Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Flows of leaf biomass, the intensity and frequency of defoliation were evaluated in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam), by beef heifers that grazed exclusively on pasture or that grazed and received oat and corn grain as a supplement. We used the method of continuous grazing with variable number of animals. The corn grains and oat in the proportion of 0.93% of body weight, were administered from Monday to Saturday at 14 hours. The experimental design was completely randomized, with repeated measurements over time, with three food systems and three area replications. Flows of leaf biomass, the intensity and frequency of defoliation were calculated using the morphogenetic and structural characteristics of the pasture.The flows of growth, senescence and consumption of leaf blades were similar in the different food systems. The consumption of leaf blades in relation to body weight was lower when heifers received corn or oat grain as supplement. The intensity of grazing, independent of the leaf blade types (in expansion or expanded) was 54.4% and similar in the different food systems. The frequency of defoliation of Italian ryegrass increases when the heifers receive supplement. The increase in stocking rate occasioned by the use of grain, corn or oat, as a supplement did not alter the dynamics of the biomass flows of Italian ryegrass, but reduced the consumption of leaf blades in relation to body weight of heifers and occasioned increase in frequency defoliation of Italian ryegrass. / Os fluxos de biomassa foliar, a intensidade e a frequência de desfolhação foram avaliados em azevém (Lolium multiflorum Lam), pastejado por bezerras exclusivamente em pastejo, ou em pastejo e recebendo grão de milho ou grão de aveia como suplemento. Foi utilizado o método de pastejo contínuo com número variável de animais. Os grãos de milho e de aveia, na proporção de 0,93% do peso corporal foram ministrados de segunda-feira a sábado às 14 horas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com medidas repetidas no tempo, com três sistemas alimentares e três repetições de área. Os fluxos de biomassa foliar, a intensidade e a frequência de desfolhação foram calculados por meio das características morfogênicas e estruturais do pasto. Os fluxos de crescimento, senescencia e consumo de lâminas foliares foram similares nos diferentes sistemas alimentares. O consumo de lâminas foliares em relação ao peso corporal foi menor quando as bezerras receberam grão de milho ou grão de aveia branca como suplemento. A intensidade de desfolhação, independente do tipo de lâmina foliar (em expansão ou expandida) foi de 54,4% e similar nos diferentes sistemas alimentares. A frequência de desfolhação do azevém aumenta quando as bezerras recebem suplemento. O aumento na taxa de lotação ocasionado pelo uso do grão de milho ou do grão de aveia como suplemento não alterou a dinâmica dos fluxos de biomassa do azevém, porém reduziu o consumo de lâminas foliares em relação ao peso corporal das bezerras e ocasionou aumento na frequência de desfolhação do azevém.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The experiment was carried out to evaluate the time pattern is used by heifers, at two phenological stages of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), in four daily shifts. Heifers remained exclusively on pasture or grazing and receiving a supplement (oats or corn grain), in the proportion of 0.93% of body weight. Supplements were fed at 14 o'clock, Monday to Saturday. The grazing was continuous with a variable number of animals. The experimental design was completely randomized in a sub-subdivided plots arrangement. Ingestive behavior was assessed by 24 hours of visual observation, in four evaluation dates: two in the vegetative stage and two in the reproductive stage. Grazing time, ruminating and other activities, the number, duration and interval between meals were studied. Heifers receiving supplement remain less time at feeding station and perform fewer bites daily. In the reproductive stage of the ryegrass supplemented heifers stay longer in other activities. The grazing time of heifers receiving supplement is lower in the morning shift and in the night shift. The duration of the meals is lower at night, when the heifers receive supplement. The pattern of time use of the heifers is altered by receiving supplement and the change of the structural and qualitative characteristics of ryegrass during the phenological growth stages. / O experimento foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar o padrão do uso do tempo por bezerras, durante dois estádios fenológicos do azevém (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), em quatro turnos diários. As bezerras permaneceram exclusivamente em pastejo ou em pastejo e recebendo suplemento (grão de aveia ou grão de milho), na proporção de 0,93% do peso corporal. Os suplementos foram fornecidos às 14hs, de segunda-feira a sábado. O método de pastejo foi contínuo com número variável de animais. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, seguindo a estrutura de parcelas sub-subdivididas. O registro dos dados de comportamento ingestivo foi realizado durante 24 horas, por observação visual, em quatro datas de avaliação: duas no estádio vegetativo e duas no estádio reprodutivo. Avaliaram-se os tempos de pastejo, de ruminação e de outras atividades, além do número, tempo de duração e o intervalo entre refeições. Bezerras que recebem suplemento permanecem menos tempo na estação alimentar e realizam menor número de bocados diários. No estádio reprodutivo do azevém, as bezerras suplementadas permanecem por mais tempo em outras atividades. O tempo de pastejo das bezerras que recebem suplemento é menor no turno da manhã e no turno da noite. A duração das refeições é menor no período noturno quando as bezerras recebem suplemento. O padrão do uso do tempo das bezerras é alterado pelo recebimento de suplemento e pela mudança das características estruturais e qualitativas do azevém durante os estádios.

