The success of medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae ssp. asperum) as an invasive exotic grass in the western US is attributed in part to its low palatability. The nutritional context where medusahead grows can be modulated by the use of supplements that increase herbivores’ preference for unpalatable feeds. Additionally, positive experiences early in life (with mother, with supplements) can have long-life influences on preference for unpalatable feeds. To test the influence of the nutritional context on medusahead intake, ewes grazed with their lambs during summer of 2013 on medusahead-infested rangeland with (Treatment) or without (Control) the daily provision of an energy-rich supplement. To test for the effect of experience early in life at grazing medusahead on use of this weed later in life, lambs that grazed with their mothers during 2013 (Experienced) were exposed to medusahead (in pens and during grazing) as yearlings during summer of 2014 along with inexperienced (Control) animals. To better understand the unpalatability of medusahead, the fermentation kinetics of medusahead at different phenological stages and particle sizes was assessed. Ewes grazing with their lambs showed low use of medusahead (5% of the grazing events recorded), even when supplemented. Nevertheless, medusahead use increased across the grazing period and utilization was similar to medusahead abundance in the plant community. Use of medusahead by nursing lambs was correlated with that observed by their mothers and lambs utilized medusahead to the same extent either before or after weaning. Yearlings in pens showed low intake of medusahead and a cyclic pattern of intake across days. However, experienced yearlings displayed a more even intake of medusahead across days and a greater gain-to-feed ratio than Control yearlings. All yearlings showed low to nil use of medusahead during grazing. Medusahead had lower fermentation rates than alfalfa hay and fermentation rates declined with plant maturity. Organic matter digestibility for medusahead declined as particle size of the substrate increased, a relationship that explains the low palatability of the weed. These results provide the foundation for grazing treatments aimed at reducing the abundance of the weed or at preventing its spread in rangelands with different levels of medusahead infestations.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T18:53:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Aline Alberti.pdf: 1827845 bytes, checksum: 8ee3e0ad879835006b462340157e2ddc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-03-04 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In yeast growth during the alcoholic fermentation, the nitrogen compounds and the oxygen content are the main limiting elements. Nitrogen and oxygen absence can lead to sluggish or stuck fermentations. In order to prevent these technological problems, in the Brazilian apple wine processing the nitrogen compounds addition is common practice, without knowing its content in the apple must. In this operation, occurs must agitation with two purposes, homogenization and oxygen dissolution. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen and oxygen in the elaboration of apple wine in Brazilian processing conditions. The nitrogen content and dissolved oxygen in apple must of different varieties, harvests and regions were analyzed. The effect of the unit operations and enzymatic browning inhibitors in the oxygen dissolution in apple must was evaluated. The total nitrogen content was determined by method of Kjedahl and oxygen by dissolved oxygen meter. The total nitrogen content of 51 apple must samples was analyzed, and 98 % had values above 75 mg/L, which are enough for a complete fermentation. The maximum yeast population, as well as the fermentation rate, is proportional to nitrogen content in apple musts. In the apple must processing, the highest dissolution occurs during the pressing, around of 7.3 ± 0.5 mgO2/L. But the phenolic oxidation reaction is responsible for oxygen consumption (above 90 %). The unit operations of depectinization, racking and filtration increase the oxygen content in the apple must, around of 3.0 ± 0.8 mgO2/L. The addition of sulphur dioxide, in the milled apple, inhibits the oxidation and apple must keep higher oxygen content after filtration. The maceration possibility a smaller reduction (57 %, on average) in dissolved oxygen uptake in the must by the enzymatic browning reaction due to the previous oxidation of phenolic substrate. The final oxygen content of the normal apple must processing, without addition of sulphur dioxide or maceration, was 3.0 mg/L, enough for the yeast development. The forced oxygen addition in apple must can be harmful for the fermentative activity of the yeast, possibly due to the nutrients oxidation. Therefore, nitrogen compounds and oxygen additions before the fermentation are not necessary in used conditions. / No crescimento de leveduras durante a fermentação alcoólica os compostos nitrogenados e o oxigênio são os principais elementos limitantes, ou seja, sua ausência pode levar a fermentações lentas, ou paradas de fermentação. A fim de evitar estes problemas tecnológicos, no processamento brasileiro de fermentado de maçã é comum a adição de compostos nitrogenados, mesmo sem conhecer seu teor no mosto. Nesta operação, ocorre agitação do mosto para promover sua homogeneização e incorporação de oxigênio. Sendo assim, o objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do nitrogênio e do oxigênio na elaboração de fermentados de maçã nas condições de processamento brasileiras. Os teores de nitrogênio e oxigênio dissolvido de mostos de maçã de diferentes cultivares, regiões e safras, foram analisados. Foi avaliado o efeito das operações unitárias e de inibidores de escurecimento enzimático na dissolução de oxigênio no mosto. O nitrogênio total foi determinado pelo método de Kjedahl e o oxigênio dissolvido por oxímetro. O teor de nitrogênio de 51 amostras de mosto de maçã foram analisados, e destes, 98 % apresentaram valores acima de 75 mg/L, concentração suficiente para que a fermentação transcorra sem interrupções. A população máxima de levedura, bem como a velocidade de fermentação, são proporcionais aos teores de nitrogênio presentes nos mostos. No processamento, a maior dissolução de oxigênio no mosto de maçã ocorre durante a prensagem, 7,3 ± 0,5 mgO2/L, em média. Mas a reação de oxidação dos compostos fenólicos é responsável por um consumo de mais de 90 % deste oxigênio. As operações seguintes de despectinização, trasfega e filtração aumentam o teor de oxigênio no mosto, que fica com média de 3,0 ± 0,8 mgO2/L. A adição de dióxido de enxofre à maçã triturada, inibe a oxidação e consequentemente o mosto apresenta maior teor ao final do processo. A operação de maceração possibilitou uma menor redução (57 %, em média) do consumo de oxigênio dissolvido no mosto pela reação de escurecimento enzimático, possivelmente devido a oxidação prévia dos substratos fenólicos. O teor final de oxigênio resultante do processamento normal do mosto, sem adição de dióxido de enxofre ou maceração, 3,0 mg/L, foi suficiente para o desenvolvimento das leveduras. A adição forçada de oxigênio no mosto pode ser prejudicial para a atividade fermentativa das leveduras, possivelmente devido a oxidação de nutrientes. Desta forma, a adição de compostos nitrogenados e oxigênio, antes da fermentação, não é necessária nas condições de processamento utilizadas.