The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the susceptibility to aerobic deterioration and dry matter losses of fresh sugarcane and silages with or without chemical additives, and diets composed formulated with these bulks. The experiments were conducted in a complete randomized design with four replications, consisting of fresh or ensilaged sugarcane with calcium oxide or limestone at the level of 1% fresh matter. The aerobic stability was assessed of the bulks and diets by monitoring temperature, pH and dry matter losses during ten days. The treatment sugarcane with calcium oxide improved aerobic stability, shown by the longer time needed to raise the temperature and the smaller dry matter losses. Fresh sugarcane was more susceptible to deterioration, showing the highest temperature increase and dry matter losses. Diets containing bulk also showed the superiority of the silage treated with chemical additives and improvement in aerobic stability, compared to bulks without the diet components. The additives were shown to be effective in improving silage stability and reducing dry matter losses. Fresh sugarcane was more susceptible to aerobic deterioration than silages. Diets containing sugarcane silage with additives delayed the aerobic deterioration and may be a possible strategy to improve farm nutritional management.
aerobic deterioration; calcium oxide; dry matter losses; limestone; silo opening