The objective of this experiment was to determine if nutrient utilization and energy partitioning by lactating dairy cows would differ in response to dietary corn grain (CG) types [steam-flaked corn (SFC) vs. high-moisture corn (HMC)] and to test if the types of CG would interact with slow-release urea (SRU) on lactational performance and energy utilization. Eight multiparous Holstein cows (32 ± 8.2 days-in-milk) were used in a duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square with one square consisting of ruminally cannulated cows. A 2 × 2 factorial arrangement was used to test 4 dietary treatments: SFC without SRU, SFC with SRU, HMC without SRU, and HMC with SRU. The experimental diets contained 60.5% dry matter (DM) of forages, whereas 12.9% or 14.4% DM of SFC or HMC was added in the diets, respectively. The SRU was supplemented at 0.46% DM, replacing a mixture of soybean meal and canola meal in a 50:50 ratio. Feeding HMC decreased intakes of DM, crude protein, and fiber compared with SFC. Supplementation of SRU did not affect intakes of DM and nutrients, whereas it tended to increase intakes of DM or increased crude protein intake under SFC but no effect under HMC, leading to CG ×SRU interactions on DM and crude protein intakes. Neither type of CG nor SRU supplementation affected milk production except that cows fed HMC-based diets tended to decrease energy-corrected milk yield compared to those fed SFC-based diets. Utilization of HMC in the diet had a tendency to increase dairy efficiency based on milk yield over SFC utilization. Cows fed HMC diets gained more body weight (BW) than those fed SFC diets, whereas supplementing SRU tended to reduce BW gain regardless of type of CG. Cows fed HMC diets shifted more net energy into BW compared with those fed SFC diets, whereas supplementing SRU tended to decrease a portion of net energy partitioned into BW gain under both SFC and HMC diets. Dietary treatments exerted minor impacts on ruminal fermentation profiles. Feeding HMC diets decreased fecal N excretion compared with SFC diets. In addition, supplementing SRU increased fecal N excretion under SFC, but it was decreased by SRU with HMC, leading to an interaction between CG and SRU. These collective results demonstrate that feeding HMC with SRU can be a practical option in high-forage lactation diets to maintain or improve nutrient and energy utilization efficiency and minimize negative environmental impacts.

A ensilagem de grãos de milho reidratados é uma estratégia de armazenamento vantajosa, economicamente viável e que melhora a digestibilidade do amido. Este estudo foi dividido em dois experimentos - Experimento 1: Utilização de aditivos químicos e microbianos sobre aspectos fermentativos e estabilidade aeróbia de silagens de milho reidratado. Os tratamentos consistiram em silagens de milho tratadas com Lactobacillus buchneri (LB - 5×105 ufc/g da matéria natural); Bactérias homoláticas (Homo - 5×105 ufc/g MN); Lactobacillus buchneri + homoláticas (Combo - 1×106 ufc/g MN); Lactobacillus buchneri + nitrito de sódio (LB - 5×105 ufc/g MN + 1,5 g/kg MN de nitrito) e benzoato de sódio (Benz - 2,0 g/kg MN). Foi utilizado o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com 6 tratamentos e 4 repetições. Experimento 2: Utilização de silagem de grãos de milho reidratados com ou sem a adição de benzoato de sódio sobre a digestibilidade e desempenho de vacas leiteiras. Foram utilizadas 18 vacas Holandês, alocadas em três quadrados latinos para avaliação dos tratamentos: Controle (silagem de milho reidratado); Benz (silagem de milho reidratado + benzoato de sódio - 2,0 g/kg MN) e MiS (milho seco moído). Em todas as dietas o nível de inclusão do milho foi de 17,3%. No primeiro experimento, a composição química das silagens foi adequada e as perdas fermentativas foram baixas (<1,6%) para todos os tratamentos. A presença de aditivos microbianos resultou em silagens bem fermentadas, enquanto silagens Benz preservaram carboidratos solúveis e resultaram em menor