Abstract
ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritive value of sugarcane silage with or without inoculation with P. acidipropionici or L. buchneri, over three fermentation periods. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3 x 3 inoculant by fermentation period factorial arrangement (without inoculant, inoculant 1, inoculant 2; x three fermentation periods, 10, 60, 90 days). Values of pH, dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose (HEM) and lignin were determined and in situ DM degradability profiles were modelled for parameters a, b and c, potential degradation (A) and effective degradability (ED). The 90 day fermentation yielded a lower pH for both inoculants. There was an interaction between inoculant and fermentation period (P < 0.05) for DM content, with a reduction in silage DM without the additive at 90 days. The CP, HEM, ADF and lignin contents of sugarcane were not influenced by the treatments. The addition of P. acidipropionici provided the lowest NDF content at 10 days and presented a higher fraction a, potential degradation and ED. At 60 days, there was no variation in soluble fraction, the control silage showed a higher fraction b, higher potential degradation and ED. At 90 days of fermentation, L. buchneri silages presented a higher fraction a, degradation rate and DE and a higher b value was obtained in the silage without inoculant. Inoculants are effective in maintaining the silage DM content and nutritional value during prolonged fermentation periods.
Highlights
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is a forage alternative for ruminants during the dry season and is often used in natural form through daily manual harvests (Schmidt et al, 2011)
Nutrient content of the silage was determined by the following methods: dry matter (DM) content for 24 hours in a drying oven at 105 oC, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) according to the methodology of Van Soest et al (1991), and acid detergent lignin was determined by solubilization of cellulose with 72% sulfuric acid
There was no interaction between the inoculants tested and fermentation periods (P > 0.05) on silage pH
Summary
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is a forage alternative for ruminants during the dry season and is often used in natural form through daily manual harvests (Schmidt et al, 2011). The ethanol decreases the amount of sugar available to lactic acid bacteria and, under aerobic conditions, many yeast species degrade lactic acid, causing an increase in silage pH (McDonald, 1991). To circumvent these problems, the use of biological additives has been studied. The Lactobacillus buchneri species has shown promising results in sugarcane silages by inhibiting yeast growth and increasing aerobic stability (Schmidt et al, 2014) Another group of microorganisms that has been studied is the genus Propionibacterium, which characteristically produces propionic acid. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritive value of sugarcane silages with or without the addition of bacterial inoculants over different fermentation periods
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
