In situ degradability of elephant grass ensiled with increasing levels of pineapple agro-industrial by-product

Abstract

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. Key words: Agroindustrial waste. Digestibility. In situ degradation. Intake. Rumen.

In situ degradability of elephant grass ensiled with acerola by-product

“…The low degradation rates (c) observed for the rumen degradation of ADF with increase in inclusion of DABP (Table 6) may reflect in lower digestibility of the feed and, consequent, a reduction of voluntary intake. The ED did not show significant differences after inclusion of DABP, agreeing with the results obtained in the apparent-digestibility trial for this fraction (FERREIRA et al, 2010). Thus, feed with higher fiber and lignin contents will have lower nutritional value, characterizing it as a low availability to rumen microorganisms, such as DABP, when at high contents of inclusion.…”

“…The fraction a, which is composed of carbohydrates and soluble nitrogenous compounds, increased in the treatments with DABP probably due the higher CP content of the by-product (Table 1). Ferreira et al (2016) also observed increase in the soluble fraction when elephant grass was ensiled with five contents of dried pineapple by-product (0; 35; 70; 105 and 140 g kg -1 , as fed), with fraction a values for DM varying from 187.3 to 249.7 and for CP from 178.9 to 233.0 g kg -1 , respectively for silage without and with by-product inclusion of 140 g kg -1 . The rumen microbial flora transforms non-protein nitrogen and degradable protein into microbial protein, when energy is available, and this availability for microorganisms is determined by the rates of degradation and passage through the rumen, which will influence the efficiency and quantity of microbial protein synthesized (SANTOS et al, 2012).…”

“…The rumen degradability parameters of hemicellulose from the silages containing DABP were low, compared with other by-products (FERREIRA et al, 2016). The low degradation rates (c) obtained in the silages for this component explain the reduced voluntary intakes observed (FERREIRA et al, 2010), because the maximum ruminant forage intake depends primarily on the rate of ruminal emptying of hemicellulose and cellulose. These rates, in turn, depend upon several factors that interfere with the rumen microflora activity, like the lignification and absence of nutrients for adequate growth of the rumen microflora.…”

“…The industrialization of this fruit generates a by-product that can be used in animal feeding. However, it contains high contents of lignin and acid-detergent insoluble nitrogen (FERREIRA et al, 2010), which directly interfere in the digestibility of nutritional components, reducing energy values.…”

Fermentation profile and nutritional value of sesame silage compared to usual silages

“…The contents of the fraction A of NDF were different from the presented for the fraction B of NDF, since the NDF fractions of the silages may present high solubility in water. Effective degradability for the silages at passage rates of 2, 5 and 8% per hour can be considered good when compared to silages from other crops (Ferreira et al 2016). Thus, lower concentrations of effective degradability of NDF is an indicative that the plant should be ensiled younger.…”