Author(s): FERREIRA, A. C. H.; RODRIGUEZ, N. M.; NEIVA, J. N. M.; PIMENTEL, P. G.; GOMES, S. P.; CAMPOS, W. E.; LOPES, F. C. F.; MIZUBUTI, I. Y.; MOREIRA, G. R.

Summary: The objective of this study was to evaluate the in situ degradability of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and hemicellulose of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.) with increasing levels (0; 35.0; 70.0, 105.0, and 140.0 g kg-1) of dried pineapple (Ananas comosus, L.) byproduct (DPBP). The experimental silos consisted of plastic drums with 210 L capacity. After weighing and homogenizing the elephant grass with the DPBP, the material was inserted in the silos (126 kg silage, at a density of 600 kg m-3) and compressed. After 45 days of ensilage, silos were opened and samples of the silages were collected for the trial. The study of degradability in situ was conducted using a rumen-fistulated steer. The animal was fed with corn silage supplemented with 1 kg concentrate daily. Five levels of addition of the byproduct were tested, with three replicates and five times of incubation with an animal. The experimental design was completely randomized with split plots, in which the proportions of DPBP were the treatments (plots), the different silos were the replicates, and the incubation times were the subplots. The levels of inclusion of DPBP provided an increase (P<0.05) in disappearance of DM and CP and in the effective degradability of DM, NDF, ADF and hemicellulose. The dried pineapple byproduct is a potential alternative to be used as additive in the ensilage of elephant grass, as it provides an increase in the rumen degradability parameters.

Publication year: 2016

Types of publication: Journal article

Unit: Embrapa Dairy Cattle

Keywords: Agroindustrial waste, In situ degradation, Intake, Rúmen, digestibility