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The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), mannan-oligosaccharides and the combination of these additives on the inflammatory response, ruminal parameters and rumen morphology of sheep fed a high grain-based diet. Thirty-Two Dorper x Santa Ines crossbred lambs with an average weight of 24±2 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design. The animals were housed in individual stalls and fed ad libitum. Diet treatments were: Control (without additive); LY (2 g/kg DM of live yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae), MOS (2 g/kg DM of mannan-oligosaccharides) and LY+MOS (2 g/kg DM of LY + 2 g/kg DM of MOS). The experiment lasted 42 days. The supplementation with MOS alone and the additives combination resulted in increased ruminal pH (P<0.01), while the total concentrations of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the rumen were higher (P<0.05) only in the diets with LY and MOS. Ammonia (NH3) concentration in the rumen decreased (P<0.04) with the additives usage. Diets with LY, MOS and with additives combination reduced (P<0.01) the levels of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in the plasma with values of 0.46; 0.44 and 0.04 EU/mL, respectively when compared to the control (0.93 EU/mL). MOS and LY+MOS treatments had reduced stratum corneum thickness (P<0.01) in comparison to the control treatment. The total thickness of ruminal epithelium was lower with the addition of MOS in the diet (P<0.03) than with LY additive. The incidence and severity of hepatic abscesses in animals whose diet was supplemented with LY and LY+MOS was lower (P<0.05) than in animals fed the control diet. The use of LY, MOS and LY+MOS in the high-concentrate diets for sheep reduced NH3 concentrations and LPS translocation into the bloodstream. Diets containing MOS and LY+MOS enhanced the health of the ruminal epithelium by reducing the thickness of the stratum corneum, and diets containing LY and LY+MOS decreased the incidence and severity of hepatic abscesses.

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The objective with this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of water inclusion on the chemical composition and fermentation profiles of reconstituted corn grain silage. The experiment was carried out in a factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design, with three replicates per treatment. Five treatments were evaluated with different levels of water inclusion (% of the natural matter): dry corn grain (control); 90% dry corn grain (DCG) and 10% water; 80% DCG and 20% water; 70% DGC and 30% water; and 60% DCG and 40% water, totaling 45 experimental silos. Inclusion of water in the silage of reconstituted corn grain promoted a reduction in the CP (%) and NDF (%) contents. However, the water increase elevated the NPN/TN contents and the amount of effluent, gas and dry matter (%) losses. The treatment with inclusion of 30% water in the natural matter leads to a better fermentation profile and fewer losses of effluent and dry matter, so it is recommended for ensiling dry ground corn grain.

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