concentração de produtos de fermentação. A estabilidade aeróbia foi máxima para LB, Combo e Benz (240h) e intermediária para LBNit (151h). A silagem inoculada com bactérias homoláticas foi menos efetiva em promover estabilidade aeróbia (74,7h), comparada à controle (53,5h). Os melhores parâmetros de degradabilidade ruminal da MS foram obtidos para a silagens LB e Combo. Silagem Benz e Homo foram semelhantes à Controle e o LBNIT piorou a degrabilidade ruminal da MS. No segundo experimento, O CMS foi similar entre os tratamentos, com média de 21,1 kg/dia, ao passo que a digestibilidade do amido e CNF foi maior para os grãos fermentados. O maior aporte energético das silagens gerou tendência de aumento na produção de leite corrigido para 3,5% de gordura. Ao relacionar essa produção com o CMS, os animais alimentados com silagens de grãos reidratados tenderam a uma maior eficiência alimentar. Vacas leiteiras alimentadas com silagens apresentaram menor excreção de nitrogênio ureico no leite (11,9 vs 13 mg/dL), o que sugere um melhor uso de nitrogênio para produção de proteína microbiana. O uso dos aditivos benzoato de sódio, L. buchneri e L. buchneri combinado com bactérias homoláticas é aconselhável para promover a fermentação, estabilidade aeróbia e valor nutritivo de silagens de grãos de milho reidratados. / Rehydrated corn grain silage is an advantageous storage method, economically viable and improves starch digestibility. This study was carried out in two experiments - Experiment 1: Use of chemical and microbial additives on fermentation aspects and aerobic stability of rehydrated corn grain silage. The treatments consisted of rehydrated corn silage with different types of additives: control (no additive); Lactobacillus buchneri (LB - 5 × 105 cfu/g of fresh matter); homolactic bacteria (Homo - 5 × 105 cfu/g FM); Lactobacillus buchneri + homolactic bacteria (Combo LB - 5 × 105 cfu/g + LP - 5 × 105 cfu/g FM); Lactobacillus buchneri + sodium nitrite (LB - 5 × 105 cfu/g FM + nitrite - 1.5 g/kg FM) and sodium benzoate (Benz - 2.0 g/kg FM). The experiment was made in a completely randomized design with six treatments and four replications. Experiment 2: Use of rehydrated corn silage with or without sodium benzoate on the digestibility and performance of dairy cows. Eighteen Holstein cows were distributed in a replicated 3×3 latin square design with three periods (22-d) to evaluate the effect of control treatment (rehydrated corn silage); Benz (rehydrated corn silage plus sodium benzoate - 2.0 g/kg FM) and DGC (dry ground corn). In all diets the inclusion of corn was 17.3% in dry matter basis. In the first experiment, the chemical composition of silages was adequate and the fermentative DM losses were low (<1.6%) for all treatments. The presence of microbial additives resulted in well fermented silages, while Benz silages preserved WSC and showed lower concentration of fermentation products. The aerobic stability was highest for LB, Combo and Benz (240h) and intermediate for LBNit (151h). The Homo silages was less effective in promoting aerobic stability (74.7h), compared to the control (53.5h). The best parameters of ruminal DM degradability were obtained for LB and Combo silages. Benz and Homo silages were similar to the control, while LBNIT worsened the ruminal degrability of DM. In the second experiment, dry matter intake was similar across treatments with average of 21.1 kg/day, whereas starch and CNF digestibility was higher for fermented grains. The higher energy of silages tended to increase the production of 3.5 % fat-corrected milk. Therefore, animals fed rehydrated grain silages tended to present increased feed efficiency. Dairy cows fed silages had lower excretion of milk urea nitrogen, suggesting a better use of nitrogen for microbial protein synthesis. The use of additives sodium benzoate, L. buchneri and L. buchneri combined with homolactic bacteria is advisible to improve the fermentation, the aerobic stability and the nutritive value of rehydrated corn grain silages.

