Abstract
The study evaluated chemical composition, fermentation profile, microbial population and dry matter recovery of silages made from mixtures of palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu) and forage peanut (Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte). The experiment was conducted and analyzed in a complete randomized factorial design using 5 levels of each forage (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% on a fresh matter basis), with and without microbial inoculant and 3 replications. The crude protein concentration increased linearly (P<0.05) and fiber concentration decreased linearly (P<0.05) as forage peanut level in silage increased. There was a positive quadratic effect (without inoculant) and positive linear effect (with inoculant) on lactic acid concentration (P<0.05) and a positive quadratic effect (P<0.05) on lactic acid bacteria population with increasing forage peanut levels in silage. The main effects of the addition of forage peanut to palisade grass at ensiling were improvement in the chemical composition and fermentation profile of the grass silage. We recommend adding 25–75% forage peanut to palisade grass prior to ensiling to improve the quality of the resulting silage but there is little merit in adding microbial inoculant to the forage at ensiling. Feeding studies with animals would verify potential benefits in production from inclusion of legume with grass at ensiling, while studies with addition of energy sources at ensiling would determine any further benefits to be achieved in silage quality.
Highlights
Materials and MethodsIn tropical regions, pasture areas of the genus Urochloa, including Urochloa brizantha, with potential for silage production of reasonable quality have been established
The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition, fermentation profile, microbial population and dry matter recovery of silages made from mixtures of palisade grass and forage peanut with or without microbial inoculation
There was a significant interaction between forage peanut level and microbial inoculant with respect to pH (P
Summary
Pasture areas of the genus Urochloa, including Urochloa brizantha, with potential for silage production of reasonable quality have been established. According to Dawo et al (2007), the production of tropical grass silage intercropped with legumes may be a strategy to increase dry matter yields and nutritive value of diets for ruminants. Silva et al (2018) found that palisade grass Campo Grande) mixed silages had good nutritive value and fermentation profile. The introduction of legumes into production systems has several benefits, such as increasing nutritive value, voluntary intake and performance of livestock, as well as contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions (Lüscher et al 2014)
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