Abstract
Fermentation and chemical composition of elephant grass silage was evaluated with 0, 10, 20 and 30% castor been hull based on the natural matter. The experimental design was completely randomized with five replications. Silos were weighed out during manufacture, and reweighed before and after the opening after storage for 30 days. We determined the chemical composition, specific mass and effluent and gas losses, dry matter recovery, pH and ammonia nitrogen of the silage. The specific mass, pH, dry matter content, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, total carbohydrates and cellulose increased linearly (P<0.05) with the inclusion of castor bean hull. Quadratic effect was observed for effluent and gas losses, ammonia nitrogen and non-fibrous carbohydrates with minimal point when the castor bean hull was included at 25.63; 31.19; 28.07 and 11.7%, respectively. Dry matter recovery and neutral detergent fiber adjusted to a quadratic equation with maximum point when the castor bean hull was added at 24.20 and 20.62%, respectively. The inclusion of castor bean hull in elephant grass silage reduces losses during fermentation without compromising the chemical composition when included in the ratio of up to 25%, based on the natural matter.
Highlights
Animal production in semi-arid regions is strongly influenced by rainfall regime because of its irregularity and when associated with years of low rainfall, restricts the supply of forage food
The inclusion of castor bean hull in elephant grass silage based on the natural matter increased linearly (P
Each percentage point of castor bean hull added increased SM in 3.79 kg DM m-3 (Figure 1). This result is due to variations in dry matter composition between castor bean hull (851.32 g kg-1) and elephant grass (153.81 g kg-1)
Summary
Animal production in semi-arid regions is strongly influenced by rainfall regime because of its irregularity and when associated with years of low rainfall, restricts the supply of forage food. As with most tropical grasses, elephant grass presents high moisture (dry matter less than 30%) at the phenological stage most suitable for use in the ensiling process (FERREIRA et al, 2010) This causes increased losses during the fermentation process, inhibits adequate fermentation, as well as produces a high amount of effluents, which carry the nutrients, reducing its nutritive value (MCDONALD; HENDERSON; HERON, 1991). Several additives have already been tested, including dried passion fruit peel (CRUZ et al, 2010), rice bran and soybean hull (MONTEIRO et al, 2011), coffee hull, cocoa meal or cassava meal (PIRES et al, 2009) In this sense, the use of byproducts from the biodiesel industry, which has already been evaluated in animal feed, can contribute to improving the fermentation process of grass silage, besides adding value and increasing the competitiveness of these oilseed plants. This study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the effects of including different proportions of castor bean hull on the fermentative characteristics and chemical composition of elephant grass silage
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