Utilização de aditivos no processo fermentativo e valor nutricional de silagens de cana-de-açúcar em diferentes estádios de maturação

Abstract

The use of sugarcane is traditional among small and medium sized cattle ranchers. Sugarcane silage provides more adaptability of use of this food in animal feed, since there is a need for daily cuts for the supply of chopped green fodder. However, sugarcane silage is problematic, mainly due to the alcoholic fermentation that raises the losses of dry matter due to the inadequate fermentation pattern. In this way, the objective was to evaluate the losses, fermentative standard and nutritive value of sugarcane silage with the application of additives in different maturation periods. The experimental design was completely randomized with 4 replicates. The treatments were arranged in a factorial scheme 3x5, being: three harvest times (March, May, July); five additives (10% cornmeal; 10% of corn disintegrated with straw and cob (MDPS); 15% rice bran; 1% urea; the control treatment without additive). The fermentation pattern maintained adequate for sugarcane silages at all harvest times, with and without the use of additives. The use of moisture-sequestering additives reduces losses and improves the nutritive value of sugarcane silage. The advance in the harvesting season reduces the fiber content and increases the TDN and digestibility levels of sugarcane silage. The use of rice bran improves the nutritive value of sugarcane silage, reducing the fiber content and increasing the levels of CP, TDN, IVDMD and dry matter recovery of the silage.