Supplementation based on protein or energy ingredients to beef cattle consuming low-quality cool-season forages: I. Forage disappearance parameters in rumen-fistulated steers and physiological responses in pregnant heifers

Two experiments evaluated the influence of supplement composition on ruminal forage disappearance, performance, and physiological responses of Angus x Hereford cattle consuming a low-quality cool-season forage (8.7% CP and 57% TDN). In Exp. 1, 6 rumen-fistulated steers housed in individual pens were assigned to an incomplete 3 x 2 Latin square design containing 2 periods of 11 d each and the following treatments: 1) supplementation with soybean meal (PROT), 2) supplementation with a mixture of cracked corn, soybean meal, and urea (68:22:10 ratio, DM basis; ENER), or 3) no supplementation (CON). Steers were offered meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis L.) hay for ad libitum consumption. Treatments were provided daily at 0.50 and 0.54% of shrunk BW/steer for PROT and ENER, respectively, to ensure that PROT and ENER intakes were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. No treatment effects were detected on rumen disappearance parameters of forage DM (P >= 0.33) and NDF (P >= 0.66). In Exp. 2, 35 pregnant heifers were ranked by initial BW on d -7 of the study, allocated into 12 feedlot pens (4 pens/treatment), and assigned to the same treatments and forage intake regimen as in Exp. 1 for 19 d. Treatments were fed once daily at 1.77 and 1.92 kg of DM/heifer for PROT and ENER, respectively, to achieve the same treatment intake as percent of initial BW used in Exp. 1 (0.50 and 0.54% for PROT and ENER, respectively). No treatment effects (P = 0.17) were detected on forage DMI. Total DMI was greater (P < 0.01) for PROT and ENER compared with CON and similar between PROT and ENER (P = 0.36). Accordingly, ADG was greater (P = 0.01) for PROT compared with CON, tended to be greater for ENER compared with CON (P = 0.08), and was similar between ENER and PROT (P = 0.28). Heifers receiving PROT and ENER had greater mean concentrations of plasma glucose (P = 0.03), insulin (P <= 0.09), IGF-I (P <= 0.04), and progesterone (P = 0.01) compared to CON, whereas ENER and PROT had similar concentrations of these variables (P >= 0.15). A treatment x hour interaction was detected (P < 0.01) for plasma urea N (PUN), given that PUN concentrations increased after supplementation for ENER and PROT (time effect, P < 0.01) but did not change for CON (time effect, P = 0.62). In conclusion, beef cattle consuming low-quality cool-season forages had similar ruminal forage disappearance and intake, performance, and physiological status if offered supplements based on soybean meal or corn at 0.5% of BW.

The effect of condensed tannins in fresh sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) on in vivo and in situ digestion in sheep

This study focused on effects of structure, content and biological activity of condensed tannins (CT) in leaves, stems and whole plant of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) on its in vivo and in situ digestive characteristics in sheep. Sainfoin was studied as fresh forage during the first vegetation cycle at two phenological stages (i.e., end of flowering and green seeds) and during the second vegetation cycle (i.e., start of flowering). The feeding experiment used 12 sheep; with six dosed, through the rumen cannula, with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to neutralise CT effects. Organic matter digestibility (OMD), total tract N disappearance and N balance were measured in sheep fed the whole plant. The residues of dry matter (DM) and N from nylon bags suspended in the rumen were determined on leaves and stems. Intestinal digestibility was measured using other, intestinally fistulated sheep. PEG addition and vegetation cycle increased total tract N digestibility (P<0.001) but PEG affected OMD only at the end of flowering. PEG inactivated the CT and increased urinary N excretion (P<0.05) but this was offset by lower faecal N excretion (P<0.001). Feeding sainfoin can be used to alter the form of excreted N (i.e., urine vs faeces) and thus potentially reduce environmental N pollution without affecting body N retention. Kinetic studies of total N, ammonia N (NH3-N) and volatile fatty acids (VFA) in rumen fluid were made before and 1.5, 3 and 6 h after feeding. Sainfoin CT decreased rumen fluid soluble N (P<0.05) and NH3-N (P<0.01). Ruminal N disappearance (DisN) of leaves or stems was lower in the presence of active CT compared to PEG-inactivated CT (P<0.001) for both vegetation cycles. PEG also increased intestinal digestibility (P<0.05) of leaves and stems. Leaves had lower ruminal DisN, but higher N disappearing from intestine than stems. The biological activity and content of CT in the whole plant decreased as phenological stage increased. Prodelphinidin:procyanidin (PD:PC) ratios of leaves varied with vegetation cycle and phenological stage. The molecular size of CT in the whole plant, as indicated by their mean degree of polymerisation (mDP), was lowest at the start of flowering and coincided with the higher biological activity and content of CT.

