The objective of this trial was to study the effects of substituting corn silage by cassava foliage silage in the diets of non lactating, pregnant dairy cows. The levels of substitution of corn silage by cassava foliage silage were 0, 20, 40 and 60%. Intake and apparent digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, total carbohydrates, no fiber carbohydrates were evaluated, and pH and ruminal ammonia nitrogen before and 2, 4, 6 and 8h after the morning feeding were also evaluated. Four non lactating pregnant cows (third trimester of gestation) rumen cannulated were allotted to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The substitution of corn silage by different levels of cassava foliage silage did not affect the intake, digestibilities of nutrients and ruminal parameters, except for crude protein apparent digestibility and ruminal ammonia nitrogen. The crude protein apparent digestibility decreased as the corn silage was substituted by cassava foliage silage. Ruminal ammonia nitrogen also showed a linear negative effect eight hours after the morning feeding. The substitution of corn silage by cassava foliage silage, in all studied levels could be used for non lactating, pregnant dairy cows diets because did not change intake, ruminal parameters and digestibility of dry matter and nutrients, except for crude protein and ruminal ammonia nitrogen eight hours after morning feeding.
digestion; dairy cattle; ruminal pH; ruminal ammonia nitrogen
