Este estudo comparou o efeito de dietas com palha de milho com ou sem blocos com multinutrientes na variação de peso de 24 caprinos com 8 meses de idade e peso médio de 11 kg (±0,61) , durante 6 meses da época seca. No final deste período foi conduzido um estudo de digestibilidade \"in vivo\" em 8 caprinos sendo 4 por tratamento. Os blocos com multinutrientes aumentaram o consumo total (g dia -1) de MS (519,71 vs 278,95; p<0,001), MO (369,32 vs 219,93; p<0,001) , PB (67,83 vs 12,47; p<0,001), FDN (292,66 vs 183,62; p<0,001), FDA (208,28 vs 126,15; p<0,001) , Hemicelulose (83,13 vs 57,48; p <0,001), Ca (6,04 vs 0,81; p<0,001) e P 5,24 vs 0,75; p<0,001). Os blocos com multinutrientes estimularam um aumento do consumo da palha de milho e dos nutrientes dela provenientes. Os valores encontrados, expressos em g/animal/dia, foram: MS (339,50 vs 278,95; p<0,01), MO (271,97 vs 219,93; p<0,05), PB (14,85 vs 12,46; p<0,01) FDN (235,71 vs 183,62; p<0,01), FDA (154,24 vs 126,14; p<0,01), hemicelulose (82,38 vs 57,48; p< 0,001). Os caprinos na dieta suplementada com blocos com multinutrientes tiveram uma taxa de crescimento maior (9,17 vs -7,99 g dia -1; p<0.001), coeficientes de digestibilidade (%) da MS (61,13 vs 46,64 ; p<0,05 ), MO (64,35 vs 51,92; p<0,05), PB (69.48 vs -5.60; &lt;p=0.01), FDN (55,54 vs 45.10; p< 0,05 ), FDA (53,31 vs 43,32; p<0,05 ) e da hemicelulose ( 65,08 vs 52,31; p<0,05 ), energia (64.95 vs 57.31; p<0.05), do que os não suplementados. O consumo de EM (70 vs 30 Kcal/ kg 0.75; p<0.001) and PBD (6,81 vs -0,12 g/ kg 0.75; p<0,001 foi maior no grupo suplementado. Os resultados indicam que os blocos com multinutrientes podem reduzir as perdas de peso vivo e a taxa de mortalidade de caprinos durante a época da seca., com custos relativamente baixos. / This study investigated the effect of feeding maize stover alone or with multinutrient block on the growth of 24 mozambican Landim goats aging 8 months with 11 kg (±0.61) average body weight, during the dry season. At the end of growth trial, a 5 day metabolism experiment on 4 goats from each treatment was conducted. Supplementation increased total intake (g day -1) of DM (519.71 vs 278.95; p<0.001), OM (369.32 vs 219.93; p<0.001) , CP (67.83 vs 12.47, p<0.001), NDF (292.66 vs 183.62, p<0.001), ADF (208.28 vs 126.15; p<0.001) , Hemicelullose (83.13 vs 57.48; p <0.001), Ca (6,04 vs 0,81; p<0,001) and P(5,24 vs 0,75; p<0,01). Multinutrient block promoted higher intake of maize stover DM (339.50 vs 278.95; p<0.01), OM (271.97 vs 219.93; p<0.05), CP (14.85 vs 12.46; p<0.01), FDN (235.71 vs 183.62; p<0.01), FDA (154.24 vs 126.14; p<0.01) and hemicelullose. (82,38 vs 57,48; p=0,001). Goats on diet supplemented with blocks had higher growth rate (9.17 vs 7.99 g day -1; p<0.01), and higher digestibility (%) of DM (61.13 vs 46.64 ; p<0.05), OM (64.35 vs 51.92; p<0.05), CP (69.48 vs -5.60; p<0.01), NDF (55.54 vs 45.10; p<0.05), ADF (53.31 vs 43.32; p<0.05) hemicelullose (65.08 vs 52.31; p<0.05) and energy (64.95 vs 57.31; p<0.05). The ME intake (70 vs 30 Kcal/ kg 0.75; p<0.001) and DCP ( 6,81 vs -0,12 g/ kg 0.75; p<0,001) were higher for supplemented than unsupplemented one. Results indicate that low cost multinutrient block could reduce the BW losses and the mortality rate of goats during the dry season.

