Grass size and butterfly pea inclusion modify the nutritional value of elephant grass silage

Author(s):  
Maikon Figueredo Lemos ◽  
Alexandre Carneiro Leão de Mello ◽  
Adriana Guim ◽  
Márcio Vieira da Cunha ◽  
Pedro Henrique Ferreira da Silva ◽  
...  

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the nutritional value of silages from tall-sized and dwarf elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) genotypes, intercropped or not with butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea). The experiment was performed in randomized complete blocks, in a 4x2 factorial arrangement (four genotypes × two cropping systems). The genotypes intercropped or not with butterfly pea were: IRI-381 and Elephant B, tall sized; and Taiwan A-146 2.37 and Mott, dwarf. Forage was harvested 60 days after regrowth. In the silage from Mott grass intercropped with butterfly pea, lower contents of lignin (78.1 g kg-1), neutral detergent fiber (636.0 g kg-1), and neutral detergent insoluble protein (13.15 g kg-1), besides a greater dry matter recovery (873.3 g kg-1), were observed. The silage from Taiwan A-146 2.37 intercropped with the legume showed a greater crude protein content (136.1 g kg-1). In both silages, the ammonia nitrogen contents were quite reduced (26.4 g kg-1). However, greater residual water-soluble carbohydrate contents were observed in the silages from the intercrop (1.85 mg g-1) and from the Mott grass monocrop (1.51 mg g-1). Moreover, there was a lower in vitro dry matter digestibility (676.7 g kg-1) for the silage from the intercrop. Dwarf genotypes increase the nutritional value of elephant grass silage, compared with the tall-sized ones. Intercropping with butterfly pea improves silage fermentation characteristics, despite reducing its digestibility. Therefore, the ensilage of dwarf Mott elephant grass intercropped with butterfly pea shows more promising results.

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. e48272
Author(s):  
Maikon Figueredo Lemos ◽  
Alexandro Pereira Andrade ◽  
Pedro Henrique Ferreira da Silva ◽  
Camila Oliveira Santos ◽  
Caio Felipe Barros Souza ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to evaluate nutritional value, fermentation losses, and aerobic stability of elephant grass silage (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) treated with exogenous fibrolytic enzymes. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four replicates (experimental silos) and five levels of fibrolytic enzymes (0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0%). For this, the elephant grass was ensiled at 70 days of age in plastic buckets with 20L capacity. Silos were opened 60 days after sealing. Analyses were made for chemical composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), effluent losses (EL), gas losses (GL) and dry matter recovery (DMR), as well as the aerobic stability of the silage. Data were analyzed with PROC REG of SAS® University, at 5% probability. There was an increase in IVDMD content (p < 0.0001) and reduction in NDF and ADF contents (p < 0.0001) according to enzyme levels. These results were related to the increase in the degradation of fiber fractions. There were higher EL (p = 0.0062) as a function of enzyme levels and aerobic deterioration after silo opening, at all levels tested. Thus, it can be concluded that the exogenous fibrolytic enzymes change the chemical composition of elephant grass silage, and increase its digestibility and nutritional value. Moreover, when used alone as an additive, fibrolytic enzymes are not able to recover all dry matter of this silage (with effluent and gas losses), and are not able to maintain aerobic stability in the first hours after opening the silos.


2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Maria Santos Brant ◽  
Paulo Roberto Silveira Pimentel ◽  
João Paulo Sampaio Rigueira ◽  
Dorismar David Alves ◽  
Mateus Alves Macedo Carvalho ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fermentative losses and nutritional value of elephant grass silages with the increasing of inclusion levels of dehydrated banana peel. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with six treatments and four replications, being the silage exclusively from elephant grass, and five levels of inclusion of banana peel to the elephant grass silage, as the following - 5; 10; 15; 20 and 25%, being added based on natural matter. The addition of the banana peel in the silage reduced linearly (p < 0.05) the pH, the ammoniacal nitrogen and the losses of the fermentative process. In addition, the inclusion of banana peel increased linearly (p < 0.05) the dry matter and non-fibrous carbohydrates. On the other hand, the neutral detergent fiber and the acid detergent fiber were linearly reduced with the inclusion of the banana peel (p < 0.05), but there was no change in the dry matter digestibility in situ. The inclusion of dehydrated banana peel in elephant grass silage reduces the losses of the fermentation process with more consistent results at the 25% inclusion level, however, it reduces the silage nutritional value due to fibrous and protein quality. 


