This study aimed at evaluating the influence of a silvopastoral system (SPS) composed of ''Aroeira'' trees (Myracrodruon urundeuva) on the nutritional value of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu forage grass over the rainy season. The experiment was conducted in the SPS located in the ''Cerrado'' biome in Lagoa Santa County, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, in the agricultural year of 2004-2005. It was evaluated the influence of ''Aroeira'', whose density in the area was 140 trees/ha, on the following parameters of the B. brizantha cv. Marandu forage grass: forage mass harvest above stubble height, morphogenic attributes, bromatological composition and nutritional value. The effects of ''Aroeira'' trees on the micro-climatic conditions were also evaluated. The experiment adopted a randomized block design with five blocks (cutting seasons), two treatments (a shaded pasture-B. brizantha cv. Marandu shaded by M. urundeuvaand a pasture in full sun-B. brizantha cv. Marandu in full sun), and three replicates. The tree component, composed of the tree species M. urundeuva in the experimental density adopted, increased dry matter and crude protein of the forage mass harvest above stubble height, without affecting the concentration of neutral detergent fibre or acid detergent fibre, thus causing dry matter and organic matter in vitro degradability as well as effective degradability of the forage grass to remain the same as those obtained in full sun. Therefore, the results of this study show the possibility of using trees and grass to increase both animal production and environmental services.

RESUMO -As silagens de 13 cultivares de girassol (Helianthus annuus L.), produzidas com plantas contendo mais de 90% de grãos maduros, foram avaliadas quanto às características químicas e à digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS). Os dados foram analisados segundo delineamento experimental inteiramente ao acaso e a comparação das médias, feita pelo teste SNK. O menor teor de matéria seca (19,8%) foi obtido para o híbrido M737 e os maiores, para os híbridos Contiflor 7 (31,2%) e Cargill 11 (32,2%). Os valores de pH variaram de 4,1 a 5,5 e os teores nitrogênio amoniacal como porcentagem do nitrogênio total, de 5,9% a 14,6%; as médias gerais para os conteúdos dos ácidos lático, acético e butírico foram de 7,1%; 1,9% e 0,06%, respectivamente. O híbrido Rumbosol 91 apresentou a menor porcentagem de proteína bruta (7,2%), enquanto teores acima de 9,0% foram notados para cinco cultivares. A média geral (14,7%) de extrato etéreo (EE) foi maior que os valores normalmente observados para volumosos. Os teores de fibra em detergente neutro, fibra em detergente ácido (FDA) e lignina apresentaram médias gerais de 45,8; 35,7 e 6,4% e foram negativamente correlacionados com os valores de DIVMS (média geral de 49,8%). Todos os cultivares apresentaram silagens com baixas concentrações médias de carboidratos solúveis residuais. De maneira geral, os altos conteúdos de FDA e de lignina e a DIVMS média de 49,8% podem restringir a aplicação das silagens desses cultivares de girassol, para categorias mais exigentes, e o alto teor de EE pode limitar o nível de inclusão dessas silagens na dieta dos bovinos.Palavras-chave: fermentação, silo experimental, valor nutritivo, volumoso Chemical Characterization and in vitro Digestibility of Sunflower SilagesABSTRACT -Silages of thirteen cultivars of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) were evaluated for chemical characteristics and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). The silages were produced when the plants presented above 90% of ripe grains. The experimental procedure followed a entirely randomized design and the mean values were compared by SNK test (P<.05). The smallest content of dry matter, 19.8%, was obtained for the hybrid M737, and the highest were observed for Contiflor 7, with 31.2%, and Cargill 11, with 32.2%. The pH values varied from 4.1 up to 5.5, and the contents of ammonia-nitrogen as percentage of total nitrogen varied from 5.9% up to 14.6%. The general averages obtained for lactic, acetic and butyric acids were of 7.1%, 1.9% and 0.06%, respectively. The hybrid Rumbosol 91 presented the smallest percentage of crude protein, with 7.2%, while contents above 9.0% were observed for five cultivars. The general average of ether extract (EE), 14.7%, was quite high when compared to others contents usually obtained for roughage. The contents of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and lignin presented general averages of 45.8%, 35.7% and 6.4%, and were negatively correlated to IVDMD (general average of 49.8%). The silages presented low concentrations of resi...

