INCLUSÃO DE JITIRANA NA COMPOSIÇÃO QUÍMICOBROMATOLÓGICA DE SILAGEM DE CAPIM-ELEFANTE

Abstract

This assay was conducted at the Department of Animal Science da Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido- UFERSA/RN. With the objective to evaluate the effects of the addition of growing levels of jitirana (Merremia aegyptia L.) in the nutritive value of the elephantgrass silage (Pennisetum purpureum Schum). The experimental design used was the completely randomizes with six treatments and three replicates. The treatments consited of corn silage with 0,10,20,30,40 and 50% of jitirana forage. The material remained ensiled for 65 days in experimental silos plastic sacks. And the contents of MS, PB, EE, RM, MO and crude energy (EB) were determined. The increase in the ratio of jitirana resulted into a positive linear effect on the values of PB, RM, EE and EB, and a negative effect on the contents of MS and MO. The addition of up to 50 % of jitirana forage in the mixture of the silage is a viable alternative to the improvement of the nutritive value of Sorghum silage.