A ensilagem de grãos de milho reidratados é uma estratégia de armazenamento vantajosa, economicamente viável e que melhora a digestibilidade do amido. Este estudo foi dividido em dois experimentos - Experimento 1: Utilização de aditivos químicos e microbianos sobre aspectos fermentativos e estabilidade aeróbia de silagens de milho reidratado. Os tratamentos consistiram em silagens de milho tratadas com Lactobacillus buchneri (LB - 5×105 ufc/g da matéria natural); Bactérias homoláticas (Homo - 5×105 ufc/g MN); Lactobacillus buchneri + homoláticas (Combo - 1×106 ufc/g MN); Lactobacillus buchneri + nitrito de sódio (LB - 5×105 ufc/g MN + 1,5 g/kg MN de nitrito) e benzoato de sódio (Benz - 2,0 g/kg MN). Foi utilizado o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com 6 tratamentos e 4 repetições. Experimento 2: Utilização de silagem de grãos de milho reidratados com ou sem a adição de benzoato de sódio sobre a digestibilidade e desempenho de vacas leiteiras. Foram utilizadas 18 vacas Holandês, alocadas em três quadrados latinos para avaliação dos tratamentos: Controle (silagem de milho reidratado); Benz (silagem de milho reidratado + benzoato de sódio - 2,0 g/kg MN) e MiS (milho seco moído). Em todas as dietas o nível de inclusão do milho foi de 17,3%. No primeiro experimento, a composição química das silagens foi adequada e as perdas fermentativas foram baixas (<1,6%) para todos os tratamentos. A presença de aditivos microbianos resultou em silagens bem fermentadas, enquanto silagens Benz preservaram carboidratos solúveis e resultaram em menor concentração de produtos de fermentação. A estabilidade aeróbia foi máxima para LB, Combo e Benz (240h) e intermediária para LBNit (151h). A silagem inoculada com bactérias homoláticas foi menos efetiva em promover estabilidade aeróbia (74,7h), comparada à controle (53,5h). Os melhores parâmetros de degradabilidade ruminal da MS foram obtidos para a silagens LB e Combo. Silagem Benz e Homo foram semelhantes à Controle e o LBNIT piorou a degrabilidade ruminal da MS. No segundo experimento, O CMS foi similar entre os tratamentos, com média de 21,1 kg/dia, ao passo que a digestibilidade do amido e CNF foi maior para os grãos fermentados. O maior aporte energético das silagens gerou tendência de aumento na produção de leite corrigido para 3,5% de gordura. Ao relacionar essa produção com o CMS, os animais alimentados com silagens de grãos reidratados tenderam a uma maior eficiência alimentar. Vacas leiteiras alimentadas com silagens apresentaram menor excreção de nitrogênio ureico no leite (11,9 vs 13 mg/dL), o que sugere um melhor uso de nitrogênio para produção de proteína microbiana. O uso dos aditivos benzoato de sódio, L. buchneri e L. buchneri combinado com bactérias homoláticas é aconselhável para promover a fermentação, estabilidade aeróbia e valor nutritivo de silagens de grãos de milho reidratados. / Rehydrated corn grain silage is an advantageous storage method, economically viable and improves starch digestibility. This study was carried out in two experiments - Experiment 1: Use of chemical and microbial additives on fermentation aspects and aerobic stability of rehydrated corn grain silage. The treatments consisted of rehydrated corn silage with different types of additives: control (no additive); Lactobacillus buchneri (LB - 5 × 105 cfu/g of fresh matter); homolactic bacteria (Homo - 5 × 105 cfu/g FM); Lactobacillus buchneri + homolactic bacteria (Combo LB - 5 × 105 cfu/g + LP - 5 × 105 cfu/g FM); Lactobacillus buchneri + sodium nitrite (LB - 5 × 105 cfu/g FM + nitrite - 1.5 g/kg FM) and sodium benzoate (Benz - 2.0 g/kg FM). The experiment was made in a completely randomized design with six treatments and four replications. Experiment 2: Use of rehydrated corn silage with or without sodium benzoate on the digestibility and performance of dairy cows. Eighteen Holstein cows were distributed in a replicated 3×3 latin square design with three periods (22-d) to evaluate the effect of control treatment (rehydrated corn silage); Benz (rehydrated corn silage plus sodium benzoate - 2.0 g/kg FM) and DGC (dry ground corn). In all diets the inclusion of corn was 17.3% in dry matter basis. In the first experiment, the chemical composition of silages was adequate and the fermentative DM losses were low (<1.6%) for all treatments. The presence of microbial additives resulted in well fermented silages, while Benz silages preserved WSC and showed lower concentration of fermentation products. The aerobic stability was highest for LB, Combo and Benz (240h) and intermediate for LBNit (151h). The Homo silages was less effective in promoting aerobic stability (74.7h), compared to the control (53.5h). The best parameters of ruminal DM degradability were obtained for LB and Combo silages. Benz and Homo silages were similar to the control, while LBNIT worsened the ruminal degrability of DM. In the second experiment, dry matter intake was similar across treatments with average of 21.1 kg/day, whereas starch and CNF digestibility was higher for fermented grains. The higher energy of silages tended to increase the production of 3.5 % fat-corrected milk. Therefore, animals fed rehydrated grain silages tended to present increased feed efficiency. Dairy cows fed silages had lower excretion of milk urea nitrogen, suggesting a better use of nitrogen for microbial protein synthesis. The use of additives sodium benzoate, L. buchneri and L. buchneri combined with homolactic bacteria is advisible to improve the fermentation, the aerobic stability and the nutritive value of rehydrated corn grain silages.

