-The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Azospirillum brasilense inoculation and different nitrogen (N) rates applied as topdressing on the productivity of a maize crop and the nutritional value of maize silage. Two experiments were conducted in the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 harvests. Treatments were distributed in a randomized block design in a factorial arrangement, which consisted of two maize hybrids (AS 1572 and Defender) coupled with nitrogen rates (0, 60, 120, 240, and 480 kg ha

The objective of the present study was to use electrical bioimpedance analysis (BIA) as an alternative method of evaluating the quality of bovine raw milk. Fourteen lactating purebred Dutch cows were used. For the analyses of milk quality and electrical bioimpedance, 140 ml milk per mammary quarter and a homogeneous sample of each animal were collected, totalling 70 samples. The criteria used to evaluate milk quality consisted of somatic cell count (CCS), total bacterial count (CBT), fat, protein, lactose, total solids (ST) and non-greasy solids (SNG) as required by IN No 62/2011. A monofrequential 50 kHz and 800 μA alternating current generator was used for electrical BIAs. The temperature of the raw milk was 5 °C for all samples. Primary resistance and reactance readings were obtained. From these values, the values of impedance, conductance and phase angle were obtained. Correlation analyses were performed to determine the variables used by the regression analyses. The regression analysis was performed using raw milk components as dependent variables and BIA measurements as independent variables. Lactose, ST and SNG were the components of milk that correlated best and presented moderate prediction equations in relation to BIA variables. The prediction equations using resistance showed R2 of 0.42 and 0.45 for ST and SNG, respectively. In the prediction equation for ST and SNG, the conductance resulted in R2 of 0.45, and 0.45, respectively. Regarding impedance, the R2 of 0.42 and 0.45 were obtained for the predicted equations ST and SNG, respectively. Thus, it can be concluded that BIA has the potential to estimate the composition and quality of bovine raw milk.

Biological nitrogen fixation and plant hormone synthesis promoted by Azospirillum spp. bacteria play a role in enhancing crop productivity and reducing losses. This may constitute a strategy to enhance crop productivity and reducing losses, thereby increasing nitrogen fertilization efficiency. This research aimed to evaluate the effects of Azospirillum brasilense Ab-V5 and Ab-V6 strain inoculation and nitrogen fertilization on the agronomic characteristics and productivity of two maize hybrids (Zea mays L.) AS 1572 and AG 9030. Experiments were carried out at Santa Maria, RS, Brazil in the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 growing seasons using a 2 × 2 × 5 factorial arrangement to distribute two maize hybrids, inoculated, or not, with Azospirillum brasilense, and five nitrogen doses (0, 60, 120, 240, and 480 kg ha−1). Kernel yield, mass, and dimensions, as well as kernel number on the cobs, stalk diameter, plant height, ear insertion height, prolificacy, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and their correlations were measured. Compared to uninoculated plants, higher kernel yield (p < 0.05) was observed for AS 1572 hybrid when inoculated with A. brasilense, with an increase of 0.978 Mg ha−1 or 10.95%. This effect was primarily due to the higher NUE rate and the increase (p < 0.05) in the number of kernels per cob. The AG 9030 hybrid showed no response to inoculation. A. brasilense inoculation increased the NUE rate of the AS 1572 hybrid in the condition N zero dose at N 60 kg ha−1 dose. Nitrogen fertilization increased crop productivity, notably by raising kernel mass and other productivity components, but reduced the NUE rate. The maximum technical efficiency obtained for the AS 1572 hybrid was of 10.705 Mg ha−1 with a N dose of 342 kg ha−1, whereas the AG 9030 hybrid produced a maximum grain yield of 10.089 Mg ha−1 with a dose of 350 kg ha−1 of N. We conclude that the inoculation with A. brasilense increases NUE, maize grain yield, and agronomic characteristic in the AS 1572 hybrid.

