This study aimed to evaluate the effects of molybdenum (Mo) and organic and inorganic sources of copper (Cu) and sulfur (S) on the performance, carcass traits, and blood concentration of these minerals in lambs. Forty male non-castrated crossbred Dorper x Santa Inês lambs (20 ± 1.2 kg of body weight and 90 ± 2 d of age) were randomly allocated into one of the ten following treatments: (T0) control, basal diet; (T1) Mo; (T2) inorganic Cu and inorganic S; (T3) inorganic Cu and organic S; (T4) organic Cu and inorganic S; (T5) organic Cu and organic S; (T6) Mo plus inorganic Cu and inorganic S; (T7) Mo plus inorganic Cu and organic S; (T8) Mo plus organic Cu and inorganic S; and (T9) Mo plus organic Cu and organic S. Regardless of the source, Mo, Cu, and S were added at levels of 10 mg, 10 mg, and 2000mg/kg DM, respectively. The mineral supplements (Mo, Cu, and S) were added into the total mixed ration (TMR) by mixing them apart with the mineral and vitamin premix and then put into the TMR. The animals were kept in individual pens and received a total mixed ration for 84 days. Body weight and blood sampling was performed every 28 days. All animals were slaughtered after 84 days, and carcass traits were evaluated. Although organic sources of Cu and S added to Mo supplementation had increased the ADG throughout the study, this effect did not reflect in the heavier final BW outcomes for this treatment. In addition, no effect of these treatments was observed on the carcass traits. The serum Cu concentration was higher for the T0 group compared to the other groups; otherwise, Mo reduced the serum Cu concentration compared to the other groups. Considering the interaction among the minerals and their sources at 84 d of study, organic sources of Cu and S treatment and Mo associated with inorganic sources of Cu plus organic S treatment had an increased serum Cu concentration compared to other groups. Regardless of time, organic sources of Cu and S increased serum S concentration. At 84 days after enrollment, serum Mo concentration was lower for the control group compared to the other groups. Further, Mo supplementation increased its blood concentration compared to the control group throughout the study. The control group had the highest ceruloplasmin activity compared to the other groups; otherwise, at 84 d of the study, either Mo or inorganic S supplementation reduced ceruloplasmin activity. Serum ceruloplasmin activity was higher when Cu supplementation, regardless of source, was associated with organic S. However, at d 84 of the study, inorganic Cu associated to organic S supplements increased serum ceruloplasmin activity. In this current study, it was not possible to identify a pattern in the variables studied, however, further studies are needed to confirm that organic sources of Cu and S interacted alone without a defined pattern.

Reliable forage analysis is crucial for proper ration formulation of ruminant herds. Through its fast, inexpensive, and non-destructive procedures, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has become a valuable method for forage evaluating. Notwithstanding, NIRS needs calibration before routine analysis. In addition, to evaluate the best method for lignin quantification in Urochloa spp. grasses is crucial under a digestibility perspective in grass-fed ruminant production. The aims of this study were to use 149 samples from different Urochloa species to develop NIRS calibration curves (partial least squares regressions) for acid detergent lignin (ADL), acetyl bromide lignin (ABL), as well as for ash, cell wall (CW), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD), and in vitro NDF digestibility (IVNDFD). Moreover, the aim of this study was to correlate the in vitro digestibility with lignin quantification methods: ADL and ABL. Near-infrared spectroscopy showed potential for the quantification of Urochloa spp. properties, such as lignin contents (ADL and ABL) and ash, CW, NDF, ADF, IVDMD, and IVNDFD. However, calibrations performed using NIRS to measure ADF, ADL, IVDMD, and IVNDFD need to be thought about with caution before their utilization as a routine analysis for determining the potential for nutrient measurement and digestibility of Urochloa spp. grasses. In addition, the ABL method used for lignin quantification was better correlated with IVDMD and IVNDFD than the ADL method.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of different row spacings and planting populations on dry matter yield, nutritive value, and predicted milk yield of BRS 658 forage sorghum hybrid growing in Brazilian conditions. A late relative maturity forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench; 110 d-115d to soft dough stage; BRS 658 – Embrapa] was planted at 3 row spacing (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 m) and at 3 planting population (50 x 103, 100 x 103, and 150 x 103 plants.ha-1). Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement, using 4 replicate plots per row spacing x plant population combination. At harvest, weights of whole-plant sorghum forage were obtained to calculate DM yields. Chemical composition was assessed by performing wet chemistry analysis. Plant height, stem diameter, and harvest were performed 110 days after sowing (DAS). Estimated milk yield per unit of forage and per hectare were calculated using Milk2006. Summative equations were used to predict TDN and NEL. Yield of wet and DM forage sorghum exhibited a negative quadratic response as row spacing increased, reaching the maximum yield response at row spacing of 1.23m and 1.22m, respectively. In addition, negative linear effect was detected for both wet and DM sorghum forage yield as planting density increased. Regarding agronomic measurements, sorghum height exhibited a negative linear pattern as plant density increased. Otherwise, stem diameter increased as planting density increased. Whole-plant sorghum forage DM content decreased linearly with increasing planting density. Conversely, ashes increased linearly as planting density increased. Neutral detergent insoluble protein exhibited a positive quadratic effect with increasing planting density, reaching the minimum value when planting density was 104.2 x 103 plants.ha-1. Finally, a negative quadratic effect for predicted milk yield per hectare was also observed with increasing row spacing, whereas the maximum milk yield per hectare value was detected when row spacing was 1.20m. In conclusion, taking into account a subtropical climate, the ideal row spacing and planting density recommendation for a high yield and nutritional quality sorghum forage are 1.2 m and 104 x 103 plants.ha-1, respectively.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different additives on nutritional value, in vitro digestibility, and fractionation of carbohydrates of sorghum silage. The experimental design was completely randomized with four replications and seven treatments: 1) Control (C), whole-plant sorghum with no additives; 2) Microbial (M), whole-plant sorghum + microbial additive (0.2% of original matter); 3) Sugar (S), whole-plant sorghum + brown sugar (4.0% of original matter); 4) Microbial plus sugar additives (MS), whole-plant sorghum + microbial additive (0.2% of original matter) + brown sugar (4.0% of original matter); 5) Whey (W), whole-plant sorghum + whey (3% of original matter); 6) Microbial plus whey additives (MW), whole-plant sorghum + microbial additive (0.2% of original matter) + whey (3% of original matter); 7) Microbial plus sugar plus whey (MSW), whole-plant sorghum + microbial additive (0.2% of original matter) + brown sugar (4.0% of original matter) + whey (3% of original matter). The sorghum was cut 111 days after emergence, in the milky-floury stage, and ensiled in polyvinyl chloride silos, adapted with a Bunsen valve. After 35 days of storage, the silos were opened, and samples were collected for the respective analyzes. The additives only presented differences for dry matter, mineral matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, total carbohydrates, and A + B1 fraction of the carbohydrates. In the present study, microbial inoculants, brown sugar, whey, and their interactions were effective in improving the chemical profile as well as the soluble carbohydrate fraction of whole-plant sorghum silage.

This study aimed to evaluate the fermentative profile, losses, dry matter recovery, and fungi population in forage sorghum silage treated with different additives. The design was completely randomized, with four replications and seven treatments, which were: 1) Control (C), whole-plant sorghum with no additives; 2) Microbial (M), whole-plant sorghum + microbial additive (0.2% of original matter); 3) Sugar (S), whole-plant sorghum + brown sugar (4.0% of original matter); 4) Microbial plus sugar additives (MS), whole-plant sorghum + microbial additive (0.2% of original matter) + brown sugar (4.0% of original matter); 5) Whey (W), whole-plant sorghum + whey (3% of original matter); 6) Microbial plus whey additives (MW), whole-plant sorghum + microbial additive (0.2% of original matter) + whey (3% of original matter); 7) Microbial plus sugar plus whey (MSW), whole-plant sorghum + microbial additive (0.2% of original matter) + brown sugar (4.0% of original matter) + whey (3% of original matter). Sorghum was cut 111 days after emergence and ensiled in polyvinyl chloride silos. The storage lasted 35 days, after that period, the silos were opened and submitted to analysis. The inclusion of additives in sorghum silage has shown no significant difference in fungal population, lactic acid production, and losses by gases and effluents. The use of microbial inoculant + brown sugar in the sorghum silage BRS 658 decreased the values ​​of ammoniacal nitrogen, pH, propionic, and butyric acid. The inclusion of brown sugar in the sorghum silage promoted an increase in soluble carbohydrates and greater recovery of dry matter.