Nutritive value of Elephant-grass (Pennisetum purpureum Shum) and Bracharia decumbens silages content dehidrated cashew apple (Annacardium occidentale L.).

Abstract

It was aimed at to evaluate the nutritive value of silages of Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) and Brachiaria grass (Brachiaria decumbens) with dehydrated cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.) (DCA) addition. Were used experimental silos of PVC pipe in a completely randomized design with five DCA addition levels (0; 5; 10; 15 and 20%) and four replicates. After thirty days of ensiling the silos were open and picked samples of silages, of approximately, 300 g for determination dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemi-cellulose (HC) levels and pH values. The dry-matter minimum percentual of 30% necessary to lactic fermentation predominance was reached with 14.09% of DCA addition in Brachiaria grass silages and 13.84% in Elephant grass silages. The CP levels suffered elevations too, reached the minimum level of 7% CP, quote how ideal for a good ruminal functioning, with 1% of DCA addition in  Brachiaria grass silages and 5.06% in Elephant grass silages. The FDA levels were reached in 0.70 and 0.30 percentual units, respectively to Brachiaria grass silages and Elephant grass silages, to each 1% of DCA addition. The pH values of Elephant grass silages remained within the ideal range for well-kept silages (3.8 – 4.2), however in the Brachiaria grass silages this behavior was not observed, finding for them the medium pH value of 5.01 units.