Qualitative aspects of elephantgrass silage with corn meal and soybean hulls

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of corn meal and soybean hulls in silage Pennisetum purpureum cv. Roxo Botucatu. The experiment has adopted a completely randomized design in a split-plot, with seven treatments (elephant grass pure soy cone (5 and 10%) and corn meal (5 and 10%) alone or in joint same proportions totaling 5 to 10%), three open times and three replications. We used a randomized design in a split-plot, with seven treatments (elephant grass pure, soybean hulls (5 and 10%) and corn meal (5 and 10%) of isolated form or together in the same proportions totalizing 5 and 10%, three open times and three replications. There were used experimental silos made of bucket of 20 L. Silos were opened at 7, 14 and 28 days after ensiling, and evaluated the effluent losses, dry matter, pH, total titratable acidity (TTA) and aerobic stability of silage. The use of additives in ensiling reduced the effluent losses. Dry matter varied with the use of additives, obtaining higher values for the silage with 10% soybean hulls or corn meal, in relation to elephant grass pure silage. The results of pH present interaction between treatment and time of opening, with the desired values 7 days after ensiling.The breaking of aerobic stability occurred 48 hours after opening the silo for the treatments containing corn meal alone or together with soybean hulls for both levels. The use of corn meal, either individually or in combination with soybean hulls, was effective in improving the standard of silage fermentation elephant grass, however, additional care should be taken about management after opening the silo.