The objective of this study was to assess the losses and nutritional value of silages of different forage crops (corn, Sudan sorghum, forage sorghum and sunflower) ensiled at the ideal time for each crop. A randomized complete design was used, with four forage crops and five replications. The forages were ensiled in PVC silos, 50 cm high and 10 cm in diameter, equipped with a Bunsen valve, that were stored for 60 days. The losses through gases and effluent were […]

This trial aimed to evaluate the effects of the time post-burning, and additives on fermentative characteristics, losses and chemical composition on the sugar cane silage. The sugar cane variety IAC 86-2480 was ensiled on the 1, 4, 7, 10 and 14 days after burning. The additives evaluated were: control (Cont.), Lactobacillus buchneri (LB), Calcium oxide micro pulverized (CO), and Lactobacillus buchneri (LB) plus Calcium oxide micro pulverized (LB + CO). The yeast population was determined before ensiled. After 56 days […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate different textures and storage forms of corn in piglet diets. Two experiments were conducted, one of which tested digestibility of nutrients and the other diet performance. In the digestibility trial, 24 crossbred (Landrace X Large White) barrows with an initial weight of 18.7 ± 1.5 kg were used. They were kept in metabolic cages in a randomized block design using the factorial arrangement 2 X 2 (type of corn – dent and […]

The objective of this experiment was to identify the effect of row spacing (0.90 m and 1.30 m) and harvesting ages on the chemical composition and characteristics of sugarcane silage and productivity of the RB72-454 variety sugarcane. The experiment was carried out from November 2004 to January 2006. Treatments consisted of a combination of 0.90 m and 1.30 m row spacing and harvesting ages were 240 days (plant-cane), 180 days (regrowth) and 420 days (plant-cane). A randomized block experimental design […]

The effects of the addition of 15% of different addictives (coffee hulls, cocoa meal and cassava meal) to green elephant grass forage, in natural matter basis (weight/weight), at the ensilage moment on the consumption of nutrients and the performance of twenty Santa Inês sheep under feedlot system were evaluated. The animals had 5.0 months of age, initial weight of 22.27 ± 3.24 kg and final weight of 28.6 ± 3.78 kg. The treatments were: T1 = elephant grass ensiled without […]

The present study aimed to determine de nutritional value of mixed elephant grass silages in increasing levels with dehydrated pineapple industry by-product (PAB). Five PAB levels (0.0, 3.5, 7.0, 10.5, and 14.0%) were tested with 20 male non-castrated sheep in a randomized experimental design of five treatments (PAB levels) and four replications per treatment (sheep). Intake and digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose (CEL), hemicelulose (HCEL) and energy as […]

The chemical and fermentative changes of the sugar cane ensiled without or with (control) ground dried ear corn (GDEC) were evaluated during 100 days of storage period. The pH values, buffer capacity (BC), dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose (HM) ammonia nitrogen in relation to the total nitrogen (N-NH3/TN) were evaluated. The experiment was conducted in a complete randomized design as a factorial (2 × 21) scheme with three replications. The […]

The experiment evaluated the chemical composition, in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD), and fermentative characteristics of elephant grass silages with different coffee hull levels. The elephant grass presented 17.2% of dry matter (DM), cut with 45 days of growing. The coffee hull addition levels were 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24%, in fresh matter basis (weight/weight) with four replications per treatment. The material was ensiled in cylindrical plastic silos. In the ensiling process, the forage packing density was 500 kg/m3. It […]

This research evaluated the addition of three levels of calcium oxide (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0%) at the sugar cane ensiling. Chemical composition was evaluated during fermentation and after silo opening. Before ensiling, increasing levels of calcium oxide reduced the NDF, ADF, and lignin concentration, and increased hemicellulose and in vitro true dry matter digestible-IVTDMD. At the silo opening, it was observed greater NDF and ADF concentration, compared to values observed before ensiling. The smallest values were observed on the treatments […]

The suitable evaluation of nutritional value of forages depends on the adoption of appropriate methodologies. Forage quality is highly dependent of fermentation products, in case of silage, and the losses of soluble compounds and microorganisms activity in the case of hay. The theme “Methodological advances in evaluation of preserved forage quality” at the 44th Annual Meeting of Brazilian Society of Animal Science has as main goals to highlight the more useful and particular methodological procedures for conserved forages and additional […]