This study aimed to evaluate the ammoniation effect on the crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose (HEM), cellulose (CEL) and lignin (LIG) levels and the in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) coefficient of urea-ammonia treated (4%; dry matter basis) Annonigrass 2 (Eragrostis plana Nees) hay, at five cutting ages (30, 60, 90, 120, 150 days). A randomized complete block design was used, with four replicates in a factorial arrangement (2x5), with two factors: hay treatments (2) and cutting ages (5). The comparison among hay groups (ammoniated or not) showed a highly significant increase on the CP contents of ammoniated hay. On the other hand, FDA and CEL fraction significantly decreased as a function of urea-ammonia treatment. No differences were found for NDF, HEM, LIG contents and the IVOMD coefficients among hay groups. It was concluded that: 1. ammoniation does not affect NDF, HEM, LIG levels and IVOMD coefficients; 2. urea-ammonia treatment of Annonigrass 2 hay promotes an increase on the CP contents and a decrease on the ADF and CEL contents of this grass; 3. Annonigrass 2 hay is feasible up to 90 days of growth without prejudice to the quality parameters, since urea-ammonia is treated.
acid detergent fiber; cellulose; crude protein; hemicellulose; lignin; neutral detergent fiber
