VOLUNTARY INTAKE AND APPARENT DIGESTIBILITY OF MAIZE SILAGE WITH DIFERENT GRAIN VITREOUNESS

Abstract

Voluntary intake and apparent digestibility of four maize hybrid silages (SHS 4040, QPM 129, AG 1051 and BRS 3060) were evaluated in adult steer. The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments and five replications. Dry matter intake in grams per metabolic weight (g/MW) ranged from 61.2 (SHS 4040) to 68.1 g/MW/day (QPM 129). Observed dry matter apparent digestibility values were: 70.7% for AG 1051, 66.2% for BRS 3060, 66.1% for SHS 4040 and 64.5% for QPM 129. The gross energy intake levels of silages were similar and ranged from 266.5 Kcal/MW/day for SHS 4040 up to 292.3 Kcal/MW/day for QPM 129, no differences were observed to gross energy intakes. The same results were observed to gross energy apparent digestibility, digestible and metabolizable energy intakes, and the values observed were: 66.2%, 184.7 g/MW/day and 179.4 g/MW/day, respectively. The consumed nitrogen, fecal nitrogen and urinary nitrogen (grams per day) values did not differ among silages. The same result was observed for crude protein intake coefficient that ranged from 4.6 g/MW/day for BRS 3060 up to 5.0 g/MW/day for AG 1051. The highest neutral detergent fiber intake and digestibility were observed in SHS 4040 and AG 1051. The vitreouness did not significantly interfere with the parameters tested. The AG 1051 and SHS 4040 silages are superior.

Keywords

• conservation
• forage
• nutritional value
• sheep
• ruminant