2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 462-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jucilene Cavali ◽  
Odilon Gomes Pereira ◽  
Sebastião de Campos Valadares Filho ◽  
Marlos Oliveira Porto ◽  
Francisco Eden Paiva Fernandes ◽  
...  

The effects of different ratios of sugarcane and elephant grass (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 100:0% of the natural basis) were assessed on the chemical composition and losses in silages treated with a bacterial inoculant, using laboratory silos. A 2 × 5 factorial arrangement (with and without inoculant and five elephant grass ratios) in a randomized blocks design with three replications was used. Interaction was observed in the sugarcane and elephant grass ratio × bacterial inoculant for crude protein (CP) and pH. The other variables were influenced only by the increasing proportions of elephant grass. The contents of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber corrected for ashes and protein, acid detergent fiber, insoluble protein in acid detergent fiber, hemicellulose and lignin in the silages increased linearly with the proportions of elephant grass. The water soluble carbohydrate contents and dry matter in vitro digestibility of the silages decreased linearly with the increase in the proportion of elephant grass. The mean value of ammonia nitrogen in relation to total N was 7.0% (% of DM). The CP values of the inoculated and non-inoculated silage fitted linear models. The highest CP content was observed in the silage treated with inoculant. The pH values of the silages, with and without inoculant, fitted quadratic and linear models, respectively. The lactic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid contents were not influenced by the elephant grass ratios, while the acetic acid content, for the non-inoculated silages, and ethanol decreased linearly with the increase in elephant grass. The ratio of 25% sugarcane and 75% elephant grass improves the nutritional value and increases the silage DM recovery, because of the lower effluent and gas productions. The homofermentative bacterial inoculant does not affect the sugarcane silage.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 352-362
Author(s):  
M. Baba ◽  
A. Nasir ◽  
A. Kabiru ◽  
M. V ◽  
G. A. Umar

The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of three additives (molasses, cracked corn and corn-soybean) and inclusion levels (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 %) on nutritive value of elephant grass (Pennistum purpureum) silage. The experimental design was a 3×5 factorial in a completely randomized design with each treatment replicated three times. Samples were obtained from Pasture Museum. Elephant grass stands at late vegetative stage were randomly selected and harvested at 7 cm stubble height. Grass was chopped into 2-3 cm length. Five hundred gram of the sample was weighed in each case; additives were added separately at the designated inclusion levels and mixed thoroughly. Materials were then tightly packed into laboratory silos compressed and sealed tightly and left for a fermentation period of 21 days. The results indicated crude protein (CP) was significantly greater (10.92%) in silage treated with corn-soybean additive compared with other additives. Crude fiber (CF) was observed to be lower in molasses treated elephant grass silage (27.74 %). Acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were both lower in molasses treated silage (24.76 and 43.26 % respectively). The CP was observed to increase with increased inclusion level of the additive while CF decreased. Values for digestible dry matter (DDM), dry matter intake (DMI)as a percentage of body weight and relative feed value (RFV) were greater (P<0.05) in molasses treated silage compared to corn and corn-soybean. The DDM, DMI and RFV values were higher (P<0.05) at 7.5 and 10 % inclusion levels. Significant interactions were observed between additives and inclusion levels in most parameters measured. It was concluded that molasses additive could be used in elephant grass silage during ensiling at 7.5-10 % levels of inclusion.


2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (10) ◽  
pp. 951-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Henrique de Souza ◽  
Cristian Faturi ◽  
Luiz Fernando de Souza Rodrigues ◽  
Ednaldo da Silva Filho ◽  
Aníbal Coutinho do Rêgo ◽  
...  

