O consumo na dose correta e principalmente na frequência adequada são as principais dificuldades do fornecimento de ionóforos para animais em dietas com elevado teor de volumoso. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o efeito da frequência do fornecimento de narasina no desempenho (Exp. I), parâmetros de fermentação ruminal, digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes e balanço de nitrogênio (Exp. II) em ovinos alimentados com dietas contendo elevado teor de volumoso. As dietas experimentais foram compostas por 95% de feno de coastcros e 5% de milho moído. Os tratamentos utilizados foram: Controle (C): fornecimento do concentrado uma vez ao dia sem ionóforo, Narasina 24 horas (N24): fornecimento diário de narasina na dosagem de 13 mg de narasina /kg de MS, Narasina 48 horas (N48): fornecimento de narasina a cada 48 horas (dias alternados), sendo no primeiro dia ofertado 26 mg de narasina/kg de MS e no segundo dia foi fornecido apenas o milho moído (média receberam 13 mg de narasina/kg de MS), Narasina 72 horas (N72): fornecimento de narasina a cada 72 horas, sendo no primeiro dia ofertado 39 mg de narasina/kg de MS, já no segundo e terceiro dia fornecido apenas o milho moído sem ionóforo. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas utilizando o procedimento MIXED do SAS (2002) e considerado efeito significativo quando P 0,05. Experimento I: Foram utilizados 44 cordeiros (33,31 ± 0,59 kg), sendo o delineamento experimental de blocos completos casualizados, com a duração de 105 dias. Não houve efeito para o CMS (P = 0,28), no entanto, a inclusão de narasina diariamente (N24) e a cada 48 horas (N48) aumentou o GMD dos animais (P = 0,03) e a EA (P = 0,02). Experimento II: Foram utilizados quatro borregos (Dorper x Santa Inês, castrados e providos de cânulas ruminais). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o quadrado latino 4 x 4. O experimento teve duração total de 144 dias, divididos em quatro períodos de trinta e seis dias. Em cada período os doze primeiros dias foram utilizados como wash-out, do 13° ao 36° dia os animais receberam as dietas experimentais, a colheitas de dados (total de fezes, urina e de fluido ruminal) foram realizadas nos seis últimos dias de cada período. Não houve efeito na digestibilidade da MS e do FDN, os tratamentos N24 e N48 aumentaram a concentração molar de 11 propionato (P < 0,01), a concentração total de AGCC (P < 0,01) e diminuiu a relação acetato:propionato (P < 0,01). Com base nos dados obtidos é possível concluir que os tratamentos N24 e N48 aumentaram o peso final dos cordeiros, e alterou positivamente fermentação ruminal dos ovinos, por outro lado, a narasina mostrou diminuição na sua capacidade como moduladora da fermentação ruminal no intervalo de fornecimento maior que dois dias (72 horas/N72). / The intake on the correct dosage and frequency are the main difficulties of supplying ionophores for animals on high forage diets. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of supplementation of narasin over performance (Exp. I), ruminal fermentation parameters, nutrient apparent digestibility and nitrogen balance (Exp. II) on sheep fed high forage diets. The experimental diets consisted on 95% coastcross hay and 5% ground corn used as a delivery vehicle of the additive. The treatments were: Control (C): daily supply of concentrate without the ionophore; narasin 24 hours (N24): daily supply of 13 mg of narasin/kg of DM; narasin 48 hours (N48): supply of narasin every 48 hours (every other day), being provided 26 mg of Narasin/kg of DM on the first day and only the ground corn on the second day (an average of 13 mg of narasin/kg of DM); narasin 72 hours (N72): supply of narasin every 72 hours (one day receiving the additive followed by two days without receiving it), being provided 39 mg of narasin/kg of DM on the first day and only the ground corn on the second and third days. The statistical analysis was done using the MIXED procedure on SAS (2002) and the effects were considered significant when P 0.05. Experiment I: Were used 44 lambs (33.31 ± 0.59 kg) in a randomized block experimental design, the trial lasted 105 days. There was no effect for DMI (P = 0.28), the daily inclusion of narasin (N24) and every 48 hours (N48) increased the ADG (P = 0.03) and the FE (P < 0.01). Experiment II: Were used 4 male lambs (Dorper