Características fermentativas e nutricionais da silagem de capim elefante com a inclusão de casca de café

Danilo Gusmão De Quadros,Luiz Gustavo Nussio,Mauro Pereira De Figueiredo,Joel Queiroga Ferreira,José Valmir Feitosa,Nelson Cardoso Dos Santos

doi:10.4025/actascianimsci.v25i1.2151

Abstract

This trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of coffee hulls inclusion (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%; natural basis) on fermentation and nutritional traits of elephantgrass silage. A completely randomized design with four replications was used to compare treatments average, while plastic bags were used as experimental silos. Coffee hulls inclusion increased DM contents linearly and changed the fiber compounds profile. Including 10% of coffee hulls increased the contents of silage lactate and reduced acetate contents. DM digestibility and ruminal degradability of the silages decreased with the inclusion of more than 10% of coffee hulls. The amounts from 5% to 10% of coffee hulls were considered best levels to make elephantgrass silage with adequate fermentation pattern and nutritional quality.

Highlights

The main problem for more than 150 milions of bovine in Brazilian herds (IBGE, 1998) is the quantitative and qualitative shortage of herbage during the dry season
Farmers could use roughage dry matter (DM) surplus in the rainy season, making grass silage to be used in the dry season, resulting in a better pasture management
Conserved forages have been used only to meet the maitenance requeriments of beef cattle when properly ensiled, grasses encompass potentially higher rates of liveweight gain, achieving 0.8 - 1.0kg of daily gain in beef cattle fed on grass silage alone (McIlmoyle and Steen, 1979)

Summary

Introduction

The main problem for more than 150 milions of bovine in Brazilian herds (IBGE, 1998) is the quantitative and qualitative shortage of herbage during the dry season. Butyrate is produced in silages by clostridia fermentation pathway under anaerobiosis, forage high moisture content (>70%) and higher pH levels Coffee hulls as a lignocellulosic byproduct is rich in ADF, with high content of lignin, which may decrease silage nutrititional value (Garcia et al, 2000).

Results

Conclusion