Fermentative patterns and chemical composition of Elephant-Grass silages with cassava by-product

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the elephant grass silage nutritive value with increasing levels (0; 5; 10; 15 and 20%) of by-product of the cassava - SM in relation to the grass fresh matter. It was used a complete randomized design with four replications. 20 PVC silos have been used, each one having 100 mm in diameter and 350 mm in length. After 39 days the silos were opened, silage samples were collected samples for determination of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral fiber detergent (NDF), acid fiber detergent (ADF), cellulose (CEL), hemicelluloses (HC), lignin contents (LIG) and silages pH values. In the level of 7,1% of SM addition, the silages reached the suitable dry matter content (30-35%) to occur a good fermentative process. The minimum level of CP (7%) was not reached in any level of SM. The FDN, FDA and CEL levels decreased with SMD addition. In all the levels of SM addition, the silages have been kept under appropriate pH values to well conserved silages (3,8-4,2). The SM addition up to the 20% level (on a grass fresh matter basis) at the elephant grass ensiling sponsored a good fermentative pattern and a better silage chemical composition.