x Santa Inês, castrated and cannulated in the rumen) in a 4 x 4 Latin square experimental design. The trial lasted 144 days, divided in 4 periods of 36 days each. The first twelve days of each period were used as wash-out, from the 13th to the 36th day the animals received the experimental diets, and the data collection (feces, urine and ruminal fluid) were done on the last six days of each period. . It was not the effect on the digestibility of DM (P = 0.30) and NDF (P = 0.14). The daily inclusion of narasin (N24) and every 48 hours (N48) increased the molar concentration of propionate (P < 0.01), the total concentration of SCFA (P <0.01) and reduced the acetate to propionate (acetate:propionate ratio) ratio (P < 0.01). Based on this data it was possible to 13 conclude that the daily supply of narasin (N24) and every 48 hours (N48) affected the performance and ruminal fermentation parameters on sheep, but this effects decreased when intervals bigger than 48 hours (N72) were used.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-08-31Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:48:47Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 menegale_mlc_me_botfca.pdf: 1119944 bytes, checksum: e40b1e7e2fe671f487f29c828afcebff (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Efeitos benéficos da adubação com silício (Si) têm sido observados em várias espécies vegetais, especialmente quando submetidas a estresse biótico ou abiótico. A utilização agronômica de resíduos provenientes do processo siderúrgico (ricos em silício) é uma alternativa hoje em dia bastante viável – são aproveitadas as características do material que podem levar à correção da acidez, incremento nos níveis de cálcio e magnésio, aumento da disponibilidade de fósforo, ferro e manganês, redução da toxicidade de alumínio, além de contribuir para a diminuição do impacto desses resíduos no meio ambiente. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar os efeitos da aplicação de Si, proveniente de resíduos de siderurgia, na nutrição, tolerância ao déficit hídrico no ajustamento osmótico, crescimento de plantas e aporte de matéria seca de seis espécies de plantas forrageiras: aveia preta (Avena strigosa Schreb), feijão-guandu (Cajanus cajan), Brachiaria decumbens, Brachiaria ruziziensis, milheto (Pennisetum americanum), crotalária (Crotalaria juncea). As plantas foram cultivadas sob três regimes de umidade no solo – plantas sem estresse hídrico, estresse moderado e estresse intenso. O ensaio foi instalado em casa de vegetação em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial duplo (5 × 3) considerando-se cinco doses de Si (0; 242; 484; 968 e 1452 kg.ha-1), três manejos hídricos correspondentes a irrigar quando a tensão de água no solo atingir -0,0232, -0,0484 e -1,5 Mpa, e seis espécies de forrageiras, acima descritas. Os parâmetros analisados foram: Análise do Resíduo Utilizado como Fonte de Si; Caracterização Química do Solo Utilizado; Massa de Matéria Seca; Teores Foliares de Macronutrientes e Silício e Teores de... / Beneficial effects of silicon fertilization (Si) have been observed in grass plants (silicon “accumulator” plants) especially under biotic or abiotic stress. The agricultural use of metallurgy slag, that presents a high level of Si, represents a viable alternative for reducing waste impacts on environment and for Soil-Plant System - are taken advantage of the material characteristics, leading to soil acidity correction, uptake in levels of calcium and magnesium, increase in availability of phosphorus, iron and manganese, reduction of aluminum toxicity. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of Si application, from metallurgy slag, on nourishment, drought tolerance, development of plants and dry matter uptake, of six forage plants species: black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), Brachiaria decumbens, Brachiaria ruziziensis, pear millet (Pennisetum americanum) and sun hemp (Crotalaria juncea). Plants were cultivated under three soil moisture conditions – plants without stress, moderate stress and intensive stress. