-The objective was to evaluate the effects of corn silage supplemented with 1-propanol or inoculated with L. buchneri on the ruminal fermentation profile, digestibility, and production traits of lactating Holstein cows. Whole-corn plants were harvested at 350 g/kg dry matter (DM) and packed in nine bag silos (13 t/silo). At ensiling, two treatments were applied: control (no additive; six silos) and L. buchneri inoculation with 1 × 10 5 cfu/g (three silos). Feeding started after 247 days of storage; one L. buchneri and two control silos were opened in each experimental period. Twenty-one multiparous Holstein cows (~33 kg/day of milk) were allocated to seven balanced 3 × 3 Latin squares with 21-day periods (14 days of adaptation). The experimental diets contained (DM basis): 80 g/kg cottonseed, 95 g/kg citrus pulp, 180 g/kg soybean meal, 90 g/kg corn grain (ground), 25 g/kg minerals and vitamins premix, and 530 g/kg of corn silage. Source of corn silage was the only difference between experimental treatments: control, L. buchneri, or control silage supplemented with 1-propanol (10 g/kg of diet DM). The 1-propanol was dissolved in water (1:1) and sprinkled onto the ration during mixing, immediately before each feeding. Dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility, milk yield, and composition were not affected by treatments. Cows fed 1-propanol had greater concentrations of 1-propanol in the rumen fluid, higher concentration of glucose, and lower concentration of non-esterified fatty acids in blood plasma. Corn silage inoculated with L. buchneri at 1 × 10 5 cfu/g does not affect silage fermentation, ruminal fermentation profile, or milk production. Supplementation of 1-propanol at 10 g/kg affects the ruminal fermentation profile without affecting feed intake and milk production of mid-lactating dairy cows.Key Words: aerobic stability, alcohol, heterofermentative inoculant, voluntary feed intake Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia

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Biomass partitioning in forages is highly variable during plant development and with the rate of nutrient supply. This study was carried out with the objective to evaluate the tillering pattern and biomass partitioning of Mombasa grass (Megathyrsus maximus cv. Mombaça) subjected to rates of nitrogen (N) during regrowth. The treatments consisted of three weekly rates of N: control (without N supply), 25 and 50 mg dm-3 of N, which were evaluated by 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 days after defoliation. The design was of completely randomized blocks in a 3 × 6 factorial arrangement with three replicates. The number of tillers was measured and harvesting and weighting of the following morphological components were performed: leaf (leaf blades), pseudostem, stem base and root. Interaction between N rates and regrowth times was found for all variables analyzed. The N supply increased the number and weight of tiller (up to 117.3 and 167.6%, respectively), as well as the shoot dry matter yield of Mombasa grass. That effect was most significant particularly at 32 days of regrowth. Among the treatments receiving N supply, the highest N rate was more significant to leaf and shoot yield only after 6-11 days of regrowth. High N supply must be applied to Mombasa grass only after that time and the biomass harvested between 24-28 days of regrowth

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This study was carried out to evaluate the white mulberry tree (Morus alba) as a feedstuff for ruminants in natura, as hay and as silage. A completely randomized design with five treatments and three replicates was used, where the treatments were five types of mulberry forage: (1) in natura after cutting; (2) hay; (3) silage of mulberry in natura; (4) silage of wilted mulberry and (5) silage of mulberry with ground ear corn. The content of crude protein (CP) did not differ between the silages (average of 19.03% of dry matter -DM). The CP content of the silages was higher than in mulberry hay (15.26% DM) and similar to mulberry after cutting (17.00% DM). The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content did not differ between the silages (34.84% DM on average), but the NDF of silage with ear corn was lower than the mulberry hay (33.77 vs. 39.36% DM). The acid detergent fiber (ADF) content did not differ between silages and mulberry hay (30.66% DM on average). The lowest value for ADF was observed in the mulberry after cutting (26.06% DM). The aerobic stability of the silages was not broken during the seven days of aerobic exposure. The pH of silage of mulberry in natura was similar to silage of wilted mulberry (4.80 on average), while the silage with ear corn showed a lower pH value (4.58) compared to the other silages. The buffering capacity (BC) did not differ between the silage with ear corn and silage of wilted mulberry (84.91 meq 100 g DM -1 on average), while a lower value was observed for silage of mulberry in natura (56.69 meq 100 g DM -1 ). The highest value for ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 -N) was demonstrated in the silage of mulberry in natura (13.08% total N), and the lowest values were observed in the silage with ear corn and silage of wilted mulberry (7.49 and 9.58% total N, respectively). Silage with 11% of ground ear corn is the best alternative use of white mulberry tree as forage for ruminant feeding, since this form presented low fiber content and a fermentative pattern suitable for the process of forage conservation.