Rev. Bras. Saúde Prod. Anim., Salvador, v.13, n.3, p.732-744 jul./set., 2012 http://www.rbspa.ufba.br ISSN 1519 9940 732Tamanho de partícula do volumoso e freqüência de alimentação sobre o metabolismo energético e protéico em ovinos, considerando dietas com elevada participação de concentrado SUMMARYThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of different forage particle sizes and the feeding frequency on the animals metabolism. Eight lambs with 52.5kg live weight were distributed in a randomized block design according the 2x4 factorial, corresponding to two feeding frequencies and four particle sizes (2mm; 5mm; 10mm and 25mm). The forage used was the Tifton-85 hay (Cynodon spp.) and commercial concentrate, adjusting the forage: concentrate ratio to 25:75%. The respirometry experiment was conducted in an open circuit respiration chamber for small ruminants. The concentrations of oxygen, carbon dioxide and methane were determined. Nitrogen content was determined in urine. With these parameters was determined heat production (PC). The nitrogen retained represented 36.0% of Nitrogen (N) Rev. Bras. Saúde Prod. Anim., Salvador, v.13, n.3, p.732-744 jul./set., 2012 http://www.rbspa.ufba.br ISSN 1519 9940 733 intake (g/day) and 46.8% of N absorbed (g/day). The CH4 average production was 1.45L/UTM/day. The PC was approximately 40.0% of crude energy intake. The metabolizable energy was 73.2% of crude energy intake and the average value of net energy was 1807.35kcal/day. There was no effect of particle size and feeding frequency on the nitrogen balance and energy metabolism.

Technology assessment of sugarcane varieties influenced by different fertilization and water stressThe objective of this study was to evaluate the technological characteristics of two varieties of cane sugar under different levels of fertilization and irrigation suppression. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of the State University of Montes Claros, in Janaúba-MG. The experimental design was randomized blocks, three replications in a split plot (2 x 3 x 6), and in part two varieties of cane sugar, RB85-5453 and SP80-1816, with three irrigation season suppression and precipitation after emergency of tiller (DIAC), characterized at 165, 195 and 225 days, and the subplot Recebido para publicação em 26/04/2011 e aprovado em 26/09/2012.

O presente estudo foi conduzido para avaliar a influência da inclusão do resíduo do processamento de abacaxi (Ananas comosus L.) nas dietas sobre os consumos (por unidade de tamanho metabólico - UTM) e coeficientes de digestibilidade da matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE), fibra detergente neutro (FDN), fibra detergente ácido (FDA), hemiceluloses (HCEL), celulose (CEL) e energia de dietas experimentais isofibrosas e isoprotéicas. Avaliaram-se também os balanços nitrogenados e de energia dos animais. Vinte ovinos machos, inteiros receberam rações com quatro níveis de inclusão do resíduo (0; 11%; 16%; 27%) em base de matéria seca, em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco repetições por tratamento. Maiores consumos de matéria seca foram evidenciados quando as rações continham 11% do resíduo. Maiores consumos de proteína bruta, fibra detergente neutro, fibra detergente ácido e celulose (g/UTM) e energia metabolizável (kcal/UTM) foram apresentados por animais alimentados com dietas contendo 11% de resíduo em relação ao das dietas com 27% de inclusão (P<0,05). Maior coeficiente de digestibilidade da FDA ocorreu para dietas que não continham o resíduo de abacaxi. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade da CEL foram semelhantes. Os balanços energéticos e protéicos foram positivos. Melhores resultados para os parâmetros analisados foram observados para dietas que incluíam até 16% do resíduo de abacaxi na base da matéria seca.