ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional and microbiological composition of colostrum samples collected from colostrum banks or newly calved cows on dairy farms. For this purpose, 66 colostrum samples from dairy cows were directly collected during the milking of newly calved cows or from colostrum storage bank. Samples were collected from commercial properties in the states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Paraná – Brazil, which were classified according to the total daily milk yield […]

The present study evaluated the microbial population, fermentation profile, losses and dry matter recovery, and chemical composition of silages of buffel grass at different cutting heights. To evaluate the microbial fermentation dynamics, the treatments resulted from a 4 × 5 factorial combination consisting of 4 cutting heights and 5 fermentation periods, in a completely randomized design with three replications. The fermentation was evaluated at the end of 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days. The other characteristics of silages with 30 […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological profile and aerobic stability of silage with Tifton 85 bermudagrass and different additives and wilting. The studied treatments were: pre-drying in the sun for two hours before ensiling; use of bacterial-enzymatic inoculant; addition of soybean peel; addition of corn grits and use of salt in the surface layer of the silo. The experimental design was completely randomized with six treatments and four replications. Plants of Tifton 85 bermudagrass with 38 […]

Microbial populations, pH, ammonium nitrogen/total nitrogen (N-NH3) ratio, concentrations of lactic acid, acetic acid and butyric acid and the chemical composition of Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basiliski silages at different regrowth ages (30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 days) were evaluated by using 2-kg capacity laboratory silos. It was used a 5 × 6 factorial scheme (5 regrowth ages × 6 fermentation periods) in a complete random design, with three replicates. The fermentation periods were 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 and […]

It was studied, in this work, the effects of supplementation of probiotics on the performance, on the pH of crop content, on the morphometry of the ileum and on the number of enterobacteria in the cecum of the broilers. Out of the 120 studied birds, 60 belonged to the test group and 60 to the control group. At 1, 7, 12, 18, 23 and 28 days of age, the chickens and rations were weighed and mortality and morbidity were determined. […]

Ensiling is a method of preserving a moist crop. A moist crop can support the growth of a wide range of microorganisms, most of which will degrade the nutrient value to livestock. However, ensiling generally controls microbial activity by a combination of an anaerobic environment and a natural fermentation of sugars by lactic acid bacteria on the crop. This fermentation and the resulting low pH primarily suppress the growth of other anaerobic microorganisms. The fermentation can also inhibit yeasts, molds […]