Fermentative profile and nutritional composition of sugarcane silages associated with different levels of moringa hay

Abstract

AbstractThe objective was to evaluate the fermentative profile and nutritional composition of sugarcane silages associated with different levels of moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) hay (0, 10, 20, and 30% on dry matter basis). A completely randomized design was adopted, with four treatments and five repetitions, totaling 20 experimental silos that were opened after 60 d of ensiling. The increase in the levels of the moringa hay provided a linear reduction in the density (P = .0001) and butyric acid (P = .0001) and a linear increase in pH (P = .0001), Ca (P < .0001), Mg (P < .0001), and S (P < .0001) in sugarcane silages. Quadratic effect was observed for fermentative losses (P < .05), dry matter recovery (P = .0001), lactic acid (P = .0141), acetic acid (P = .0001), propionic acid (P = .0001), and ethanol production (P = .0001). Quadratic effect was verified for the chemical composition of the silages (P < .05) and for the contents of K (P < .0012), P (P < .0001), Mn (P < .0001), Na (P < .0001), Cu (P < .0003), Fe (P < .0001), and Zn (P < .0001). The inclusion of 30% of moringa hay in the sugarcane silage reduced fermentative losses and ethanol production and provided an increase in the levels of minerals, protein, and energy of the silages.