In situ degradability and selected ruminal constituents of sheep fed with peanut forage hay.

Because legumes are a very important feed source for ruminants, the aim of this study was to evaluate the ideal inclusion level of hay Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte in sheep diets by measuring the dry matter intake (DMI), concentration of volatile fatty acids, ammonia-nitrogen concentration, ruminal pH and the in situ degradability of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP). In the experiment with four sheep, a 4 × 4 Latin Square design was used with four periods and four treatments (0%, 30%, 60% and 100% Arachis replacing grass hay). Significant interactions were observed between treatments and sampling times for ammonia-nitrogen and acetate, propionate and butyrate concentration and the acetate:propionate ratio. The ruminal pH and total volatile fatty acids concentration were not affected by interaction between treatments and sampling time. The degradation of DM and CP was similar, rising with the increasing content of Arachis, showing a linear effect. The treatment containing 60% of Arachis showed best results, with good levels of daily weight gain and higher ruminal concentrations of volatile fatty acids. The legume showed high levels of CP, high digestibility and appropriate levels of fibre, with excellent standards of degradation and ruminal characteristics. The use of the legume  Arachis for ruminants is a promising option of nutrient supply to meet production demands of these animals.

Aplicação de reguladores vegetais em uva apirena 'Centennial Seedless' / Growth regulators applied on seedless grape 'Centennial Seedless'

O trabalho objetivou avaliar o efeito de doses crescentes do forchlorfenuron associado ou não ao ácido giberélico sobre componentes físico-químicos da uva 'Centennial Seedless' para consumo in natura. Os tratamentos testados foram ácido giberélico (AG3) (0 e 5mg L-1) associado ao forchlorfenuron (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 e 10mg L-1). As variáveis analisadas foram a massa, o comprimento e a largura dos cachos, das bagas e dos engaços, o teor de sólidos solúveis, o pH, a acidez titulável e a relação sólidos solúveis/acidez titulável (SS/AT). O experimento foi conduzido em vinhedo localizado no município de São Miguel Arcanjo, no sudoeste do Estado de São Paulo, sendo os reguladores vegetais aplicados aos 15 dias após o pleno florescimento, mediante pulverização direcionada ao cacho. A interação entre a dose estimada de 5mg L-1 de forchlorfenuron associada ao AG3 proporcionou os maiores ganhos na massa e na largura das bagas, e as doses estimadas de 4 e 6,5mg L-1 de forchlorfenuron, associadas ao AG3, proporcionaram os menores teores de sólidos solúveis e a relação SS/AT, respectivamente. O tratamento com o uso de AG3 resultou em ganhos no diâmetro dos pedicelos e na massa dos cachos, das bagas e dos engaços, além de incrementar o comprimento e a largura das bagas.

The objective of present research was to evaluate the effects of increasing doses of forchlorfenuron associated, or not, to gibberellic acid on physical and chemical components of the ´Centennial Seedless' grapes. The treatments were gibberellic acid (GA3) (0 and 5mg L-1) associated with forchlorfenuron (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10mg L-1). The variables were mass, width and length of bunches, berries and rachis, total soluble solids, pH, acidity and total ratio soluble solids/titratable acidity (SS/TA). The experiment was conducted in a vineyard located in the municipality of São Miguel Arcanjo, southwest of São Paulo State, and the regulators were applied at 15 days after full bloom by spraying the bunch. The interaction of the estimated dose of 5mg L-1 forchlorfenuron associated with GA3, provided increases on the mass and width of the berries, and the estimated doses of 4 and 6.5mg L-1 of forchlorfenuron associated with GA3, showed the lowest soluble solids and ratio SS/TA, respectively. The treatment with GA3 resulted in gains in the diameter of the pedicels, mass of bunches, berries and rachis, and increasing the length and width of berries.