The effects of growing pinto peanut mixed with elephant grass-based pastures are still little known. The aim of the current research was to evaluate the performance of herbage yield, nutritive value of forage and animal responses to levels of pinto peanut forage mass mixed with elephant grass in low-input systems. Three grazing systems were evaluated: (i) elephant grass-based (control); (ii) pinto peanut, low-density forage yield (63 g/kg of dry matter – DM) + elephant grass; and (iii) pinto peanut, high-density dry matter forage yield (206 g/kg DM) + elephant grass. The experimental design was completely randomized with the three treatments (grazing systems) and three replicates (paddocks) in split-plot grazing cycles. Forage samples were collected to evaluate the pasture and animal responses. Leaf blades of elephant grass and the other companion grasses of pinto peanut were collected to analyse the crude protein, in vitro digestible organic matter and total digestible nutrients. The pinto peanut, high-density dry matter forage yield + elephant grass treatment was found to give the best results in terms of herbage yield, forage intake and stocking rate, as well as having higher crude protein contents for both elephant grass and the other grasses, followed by pinto peanut with low-density forage yield + elephant grass and finally elephant grass alone. Better results were found with the grass–legume system for pasture and animal responses.

With the aim to evaluate the effects of the use of additives (milk whey and inoculant containing Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus acidophillus) in sorghum silage, an experiment was conducted in which the productive parameters, fermentative and the nutritional quality of silage were analyzed. The experimental design was completely randomized, testing different levels of inclusion of whey and live Lactobacillus strains based on forage green matter, constituting the following treatments: 1) Sorghum without inclusion of additives (CON); 2) Sorghum + 5 x 10 2 cfu/g L. casei and L. acidophillus (LAC); 3) Sorghum 5 x 10 2 cfu g-1 whey (SL); 4) Sorghum + 5x10 2 cfu/g-1 L. casei and L. acidophillus and 5x10 2 cfu/g whey (LAC + SL). When Lactobacillus was included the mixture used was 50 ml of water and 10 grams of Lactobacillus. To measure silage fermentation, pH, dry matter recovery, gas and effluent losses, ammonia nitrogen, buffer power and density were estimated. The addition of whey and Lactobacillus inoculant in sorghum silage did not significantly change the bromatological values of silage when compared to the original material. The inclusion of additives increased (P <0.05) the effluent losses during fermentation. The use of whey presents a viable alternative for producers, as it does not compromise the fermentation and chemical composition of sorghum silage and assists in the reduction of dairy residues in nature.KEY WORDS: silage, fermentation, grass, by-product. EFEITO DA ADIÇÃO DE ADITIVOS: SORO DO LEITE, LACTOBACILLUS CASEI E ACIDOPHILLUS SOBRE A QUALIDADE DA SILAGEM DE SORGORESUMO: Com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos do uso de aditivos (soro de leite e inoculante contendo Lactobacillus casei e L. acidophillus) em ensilagem de sorgo, foi conduzindo um experimento em que se analisou os parâmetros produtivos, fermentativos e a qualidade nutricional das silagens. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, sendo testados diferentes níveis de inclusão de soro de leite e cepas de Lactobacillus vivos com base na matéria verde da forragem, constituindo os seguintes tratamentos: 1) Sorgo sem inclusão de aditivos (CON); 2) Sorgo + 5 x10 -2 ufc g -1 L. casei e L. acidophillus (LAC); 3) Sorgo 5 x10 -2 ufc g -1 soro de leite (SL); 4) Sorgo + 5x10 -2 ufc g -1 L. casei e L. acidophillus e 5x10 -2 ufc g -1 de soro de leite (LAC+ SL). Quando houve inclusão de Lactobacillus a mistura utilizada foi 50 ml de água e 10 gramas de Lactobacillus. Para mensurar a fermentação da silagem, estimou-se o pH, recuperação de matéria seca, perdas de gases e efluentes, nitrogênio amoniacal, poder tampão e densidade. A adição de soro de leite e do inoculante com Lactobacillus na ensilagem de sorgo, não modificou significativamente os valores bromatológicos da silagem, quando comparada ao material original. A inclusão dos aditivos aumentou (P<0,05) as perdas por efluentes durante a fermentação. A utilização do soro de leite apresenta uma alternativa viável para os produtores, pois não compromete a fermentação e a composiç...