Mature grains of wild-type (WT) and low phytic acid 1-1 (lpa 1-1) mutant from corn (Zea mays L.) were studied for total phosphorus (total P), phytic acid-phosphorus (PA-P), and mineral cations. Whole grain PA-P in lpa 1-1 was reduced 61.6% compared to WT whereas whole grain total P remained constant. Scutellum and root-shoot axis PA-P was 91.6% and 3.6% of WT whole-grain amounts respectively, compared to 89.3% and 4.0% in lpa 1-1. Relative partitioning of PA-P between the scutellum and root-shoot axis was not altered in lpa 1-1 mutant embryos as compared to WT. In lpa 1-1 the total P was slightly decreased in the scutella and increased in both root-shoot axes and rest-of-grain fractions. Whole grain Mg, Fe, and Mn amounts were higher in lpa 1-1 grains than in WT grains; K and Zn were similar, and Ca was lower. The lpa 1-1 whole grains and embryos contained 1/3 higher Fe than WT. For both grain types all measured metallic elements, except Ca, were more concentrated in embryos than the rest-of-grain fractions. Studies showed that WT grains contained larger globoids than lpa 1-1 grains in both scutellum and aleurone layer cells. This globoid size reduction reflected the PA-P decrease. Most lpa 1-1 aleurone globoids were non-spherical and lpa 1-1 scutellum globoids were clusters of spheres while both scutellum and aleurone globoids of WT were discrete spheres. The lpa 1-1 mutation had an impact on the globoid formation. X-ray analyses of scutellum and aleurone layer globoids from both grain types revealed major amounts of P, K, and Mg and traces of Ca, Fe, and Zn. Analysis demonstrated lower P, K and Mg and higher Ca, Fe and Zn in aleurone globoids than scutellum globoids. Both grain types contained almost no mineral nutrient stores in the starchy endosperm, whereas the scutellum was the major site of PA-P and mineral nutrient deposition. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Cereal rye (CR), the most common and effective nitrogen (N) scavenging cover crop option in the Midwest, is often utilized in cropping systems to reduce nitrate loss for environmental benefits. To increase environmental efficiency in Midwest corn cropping systems, we must increase the overall adoption of CR. However, due to the yield reduction potential (6%) for corn planted after CR termination, CR is primarily recommended before soybean. To increase CR adoption, we must develop adaptive fertilizer management practices that achieve competitive grain yields relative to cropping systems where CR is not adopted. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to determine (1) the effect of CR and starter nitrogen rate on corn growth and nitrogen content. (2) the optimum starter nitrogen rate to achieve agronomic optimum corn yield following CR. (3) the impact of phosphorus (P) at starter on plant growth, nitrogen content, and yield with the inclusion of CR. For our study, five starter N rates were applied in a 5x5 cm band to both CR and non-CR plots, concentrations ranged from 0-84 kg N ha^-1in 28 kg N ha^-1 intervals. Total N applied was the same for each treatment, relative to its location, and was split between starter N at planting and sidedress applied at growth stage V6 relatively. Although CR termination took place at least two weeks before planting, CR decreased corn grain yield at one of three locations by an average of 8%, nitrogen recovery efficiency (NRE) by 27%, and R6 total N content by 23%, relative to the conventional control (non-CR 0N), when no starter N was applied. At one of three locations, starter N rates of 56 kg N ha^-1, 56 kg N ha^-1plus 17 kg P ha^-1, and 84 kg N ha^-1 increased corn grain yield, in CR plots, and 56 kg N ha^-1 plus 17 kg P ha^-1 increased corn grain yield in non-CR plots. Phosphorus increased corn grain N content at growth stage R6 in one of three locations and did not impact corn grain yield at all locations. We conclude that the inclusion of starter N at planting has the potential to increase agronomic productivity in CR corn cropping systems in soil environments with a high capacity to mineralize soil N. However, further research is required to refine our starter N results to find an optimum starter N rate to apply before planting corn following CR.