Ruminal degradability and carbohydrate fractioning of stargrass silages (Cynodon nlemfuensis vanderyst.) with different additives

Abstract

It was aimed to evaluate in this trial the effect of additive and urea supplies on ruminal degradabilty and carbohydrates fractioning of stargrass silages. There were evaluated silage without additive (SGE), silage with enzymatic-bacterial additive (SGE150 and SGE300 respectively, 150 and 300 g of additive/ton of silage) and silage with urea (SGEU, 10 kg/ton). Three Holstein steers were used in blocks randomizeds design for ruminal degradability assay. The effective degradability (ED) of DM and NDF were higher (P < 0.05) for SGE300 treatment for all flow rates. There was difference (P < 0.05) for ED of CP in silage supplied with urea. Total carbohydrates presented the highest values for no additive treatment, while A+B1 and B2 fractions didn’t differ (P > 0.05) among treatments. Silages with additive presented the lowest values (P < 0.05) of C fraction. It was concluded that additive or urea supply in stargrass silages didn’t improve the potential degradability (PD) when compared to the silage without additive.