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, in the Soil Science Department, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil, in a completely randomized factorial design, with five doses of Si (0, 242, 484, 968 and 1452 kg ha-1), three water management systems, corresponding to irrigate when soil water tension reached -0.0232, -0.0484 and -1.5 MPa and six forage plants species. Were evaluated the following parameters: analysis of the slag used as Si source; soil chemical characterization; dry matter production; macronutrients, micronutrients and Si contents in leaves and soil, besides the biochemical parameter related to activity of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD). The use of metallurgy slag as an... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Reges Heinrichs / Co-orientador: Cecílio Viega Soares Filho / Banca: Carolina dos Santos Batista Bonini / Banca: Adônis Moreira / Resumo: A pastagem é a base da produção pecuária brasileira, no entanto grande parte encontra-se degradada ou em processo de degradação. Com o objetivo de avaliar a recuperação de pastagem degradada de Urochloa decumbens através da introdução de estilosantes Campo Grande e da adubação fosfatada, realizou-se um experimento em Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 7x2x2, com quatro repetições, sendo: sete manejos de introdução de estilosantes (controle Urochloa decumbens; dessecação parcial com 1,5 L ha -1 de glifosato; dessecação total com 3,0 L ha -1 de glifosato; plantio direto; escarificação; gradagem e aração+gradagem), presença ou ausência de adubação fosfatada e dois períodos de avaliação (2011/12 e 2012/13). A introdução do estilosantes Campo Grande através de sistemas como gradagem, escarificação, dessecação e juntamente com adubação fosfatada não foram manejos suficientes para manter a leguminosa na pastagem ao longo do tempo; a produção de massa seca total foi incrementada pela produção de massa seca do estilosantes; o adubo fosfatado apresentou efeito para produção de massa seca de estilosantes e total apenas na primavera de 2011/12; o teor de PB da pastagem foi maior na primavera/verão do 1o período; os teores de FDN e FDA foram elevados em todos os tratamentos, especialmente na estação do outono; a introdução do estilosantes na pastagem não alterou os atributos químicos do solo; a adubação fosfatada proporcionou aumento do teor de fósforo e cálcio do solo, além da soma de bases e capacidade de troca catiônica / Abstract: The pasture is the basis of Brazilian livestock production, however, most pastures are degraded or in degradation process. In order to evaluate the recovery of degraded pasture Urochloa decumbens with introducing legume stylosanthes and phosphorus fertilization, an experiment was conducted in oxisol. The experimental design was a randomized block, 7x2x2 factorial scheme with four replications, involving seven managements introduction of stylosanthes (control Urochloa decumbens, partial desiccation with 1.5 L ha -1 of glyphosate, total desiccation with 3.0 L ha -1 of glyphosate; no tillage without dessication, soil scarification, harrowing, plowing+harrowing), presence or absence of phosphate fertilizer and two periods of evaluation (2011/12 and 2012/13). The introduction of stylosanthes Campo Grande through systems such as harrowing, scarification, and drying with phosphorus fertilization were not enough to keep the legumes in the pasture over time; the total dry mass was increased by dry mass production of stylosanthes; the phosphorus fertilization had an effect for dry matter production stylosanthes and total dry matter only in the spring / summer 2011/12; CP content of pasture was higher in the spring / summer of 1st period, when there was a high percentage of legumes in treatments with desiccation and soil disturbance; NDF and ADF contents were high in all treatments, especially in the autumn season; the introduction of stylosanthes in the pasture did not change the soil chemical properties; the phosphorus fertilization provided an increase of phosphorus and calcium in the soil, plus the sum of bases and cation exchange capacity / Mestre