Este estudo comparou o efeito de dietas com palha de milho com ou sem blocos com multinutrientes na variação de peso de 24 caprinos com 8 meses de idade e peso médio de 11 kg (±0,61) , durante 6 meses da época seca. No final deste período foi conduzido um estudo de digestibilidade \"in vivo\" em 8 caprinos sendo 4 por tratamento. Os blocos com multinutrientes aumentaram o consumo total (g dia -1) de MS (519,71 vs 278,95; p<0,001), MO (369,32 vs 219,93; p<0,001) , PB (67,83 vs 12,47; p<0,001), FDN (292,66 vs 183,62; p<0,001), FDA (208,28 vs 126,15; p<0,001) , Hemicelulose (83,13 vs 57,48; p <0,001), Ca (6,04 vs 0,81; p<0,001) e P 5,24 vs 0,75; p<0,001). Os blocos com multinutrientes estimularam um aumento do consumo da palha de milho e dos nutrientes dela provenientes. Os valores encontrados, expressos em g/animal/dia, foram: MS (339,50 vs 278,95; p<0,01), MO (271,97 vs 219,93; p<0,05), PB (14,85 vs 12,46; p<0,01) FDN (235,71 vs 183,62; p<0,01), FDA (154,24 vs 126,14; p<0,01), hemicelulose (82,38 vs 57,48; p< 0,001). Os caprinos na dieta suplementada com blocos com multinutrientes tiveram uma taxa de crescimento maior (9,17 vs -7,99 g dia -1; p<0.001), coeficientes de digestibilidade (%) da MS (61,13 vs 46,64 ; p<0,05 ), MO (64,35 vs 51,92; p<0,05), PB (69.48 vs -5.60; &lt;p=0.01), FDN (55,54 vs 45.10; p< 0,05 ), FDA (53,31 vs 43,32; p<0,05 ) e da hemicelulose ( 65,08 vs 52,31; p<0,05 ), energia (64.95 vs 57.31; p<0.05), do que os não suplementados. O consumo de EM (70 vs 30 Kcal/ kg 0.75; p<0.001) and PBD (6,81 vs -0,12 g/ kg 0.75; p<0,001 foi maior no grupo suplementado. Os resultados indicam que os blocos com multinutrientes podem reduzir as perdas de peso vivo e a taxa de mortalidade de caprinos durante a época da seca., com custos relativamente baixos. / This study investigated the effect of feeding maize stover alone or with multinutrient block on the growth of 24 mozambican Landim goats aging 8 months with 11 kg (±0.61) average body weight, during the dry season. At the end of growth trial, a 5 day metabolism experiment on 4 goats from each treatment was conducted. Supplementation increased total intake (g day -1) of DM (519.71 vs 278.95; p<0.001), OM (369.32 vs 219.93; p<0.001) , CP (67.83 vs 12.47, p<0.001), NDF (292.66 vs 183.62, p<0.001), ADF (208.28 vs 126.15; p<0.001) , Hemicelullose (83.13 vs 57.48; p <0.001), Ca (6,04 vs 0,81; p<0,001) and P(5,24 vs 0,75; p<0,01). Multinutrient block promoted higher intake of maize stover DM (339.50 vs 278.95; p<0.01), OM (271.97 vs 219.93; p<0.05), CP (14.85 vs 12.46; p<0.01), FDN (235.71 vs 183.62; p<0.01), FDA (154.24 vs 126.14; p<0.01) and hemicelullose. (82,38 vs 57,48; p=0,001). Goats on diet supplemented with blocks had higher growth rate (9.17 vs 7.99 g day -1; p<0.01), and higher digestibility (%) of DM (61.13 vs 46.64 ; p<0.05), OM (64.35 vs 51.92; p<0.05), CP (69.48 vs -5.60; p<0.01), NDF (55.54 vs 45.10; p<0.05), ADF (53.31 vs 43.32; p<0.05) hemicelullose (65.08 vs 52.31; p<0.05) and energy (64.95 vs 57.31; p<0.05). The ME intake (70 vs 30 Kcal/ kg 0.75; p<0.001) and DCP ( 6,81 vs -0,12 g/ kg 0.75; p<0,001) were higher for supplemented than unsupplemented one. Results indicate that low cost multinutrient block could reduce the BW losses and the mortality rate of goats during the dry season.

The severe effects associated with global warming and the rapid increase in oil prices are the driving forces behind the demand for clean carbon–neutral and biofuels such as bioethanol. Research studies are now focusing on using lignocellulosic biomass for bioethanol production due to concerns about food security and inflation. The chosen feedstock for this study was maize stover, given that it is the most abundant agricultural residue in South Africa. Maize stover consists of structural carbohydrates that can be enzymatically converted into fermentable sugars. The major drawback in the production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass has been its high equipment and operational costs due to the use of acids and high enzyme loadings. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of optimizing the enzyme hydrolysis of pre–treated maize stover without further increasing the amount of enzymes. The maximum glucose yield attained was 690 ± 35 mg of glucose per gram of substrate which is equivalent to a conversion efficiency of 119%. The preferred pre–treatment method used was 3% sulphuric acid for 60 minutes at 121oC and the enzymatic hydrolysis process was performed at a 5% substrate loading, 50oC and pH 5.0 using 30 FPU per gram of cellulose in the presence of 1.25 g.L–1 of Tween 80 for 48 hours. The addition of Tween 80 increased the glucose yields by 23 % and thus, it has the potential of lowering the overall process costs by increasing the glucose yield without further addition of enzymes. Keywords: Bioethanol, maize stover, lignocellulosic biomass, pre–treatment, enzymatic hydrolysis / Thesis (M.Sc. Engineering Sciences (Chemical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The severe effects associated with global warming and the rapid increase in oil prices are the driving forces behind the demand for clean carbon–neutral and biofuels such as bioethanol. Research studies are now focusing on using lignocellulosic biomass for bioethanol production due to concerns about food security and inflation. The chosen feedstock for this study was maize stover, given that it is the most abundant agricultural residue in South Africa. Maize stover consists of structural carbohydrates that can be enzymatically converted into fermentable sugars. The major drawback in the production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass has been its high equipment and operational costs due to the use of acids and high enzyme loadings. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of optimizing the enzyme hydrolysis of pre–treated maize stover without further increasing the amount of enzymes. The maximum glucose yield attained was 690 ± 35 mg of glucose per gram of substrate which is equivalent to a conversion efficiency of 119%. The preferred pre–treatment method used was 3% sulphuric acid for 60 minutes at 121oC and the enzymatic hydrolysis process was performed at a 5% substrate loading, 50oC and pH 5.0 using 30 FPU per gram of cellulose in the presence of 1.25 g.L–1 of Tween 80 for 48 hours. The addition of Tween 80 increased the glucose yields by 23 % and thus, it has the potential of lowering the overall process costs by increasing the glucose yield without further addition of enzymes. Keywords: Bioethanol, maize stover, lignocellulosic biomass, pre–treatment, enzymatic hydrolysis / Thesis (M.Sc. Engineering Sciences (Chemical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.