Abstract
High-wet roughages with low content of soluble carbohydrates, such as tropical grasses, should be inappropriate for producing silages of adequate quality. This study aimed to evaluate the fermentative and microbiological profiles of Marandu-grass ensilaged with pelleted citric pulp (PCP). Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst ex. A. Rich) Stapf cv. Marandu with 58 days of vegetative growth was harvested for producing experimental silages in PVC silos provided with Bünsen valves and density capacity of 900 kg m-3. Treatments were three PCP levels (0, 50 and 100 g kg-1 of fresh forage) and seven times (1, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 56 days) after sealing. PCP inclusion increased soluble carbohydrate concentrations by 15 to 20% and reduced pH (5.3 to 4.2) and N-NH3 levels of experimental silages. An increase of the population size of the enterobacterium (mean of 3 CFU g-1) was observed only at the first day of fermentation, small growth (mean 0.5 of CFU g-1) of clostridium and the dominance of homo in relation to hetero-fermentative bacteria. Citric pulp addition during Marandu-grass ensilage was benefic, its utilization being recommended, especially when associated with economical advantages.
Highlights
In spite of the high productive potential of tropical grasses, as Brachiaria brizantha cv
An alternative for reducing this problem is ensilage part and/or the excess of forage intensively produced during rainy season
This study aimed to supply information on how pelleted citric pulp changes the fermentative process in silages of Marandu grass, considering the undesirable conditions for fermentation related to this grass species
Summary
In spite of the high productive potential of tropical grasses, as Brachiaria brizantha cv. An alternative for reducing this problem is ensilage part and/or the excess of forage intensively produced during rainy season. It permits forage storage in amounts and quality to be used for animal feeding during the dry season. The lack of proper machines for cutting high productive tropical grasses was considered a putative reason for not using tropical grasses in ensilages. During the last 15 years some national companies have, developed and produced equipment with higher operational capacity and, many producers have started to ensilage tropical grasses as an alternative of roughage supplementation during dry season (Balsalobre et al, 2001)
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