Orientador: Euclides Braga Malheiros / Banca: Antonio Carlos Homem Junior / Banca: Juliana Duarte Messana / Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos das dietas a base de silagem de milho inoculada ou não (controle) com Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) e Bacillus subtilis (BS) associada a duas proporções de concentrado (60:40 e 40:60) sobre a digestibilidade e parâmetros ruminais de ovinos (Santa Inês). A forragem foi inoculada com Lactobacillus plantarum e Bacillus subtilis ou mantida sem inoculação (tratamento controle). Foram utilizados oito ovinos, fistulados em um duplo quadrado latino (4 x 4), com duração de 16 dias cada período. O maior consumo de FDN e FDA (P<0,05) foram observados nos animais que receberam maior proporção de volumoso na dieta (60% de silagem) com média de 0,35 Kg/dia para FDN e 0,16 Kg/dia para FDA. Foi observado maior digestibilidade da FDN (P<0,05) nos animais que consumiram maior proporção de volumoso:concentrado (média= 45,58%) na dieta. Foram encontrados menores valores de pH (P<0,05) no líquido ruminal dos ovinos alimentados com maior proporção de concentrado (60%), nos tempos 0 e 3 horas após a alimentação. Valores maiores de N-NH3 (P<0,05) foram encontrados no líquido ruminal dos animais alimentados com silagem controle. As concentrações dos principais AGCC (acético, propiônico e butírico) apresentaram variação no tempo (P<0,05) com maiores valores nos líquidos ruminais após 3 horas da alimentação nas dietas com maior proporção de concentrado (60%). Notamos maiores valores de ácido acético e ácido propiônico (P<0,05) após 9 horas da alimentação no... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of diets based on inoculated or non - inoculated (control) silage with Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) and Bacillus subtilis (BS) associated with two concentrate ratios (60:40 and 40:60) On digestibility and ruminations of sheep (Santa Inês). Forage was inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum and Bacillus subtilis or maintained untreated. Eight sheep were used, fistulated in a double Latin square (4 x 4), with duration of 16 days each period. The highest intake of NDF and FDA (P <0.05) was observed in the animals that received the highest proportion of dietary bulk (60% silage) with a mean of 0.35 kg / diameter for NDF and 0.16 kg / day For FDA. The highest digestibility of NDF (P <0.05) was observed in the animals that consumed the highest proportion of roughage: concentrate (mean = 45.58%) in the diet. Lower values of pH (P <0.05) were found when there was no rumen liquid from sheep fed a higher proportion of concentrate at 0 and 3 hours after feeding. Larger values of N-NH3 (P <0.05) were found in the ruminal fluid of the animals fed with control silage. Concentrations of the major AGCC (acetic, propionic and butyric) showed a variation in time (P <0.05) with higher values in ruminal liquids after 3 hours of feeding with diets with higher concentrations (60%). We observed higher values of acetic acid and propionic acid (P <0.05) after 9 hours of feed with silage treatment. The application of inoculant (L. plantarum and B. subtilis) to maize silage and the voluminous: concentrate (60:40 and 40:60) ratios adopted did not promote benefits in the digestibility and rumen of sheep / Mestre

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar as espécies de fungos fitopatogênicos presentes em sementes de P. guenoarum Arech. ecótipo “Azulão”, bem como, verificar a sensibilidade in vitro dos fungos isolados a diferentes fungicidas e avaliar a eficiência do tratamento químico no controle de fungos e no desempenho fisiológico das sementes. Cinco lotes de sementes (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 e 2015), obtidos de área experimental na EEA/UFRGS, foram analisados quanto à qualidade física e fisiológica através dos testes de umidade, pureza, germinação e vigor (PCG, IVG e TZ). Para a avaliação da qualidade sanitária fez-se o isolamento dos fungos fitopatogênicos associados às sementes pelo método de “blotter test”. A patogenicidade dos fungos encontrados foi avaliada por inoculação de plântulas, através de suspensões de conídios. Os fungos fitopatogênicos foram caracterizados através de análise morfológica e molecular. Para a caracterização molecular utilizou-se o espaçador interno de transcrição de rDNA [primers ITS1 / ITS4] e o gene RNA polimerase II (RPB2) [primers 5f2 / 7cr]. Por meio de ensaios de fungitoxicidade in vitro, estudou-se a sensibilidade dos isolados fúngicos detectados nas sementes, testando-se quatro fungicidas (Carboxina + Tiram, Cabendazim + Tiram, Metalaxil-M + Fludioxonil e Tiofanato-metílico) e cinco concentrações (1; 2,5; 5; 10 e 30 ppm), determinando-se a DL50. Os fungicidas mais eficientes foram avaliados no tratamento das sementes, somente no lote 2015. Os lotes 2014 e 2015 apresentaram maior porcentagem de germinação e vigor. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar as espécies de fungos fitopatogênicos presentes em sementes de P. guenoarum Arech. ecótipo “Azulão”, bem como, verificar a sensibilidade in vitro dos fungos isolados a diferentes fungicidas e avaliar a eficiência do tratamento químico no controle de fungos e no desempenho fisiológico das sementes. Cinco lotes de sementes (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 e 2015), obtidos de área experimental na EEA/UFRGS, foram analisados quanto à qualidade física e fisiológica através dos testes de umidade, pureza, germinação e vigor (PCG, IVG e TZ). Para a avaliação da qualidade sanitária fez-se o isolamento dos fungos fitopatogênicos associados às sementes pelo método de “blotter test”. A patogenicidade dos fungos encontrados foi avaliada por inoculação de plântulas, através de suspensões de conídios. Os fungos fitopatogênicos foram caracterizados através de análise morfológica e molecular. Para a caracterização molecular utilizou-se o espaçador interno de transcrição de rDNA [primers ITS1 / ITS4] e o gene RNA polimerase II (RPB2) [primers 5f2 / 7cr]. Por meio de ensaios de fungitoxicidade in vitro, estudou-se a sensibilidade dos isolados fúngicos detectados nas sementes, testando-se quatro fungicidas (Carboxina + Tiram, Cabendazim + Tiram, Metalaxil-M + Fludioxonil e Tiofanato-metílico) e cinco concentrações (1; 2,5; 5; 10 e 30 ppm), determinando-se a DL50. Os fungicidas mais eficientes foram avaliados no tratamento das sementes, somente no lote 2015. Os lotes 2014 e 2015 apresentaram maior porcentagem de germinação e vigor. / This study was aimed to determine the phytopathogenic fungi species present in P. guenoarum Arech seeds. "Azulão" ecotype, as well as to verify the in vitro sensitivity of the isolated fungi to different fungicides and to evaluate the efficiency of the chemical treatment in the control of fungi and the physiological performance of the seeds. Five seed lots (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015), obtained from the experimental area of the EEA / UFRGS, were analyzed for physical and physiological quality by means of moisture, purity, germination and vigor tests (PCG, IVG and TZ). For the evaluation of the sanitary quality, the phytopathogenic fungi associated to the seeds were isolated by the blotter test method. The pathogenicity of the fungi found was evaluated by inoculation of seedlings by conidial suspensions. Phytopathogenic fungi were characterized by morphological and molecular analysis. The internal transcription spacer of rDNA [primers ITS1 / ITS4] and RNA polymerase II (RPB2) [primers 5f2 / 7cr] was used for the molecular characterization. The sensitivity of the fungal isolates detected in the seeds was evaluated using four fungicides (Carboxin + Thiram, Cabendazim + Thiram, Metalaxyl-M + Fludioxonil and Thiophanate-methyl) and five concentrations (1; 2,5; 5; 10 and 30 ppm), the LD50 being determined. The most efficient fungicides were evaluated in the treatment of seeds only in lot 2015. The lots 2014 and 2015 presented a higher percentage of germination and vigor. The species of phytopathogenic fungi most frequent in seed lots of P. guenoarum ecotype "Azulão" are Bipolaris micropus, Curvularia geniculata, Fusarium incarnatum and Phoma herbarum. In vitro conditions, the fungicide Carboxin + Thiram inhibits the mycelial growth of the fungi F. incarnatum, C. geniculata and B. micropus with high efficacy (LD50 < 1 ppm), whereas Metalaxyl + Fludioxonil inhibits with high efficacy the fungi P. herbarum, C. geniculata and B. micropus. The chemical treatment with the fungicides Carboxin + Thiram, Metalaxyl-M + Fludioxonil and the combination of both products in the seeds of P. guenoarum is efficient in the control of B. micropus, C. geniculata, F. incarnatum and P. herbarum and promotes better physiological performance.

Pasture is considered one of our most important agricultural crops, contributing more than one third of all feed consumed by livestock in the United States. High quality pasture has been recognized to be highly important in efficient milk production. It has been shown, however, that good pasture must be supplemented by concentrates if' milk production is to be maintained at a high level.

