R. Bras. Zootec.04/mar/2026;55:e20250160.
Effects of calcium oxide, sugarcane molasses and corn heavy steep water on the storage and nutritional composition of corn husks
Matheus Guilherme Moreira de Carvalho
, Bruna Caroline da Silva Oliveira
, Janaina Macieiro Bragatto
, Ana Luiza Mendonça Gomes
, Matheus Custódio da Silva
, João Luiz Pratti Daniel
ABSTRACT
The objective was to evaluate the effects of calcium oxide (CaO) and a mixture of corn heavy steep water and sugarcane molasses (HM) on the fermentation, aerobic stability, and ruminal disappearance of corn husk silage. Three doses of CaO (0, 20, and 40 g/kg of fresh matter (FM)) and three doses of HM (0, 100, and 200 g/kg of FM) were arranged factorially and applied to rehydrated corn husk (500 g/kg moisture) in a completely randomized design, with four replicates per treatment. Treated corn husk was placed in nylon-polyethylene bags (33 cm × 45 cm, 160 μm thick), vacuum sealed, and stored for 66 d. Significant HM × CaO interaction (P<0.05) were observed for chemical composition, including crude protein (CP) and ash-free neutral detergent fiber (aNDFom), as well as for key fermentative parameters, notably lactic, acetic, and n-butyric acids. CaO increased silage pH, with the highest dose exceeding pH 7 after 66 d of storage, indicating a high buffering capacity. Aerobic spore-forming bacteria and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts increased with HM and CaO, respectively, while molds decreased with CaO. Clostridia counts tended to increase with CaO, and n-butyric acid increased with both additives, suggesting reduced hygienic quality of the silage. Dry matter (DM) loss was reduced, and aerobic stability was extended by CaO, indicating inhibition of microbial metabolism. However, HM alone increased aerobic spoilage. Both additives enhanced ruminal DM disappearance, while CaO slightly improved in situ disappearance of aNDFom. Corn husk ensiled without additives already exhibited considerable ruminal DM and aNDFom disappearance, as well as good preservation. In conclusion, corn husk (500 g/kg moisture) may be ensiled without additives or, if convenient, added with up to 100 g/kg of HM.
Palavras-chave: aerobic stability; alkalage; byproduct; fermentation; fiber digestibility
