ABSTRACT
The objective of the present work was to evaluate the chemical composition, fermentation profile, and degradation parameters of the neutral detergent fiber of three silages made with the waste from production of heart of peach of palm, which consisted of leaf, leaf sheath, and their compound (55% leaf and 45% leaf sheath). The waste was packed in experimental silos and open after sixty days of fermentation; silage samples were collected for determination of chemical composition and degradation parameters of neutral detergent fiber at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 h of incubation in vitro. A difference was detected in the dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and lignin contents between the three types of silage. The leaf silage showed a higher fractional degradation rate and a higher potentially digestible fraction of neutral detergent fiber over the 96 h of incubation. As for the fermentative parameters, silage made with the leaf showed a higher pH (3,79) and lactic acid (1,18%), acetic acid (0,39%) and propionic acid (0,24%). The butyric acid was higher for compound silage (0,012%) and ammoniacal nitrogen was higher for sheath silage (0,94%). The leaf silage displayed better chemical characteristics, fermentation parameters and in vitro degradability properties, proving to be the silage with best nutritional value for feeding ruminants.
Keywords:
alternative food; Bactris gasipaes; fermentation; forage conservation; ruminants