Most forage quality models were developed for ruminant nutrition, and may not apply to the horse. This two-part study evaluated the relationship between forage chemical composition and dry matter digestibility (DMD) using an in vitro method with equine feces as the inoculums. The first experiment determined that compared to 48 h of incubation, 72 h of incubation resulted in higher DMD for some forages. As a result of experiment 1, incubations in experiment 2 were conducted using 48 and 72 h incubation periods at 38 degrees C. The second experiment evaluated the effect of chemical composition on DMD. Thirty-one hay samples were used that ranged from 33% to 71% for NDF, 21% to 44% for ADF and 6.7 to 25.6% for CP (all on DMB). There were inverse relationships between ADF and DMD ( r = -0.826 at 48 h; -0.841 at 72 h) and NDF and DMD (r = -0.779 at 48 h; 0.812 at 72 h). There was a positive relationship between CP and DMD (r =0.572 at 48 h; 0.615 at 72 h). Forage chemical composition, particularly ADF and NDF, has potential to predict digestibility of forages by horses.

Thesis (Ph.D.) --University of Limpopo, 2012 / A series of experiments were carried out to evaluate the feeding values of forage sorghum (Sorghum sudanense), cowpea (Vigna ungiculata), lablab (Lablab purpureus) and mucuna (Mucuna pruriens) hays for Pedi goat production in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The first study determined nutrient composition and tannin contents of the forages. The experimental design was a completely randomised design with four treatments: forage sorghum, cowpea, lablab and mucuna hays. All the legume species had higher (P<0.05) protein contents than sorghum hay, ranging from 18 to 22 %. Within the legume species, cowpea hay had a higher (P<0.05) protein content than lablab and mucuna hays. Similarly, lablab hay had a higher (P<0.05) protein content than mucuna hay. Mucuna hay had a higher (P<0.05) concentration of both condensed tannins and hydrolysable tannins than cowpea, lablab and sorghum hays, while lablab hay had the highest (P<0.05) concentration of total polyphenols. The second study determined relative palatability indices of Pedi goats offered forage sorghum, cowpea, lablab and mucuna hays. Four male Pedi goats aged five months and weighing an average of 18 + 2 kg were used. The experimental design was a completely randomized design, with feeds (forage sorghum, cowpea, lablab and mucuna) as treatments and individual animals as replicates. Lablab and mucuna legumes had higher (P<0.05) intake and palatability indices than sorghum and cowpea hays. Palatability indices were positively and significantly (P<0.05) predicted from dry matter intakes of goats (r2 = 0.98). However, there were poor and non-significant (P>0.05) relationships between nutrient contents of the forages and their intake and palatability indices by goats. The third study determined diet intake, digestibility and live weight gain of seven months old Pedi goats fed a basal diet of forage sorghum supplemented with different amounts of cowpea, lablab or mucuna hays. The experimental design was a completely randomized design, with individual animals placed in digestibility crates as experimental units. This study was divided into a series of experiments due to lack of equipment to conduct the whole experiment in one session. A total of four experiments were conducted. Fifteen growing male Pedi goats were used in each experiment, with mean live weights of 15 + 4 kg, 18 + 2 kg, 17 + 3 kg and 20 + 4 kg for experiments 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4, respectively. In each experiment, different goats were used. Experiments 5.1 to 5.3 involved cowpea, lablab and mucuna hays, respectively, while Experiment 5.4 compared the levels of supplementation for optimum intake from each of the first three experiments. Dry matter intakes of cowpea and lablab hay were optimised at 39 and 32 %, respectively, while that of mucuna hay increased with increasing levels of mucuna hay supplementation. Dry matter digestibilities of cowpea, lablab and mucuna hays increased with increasing levels of the respective forage supplementations. Cowpea and mucuna hay supplementations improved (P<0.05) final live weights and feed conversion ratios, while goats on lablab hay supplementation lost weight. At optimum intake, goats supplemented with mucuna hay had a better (P<0.05) feed conversion ratio than those supplemented with lablab and cowpea hays. The fourth study determined in vitro gas production of pure and mixtures of forage sorghum with cowpea, lablab and mucuna hays. Two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment (Experiment 