Abstract: The objective of this work was to assess the nutritive value of four elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) genotypes. The chemical composition, intake by sheep, and digestibility of different genotypes (G1, G2, G3, and G4) were evaluated. A dry matter (DM) digestibility assay was performed with total leftovers and feces collected from 20 sheep kept in metabolic cages. G3 had lower DM intake in grams per animal per day compared with G1 and G2, and it had greater digestibility, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber values. G1, G2, and G4 have the best nutritive values among the evaluated genotypes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. e47171
Author(s):  
Hugo Vinícius Lelis Silveira ◽  
Thiago Gomes dos Santos Braz ◽  
João Paulo Sampaio Rigueira ◽  
Márcia Vitória Santos ◽  
Jéssica Oliveira Gusmão ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to evaluate the addition of macauba palm cake (Acrocomia aculeata) on the chemical composition, fermentation and aerobic stability of elephant grass silages (Pennisetum purpureum). The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design with four replicates. The treatments were composed of six levels of macauba palm cake (0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30%) as additive to elephant grass silage. Dry matter and ethereal extract content of the silage increased linearly with the inclusion of the additive. Addition levels of 15.54% would provide 35% of dry mass, and the limit of 7.00% of ethereal extract in the silage could be obtained with 10.47%. The neutral detergent fiber content reduced linearly from 68.97 to 52.59%, but lignin increased linearly from 6.56 to 7.70%. There was a reduction of 0.17% in the ammoniacal nitrogen content for each 1% of cake. The minimum value of dry matter losses (1.33%) was estimated to the inclusion level of 23.70%. The aerobic stability increased with inclusions between 18 and 24% of cake. The use of levels between 10 and 15% of macauba palm cake are sufficient to optimize dry matter and ethereal extract contents of the silages and to provide a high aerobic stability with minimum losses.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 2045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flávio Pinto Monção ◽  
Marco Aurélio Moraes Soares Costa ◽  
João Paulo Sampaio Rigueria ◽  
Marielly Maria Almeida Moura ◽  
Vicente Ribeiro Rocha Júnior ◽  
...  

The objective was to evaluate the productivity, chemical composition, ruminal degradability of dry matter and digestibility of BRS capiaçu grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) managed at five regrowth ages. A completely randomized design with ten replications was used in the BRS capiaçu elephant grass subjected to five cutting intervals (30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days) in the summer, making a total of 50 plots with a useful area of 4 x 2 m. There were daily increases in the dry matter production in the order of 382 kg ha-1, with 49,859 kg ha-1 being produced at 150 regrowth days. The dry matter content and organic matter linearly increased (P < 0.01) at different regrowth ages. The crude protein content, in vitro dry matter digestibility and in vitro digestibility of neutral detergent fiber linearly reduced (P < 0.01) 0.037%, 0.196% and 0.256% per day, respectively. Potential degradability of dry matter decreased from 68.9% at 30 days to 44.7% at 150 regrowth days (0.194 percentage units per day). The rate of degradation of fraction B 'c' was not modified (P = 0.94), averaging 1.46% hour-1. In the cultivation of BRS capiaçu elephant grass in the summer season, in the northern region of Minas Gerais, the age for harvesting between 90 and 120 days of regrowth is recommended.


2013 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 123-128
Author(s):  
Olusola Adeyanju Olorunnisomo ◽  
Gladys Abiemwense Ibhaze

