with the smallest amount of sample (0.6g of DM 100mL-1 of rumen fluid), using fluid without buffer. Incubation without buffer solution overestimates the CH4 production of corn silage. Further studies should be conducted to verify the possibility of in vitro ruminal incubation of other ingredients using pure rumen fluid.