Silagem na forma de ração à base de palma forrageira e capim-buffel

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the fermentation pattern and in situ ruminal degradation of the total mixed ration silage of forage cactus palm and buffel grass. The experiment was conducted in the Laboratory of Forragicultura of the Federal University of Paraíba, five diets were made using forage cactus palm, buffel grass, corn bran, wheat bran and soybean meal. The experimental design was completely randomized with five treatments and three repetitions. Diets were ensiled in experimental silos for a period of 45 days. It was observed an effect (P<0.05) in the chemical-bromatological composition of the diets. In diets with highest proportion of grass, had lower dry matter and crude protein, the neutral detergent fiber was higher comparing at diets that had higher proportion of bran. There was no effect (P>0.05) for ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH3) in relation to total nitrogen (N-NH3/TN), with an average value of 1.47%. There was effect for dry matter recovery (DMR), where the diets with higher levels of concentrate had higher DMR values, but in general all diet presented DMR above 95%. The pH values ranged from 3.85 to 4.05. The development of enterobacteria (ENT) occurred only in the first three days after fermentation. The population count of mold and yeasts (MY) presented similar results in all diets, remaining around 3 to 7 log/CFU/g fresh mass (FM) throughout the fermentation period. Populations of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), as a function of the fermentation periods (days), presented similar growth, in the first days of fermentation, stabilizing 45 days after the ensiling, with population varying 4 to 11 log/CFU/ g fresh mass (FM). There was effect (P<0.05) composition the diets on the production of organic acids, where diets that had a higher proportion of forage cactus and lower proportion of grass had higher values of organic acids. Ruminal degradability presented degradation rates above 70% for all diets. The silages in the form of feed based on forage palm and buffel grass have an adequate fermentation profile and high degradability, and can be used in the feeding of ruminants.