6.1) the experimental design was a completely randomised design with four treatments (forage sorghum, cowpea, lablab and mucuna). The legume species of cowpea, lablab and mucuna hays produced more (P<0.05) gas than sorghum hay after 12 hours of incubation. Sorghum hay produced more (P<0.05) gas than cowpea, lablab and sorghum hays after 24, 48 and 72 hours of incubation. Sorghum hay dry matter intake by goats in the palatability trial was positively and significantly (P<0.05) predicted from gas production after 12 (r2 = 0.99), 24 (r2 = 0.97) and 48 (r2 = 0.93) hours of incubation. Cowpea hay, lablab hay and mucuna hay dry matter intakes by goats were poorly predicted from gas production after 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours of incubation. In the second experiment (Experiment 6.2), the experimental design was a completely randomised design with three treatments (mixtures at optimum intake): 1. FS61C39: A mixture of 61 % forage sorghum and 39 % cowpea, 2. FS68L32: A mixture of 68 % forage sorghum and 32 % lablab, 3. FS77M23: A mixture of 77 % forage sorghum and 23 % mucuna. There were no differences in gas production (P>0.05) across dietary mixtures after 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours of incubation. Dry matter intake by Pedi goats of sorghum hay mixed with cowpea at 39 % hay was positively and significantly (P<0.05) predicted from gas production of the mixtures after 24 hours (r2 = 1.0) of incubation. Dry matter intake from gas production from the same mixture was poorly predicted from gas production after 48 (r2 = 0.45) and 72 (r2 = 0.13) hours of incubation. Dry matter intake of sorghum hay by Pedi goats supplemented with lablab hay at 32 % was moderately predicted from gas production after 48 (r2 = 0.67) and 72 (r2 = 0.60) hours, but poorly predicted after 12 (r2 = 0.50), 24 (r2 = 0.53) hours of incubation. Dry matter intake of sorghum hay by Pedi goats supplemented with 23 % mucuna hay was positively predicted from gas production after 12 (r2 = 0.90) hours, but moderately predicted after 24 (r2 = 0.80), 48 (r2 = 0.72) and 72 (r2 = 0.83) hours of incubation. Dry matter digestibility of sorghum hay mixed with 23 % mucuna hay was positively and significantly (P<0.05) predicted from gas production after 24 (r2 = 1.0), 48 (r2 = 0.99) and 72 (r2 = 1.0) hours of incubation. Dry matter digestibility of sorghum hay mixed with 39 % cowpea hay was positively predicted from gas production after 48 (r2 = 0.95), moderately predicted after 24 and 72, and poorly predicted after 12 hours of incubation. Dry matter digestibility of sorghum hay mixed with 32 % lablab hay was positively predicted from gas production after 72 (r2 = 0.92) hours of incubation. The relationships between digestibility of the mixtures and gas production after 12, 24 and 48 hours of incubation were poor. The fifth study determined in sacco degradation of mixtures at optimum intake of forage sorghum mixed with cowpea, lablab or mucuna when incubated in goats. The ‘a’ values and dry matter losses in cowpea and lablab hays were higher (P < 0.05) than those of mucuna hay. Dry matter intake of sorghum hay mixed with lablab hay at 32 % was positively and strongly predicted from in sacco degradation after 12 (r2 = 0.90), 24 (r2 = 0.94), 48 (r2 = 0.96) and 72 (r2 = 0.97) hours of incubation. Dry matter intake of sorghum hay mixed with 39 % cowpea hay was poorly predicted from in sacco degradation after 12 (r2 = 0.25), 24 (r2 = 0.20), 48 (r2 = 0.11) and 72 (r2 = 0.08) hours of incubation. Dry matter intake of sorghum hay mixed with 23 % mucuna hay was positively and moderately predicted from in sacco degradation after 12 (r2 = 0.68) hours and 24 (r2 = 0.55) hours, but poorly predicted after 48 (r2 = 0.40) and 72 (r2 = 0.20) hours of incubation. vii It was concluded that cowpea, lablab and mucuna hays had higher protein contents and palatability indices than forage sorghum and therefore, have the potential of being utilised as protein supplements for goats on low quality roughages. Legume supplementation, in general, improved diet intake, digestibility, feed conversion ratio and live weight of goats, except for lablab hay supplementation. It was also noted that diet intake, digestibility and final live weights of the goats were optimised at different levels of forage supplementation. This may indicate that supplementation levels for optimum productivity will depend on the particular parameter in question. In vitro gas production and in sacco degradation techniques have the potential of predicting intake, digestibility and palatability indices of goats fed sorghum hay supplemented with cowpea, lablab or mucuna hays.

Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) is a halophytic, invasive species that displaces Gardner’s saltbush (Atriplex gardneri) on saline rangelands. Forage kochia (Bassia prostrata) is a potential species to rehabilitate these ecosystems. This study compared the salinity tolerance of these species and tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Plants were evaluated for 28 days in hydroponics where they were maintained at 0, 150, 200, 300, 400, 600, and 800 mM NaCl. Shoot growth and ion accumulation were determined. Alfalfa and tall wheatgrass were severely affected by salt with both species’ shoot mass just 32% of control at 150 mM NaCl. Alfalfa did not survive above 300 mM NaCl, while, tall wheatgrass did not survive at salt levels above 400 mM NaCl. In contrast, forage kochia survived to 600 mM, but produced little shoot mass at that level. Halogeton exhibited ‘halophytic’ shoot growth, reaching maximum mass at 141 mM, and not less mass than the control until salinity reached 400 mM. Gardner’s saltbush did not show a dramatic decrease in dry mass produced until it reached salt levels of 600 and 800 mM NaCl. Forage kochia yielded high amounts of dry mass in the absence of salt, but also managed to survive up to 600 mM NaCl. Salt tolerance ranking (GR50 = 50% reduction in shoot mass) was Gardner’s saltbush=halogeton>forage kochia> alfalfa>tall wheatgrass. Both halogeton and Gardner’s saltbush actively accumulated sodium in shoots, indicating that Na+ was the principle ion in osmotic adjustment. In contrast, forage kochia exhibited a linear increase (e.g. passive uptake) in Na+ accumulation as salinity increased. This study confirmed that halogeton is a halophytic species and thus well adapted to salt-desert shrubland ecosystems. Gardner’s saltbush, also a halophyte, was equally salt tolerant, suggesting other factors are responsible for halogeton displacement of Gardner’s saltbush. Forage kochia is a halophytic species that can survive salinity equal to seawater, but is not as salt tolerant as Gardner’s saltbush and halogeton.

Wood for firewood, fence posts and construction material and forage for domestic livestock are key resources in the caatinga vegetation zone of northeastern Brazil. This experiment was designed as a preliminary assessment of thinned caatinga as the basis of a production system which optimizes forage and wood production. Two levels of thinning (25% and 55% tree canopy cover) were compared to cleared (0% tree canopy cover) and undisturbed (95% tree canopy cover) caatinga in terms of forage and wood production and goat nutrition. Clearing and thinning of caatinga vegetation resulted in higher amounts of available forage through the wet ·season and up to the time of leaf fall. After leaf fall, total available forage was similar for all four treatments. Dietary selection differed among the treatments only in February and May, when goats on treated pastures selected higher amounts of herbaceous vegetation than those on control pastures. Herbaceous vegetation was the primary dietary constituent on treated pastures throughout the wet season. During mid to late dry season, when herbaceous vegetation was dead and leaf:stem ratios were low, browse was consistently selected at high levels. Nutrient content of diets were not different among treatments, but forage and digestible energy intakes were higher (P<.OS) on treated pastures than on control. Due to lack of wood production on cleared plots from an intact tree component, total aboveground biomass production for the cleared treatment was 30% less than that for the control and about 25% less than that for the two thinned treatments. Overall, cleared and thinned treatments had similar positive forage and animal responses but thinned treatments had the added benefit of an intact tree canopy producing valuable wood. The dry season has been identified as the most critical time of the year for livestock due to low forage availability and quality resulting in weight losses and mortality. Results of this study indicated that either supplementation or increased availability of nutritious forage would be necessary for goats to continue to grow beyond the first half of the dry season. Thinning may be a means of increasing the availability of nutritious forage.