Abstract Year-round availability of feed is a major concern for dairy farmers in many parts of the tropics. Silage making is a reliable means of providing feed for dairy cattle during periods of forage scarcity. In this study, Elephant grass (EG) (Pennisetum purpureum) was ensiled with cassava peel (CSP) at 0, 10, 30 and 50% levels of inclusion on a wet basis. At 21, 42 and 63 days of ensiling, silage samples were taken for chemical analysis and the remaining materials were fed to four lactating Sokoto Gudali cows for a period of 84 days using a Latin square design. Dry matter (DM) content of silage mixtures increased from 18.22 to 28.70% as level of CSP in the silage mixture increased while crude protein (7.33 to 6.08%) and crude fibre (32.80 to 23.95%) decreased. Dry matter intake of cows, milk yield and feed conversion ratio (FCR) varied (P < 0.05) with inclusion of cassava peel in the silage mixtures. Dry matter intake of cows increased from 2.56 to 3.84% of body weight (BW) and milk yield from 2.90 to 6.70 kg/d as proportion of CSP in the grass silage increased. Feed conversion ratio of cows ranged from 2.08 to 3.23 and improved with inclusion of CSP in the silage. These results show that addition of cassava peel to Elephant grass silage improved intake and milk production in Sokoto Gudali cows fed Elephant grass silage.


Author(s):  
Binuomote R. T. ◽  
Bamigboye F. O. ◽  
Amuda A.J. ◽  
Ayebogan G. M.

In this study, elephant grass ((Pennisetum purpureum) was ensiled with varying levels of poultry dropping and cassava peel (CSP). Silage characteristics and chemical composition of the silage mixtures were determined in the laboratory while preferences of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats for the mixtures were assessed using eighteen (18) WAD goats. The treatments were: T1: P. purpureum (60%), poultry dropping (40%), dry cassava peel (0%); T2: P. purpureum (60%), poultry dropping (30%), dry cassava peel (10%); T3: P. pupureum (60%), poultry dropping (20%), dry cassava peel (20%); T4: P. purpureum (60%), poultry dropping (10%), dry cassava peel (30%); T5: P. purpureum (60%), poultry dropping (0%), dry cassava peel (40%) and T6: P. purpureum (100%). All the mixtures formed good silage, except the silage with the highest proportion of poultry dropping (T1) and acidity (pH) ranged from 6.75 to 3.80 (T1 and T5 respectively) while colour varied from pale to light green with dark brown and white speckles as proportion of cassava peel in the silage mixture increased. All silages had firm texture with pleasant and slightly alcoholic smell. Dry matter (DM) content of silage increased as proportion of cassava peel in the mixture increased while crude protein (CP) and (NDF) reduced. DM, CP and CF varied from 27.00 to 54.00%, 8.46 to 10.72% and 28.52 to 60.52 %, respectively. The preference by goats was 11.22, 20.44, 20.71, 21.78, 22.56 and 32.28% for T5, T4, T6, T3, T2 and T1 respectively. These results revealed that the silage properties, chemical composition and acceptability of elephant grass silage by WAD goat were enhanced by the addition of cassava peel and poultry dropping to elephant grass


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 795-808
Author(s):  
Ernestina Ribeiro Santos Neta ◽  
◽  
Daiany Iris Gomes ◽  
Luis Rennan Sampaio Oliveira ◽  
Rafael Mezzomo ◽  
...  

This study evaluated the use of babassu cake as a replacement for soybean meal and pineapple byproduct silage as roughage in the diets of feedlot sheep. Ten rumen-fistulated sheep were used and distributed in an experimental design consisting of two 5 x 5 Latin squares. Babassu cake replaced soybean meal at four concentration levels (0, 26.66, 53.33, and 80%), and pineapple byproduct silage was used as roughage. A treatment was also evaluated in which elephant grass silage was used as roughage and corn and soybean meal were used as the concentrate. No effect of babassu cake as a replacement for soybean meal on dry matter intake, neutral detergent fiber, or crude protein was observed. Higher babassu cake replacement levels in the diets resulted in linear reductions in the digestibility of the dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, organic matter, nonfiber carbohydrates and total carbohydrates. For the digestibility of the crude protein, no effect was observed after the addition of babassu cake. The replacement levels of the babassu cake had no effect on the intake and retention of the daily nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen and ruminal pH. Babassu cake could replace soybean meal at concentrations of up to 80% when the roughage source was pineapple byproduct silage. Compared with elephant grass silage, pineapple byproduct silage improves nutrient intake and digestibility and nitrogen intake, retention, and absorption without compromising the ruminal pH or ammonia nitrogen of feedlot sheep.


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