Abstract
The objective was to assess agronomic characteristics of sorghum genotypes and nutritional values of produced silage. A total of 15 sorghum genotypes were used. Planting was carried out through a randomized-block design with three replications per genotype, totaling forty-five (45) plots. Agronomic and nutritional characteristics, besides the quality of the silage, were assessed. There were differences between genotypes for all characteristics analyzed, with the exception of levels of acid detergent unavailable nitrogen (ADUN), acid detergent unavailable protein (ADUP) and water activity (aw). The assessment of the parameters, except for genotypes 1016013, 1016025, 1016037, 1016039, Volumax and BRS 610, which presented protein level below 7%, showed that the other genotypes can be used for silage production, since they have a good profile of fermentation and in vitro dry matter digestibility; however, genotype SF15 is the most favorable one for silage production due to its little participation in the neutral detergent fiber fraction.
Highlights
The Brazilian animal husbandry - beef cattle and dairy farming - has been undergoing a process of intense modernization, but much of the production systems is still based on extensive breeding in pastures
An alternative to improve the animal production system has been the cultivation of sorghum, which is a tropical plant adapted to the most diverse conditions, including climate and soil fertility, being a more resistant plant in comparison with maize in situations of high temperatures and water stress; for this reason, this plant is grown in several regions that present high temperatures and dry spells (Andrade Neto, Miranda, Duda, Góes, & Lima, 2010)
The nutritional value of the silage is related to the cultivar used, the maturity stage the plant is at the time of cutting and the nature of the fermentation process, which will directly reflect on its chemical composition and, on animal performance
Summary
The Brazilian animal husbandry - beef cattle and dairy farming - has been undergoing a process of intense modernization, but much of the production systems is still based on extensive breeding in pastures. The nutritional value of the silage is related to the cultivar used, the maturity stage the plant is at the time of cutting and the nature of the fermentation process, which will directly reflect on its chemical composition and, on animal performance. For this reason, more precise studies related to new genetic
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