Influence of exogenous fibrolytic enzyme level and incubation pH on the in vitro ruminal fermentation of alfalfa stems

A series of in vitro experiments was carried out to examine the impact of enzyme application rate and incubation medium pH on the rate and extent of fermentation of alfalfa stems. In Experiment 1, a commercial enzyme product (Liquicell 2500, Specialty Enzyme and Biochemicals, Fresno, CA, USA) was added to alfalfa stems at six levels: 0, 0.51, 1.02, 2.55, 5.1, and 25.5 mu l/g (control and L1-L5, respectively) to forage DM in a completely randomized design, with a factorial arrangement of treatments. Rate and extent of fermentation and apparent organic matter degradation (OMD) were determined in vitro, using a gas production technique. Addition of enzyme linearly increased (P < 0.01) gas production for up to 12 h (68.9, 70.9, 67.6, 67.9, 71.9, and 74.9 ml/g OM for control, L1-L5, respectively) and OMD for up to 19 h incubation (0.425, 0.444, 0.433, 0.446, 0.443, and 0.451 for control, L1-L5, respectively), but no increases (P > 0.05) were detected thereafter. In Experiment 2, the effect of the same enzyme as used previously (added at 0.51 mu l/g forage DM, directly into the incubation medium), and buffer pH were examined using the ANKOM system, in a completely randomized design. Incubation medium pH was altered using 1 M citric acid, in order to obtain target initial pH values of 6.8 (control, no citric acid added), 6.2, 5.8, and 5.4. Actual initial pH values achieved were 6.72, 6.50, 6.20, and 5.72. Lowering the pH decreased (P < 0.01) dry matter disappearance (DMD) at 18 h incubation (0.339, 0.341, 0.314, and 0.291 for 6.72, 6.50, 6.20, and 5.72, respectively), whereas enzyme addition increased (P < 0.05) DMD at 24 h (0.363 versus 0.387 for control and enzyme-treated, respectively). Addition of enzyme increased (P < 0.05) neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), and hemicellulose (HC) degradation at pH 6.50 (0.077 versus 0.117; 0.020 versus 0.051; 0.217 versus 0.270 for control and enzyme-treated NDF, ADF and hemicellulose degradation, respectively) and 6.72 (0.091 versus 0.134; 0.041 versus 0.079; 0.205 versus 0.261 for control and enzyme-treated NDF, ADF and HC degradation, respectively). It is concluded that the positive effects of this enzyme product were independent of the pre-treatment period, but pH influenced the responses to enzyme supplementation. Under the conditions of this experiment, exogenous fibrolytic enzymes seemed to work better at close to neutrality ruminal pH conditions. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Degradabilidade ruminal da matéria seca, da fração fibrosa e da proteína bruta de forrageiras

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a degradabilidade ruminal da matéria seca, da fibra em detergente neutro, da fibra em detergente ácido e da proteína bruta da alfafa (Medicago sativa), aveia-preta (Avena strigosa), leucena (Leucaena leucocephala) e guandu (Cajanus cajan). Amostras de 3 g das forragens foram incubadas no rúmen de três novilhos por períodos de 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 e 72 horas. As degradabilidades efetivas da matéria seca da alfafa e da aveia, para a taxa de passagem de 5% por hora, foram elevadas (acima de 60%). A leucena e o guandu apresentaram valores inferiores, 50,9 e 56,0%, respectivamente. A partir de 24 horas de incubação, a aveia se destacou com maior desaparecimento da fibra em detergente neutro e da fibra em detergente ácido, e ainda apresentou as mais elevadas taxas de degradação efetiva destas frações. A aveia foi a forragem que apresentou maior degradabilidade da matéria seca, da fibra em detergente neutro, da fibra em detergente ácido e da proteína bruta no rúmen. O guandu, entretanto, foi a forragem com as piores taxas de degradação.

Development of equations to estimate microbial contamination in ruminal incubation residues of forage produced under tropical conditions using 15N as a label1

The objective of this study was to use 15N to label microbial cells to allow development of equations for estimating the microbial contamination in ruminal in situ incubation residues of forage produced under tropical conditions. A total of 24 tropical forages were ruminal incubated in 3 steers at 3 separate times. To determine microbial contamination of the incubated residues, ruminal bacteria were labeled with 15N by continuous intraruminal infusion 60 h before the first incubation and continued until the last day of incubation. Ruminal digesta was collected for the isolation of bacteria before the first infusion of 15N on adaptation period and after the infusion of 15N on collection period. To determine the microbial contamination of CP fractions, restricted models were compared with the full model using the model identity test. A value of the corrected fraction A was estimated from the corresponding noncorrected fraction by this equation: Corrected A fraction (ACPC) = 1.99286 + 0.98256 × A fraction without correction (ACPWC). The corrected fraction B was estimated from the corresponding noncorrected fraction and from CP, NDF, neutral detergent insoluble protein (NDIP), and indigestible NDF (iNDF) using the equation corrected B fraction (BCPC) = -17.2181 - 0.0344 × fraction B without correction (BCPWC) + 0.65433 × CP + 1.03787 × NDF + 2.66010 × NDIP - 0.85979 × iNDF. The corrected degradation rate of B fraction (kd)was estimated using the equation corrected degradation rate of B fraction (kdCPC) = 0.04667 + 0.35139 × degradation rate of B fraction without correction (kdCPWC) + 0.0020 × CP - 0.00055839 × NDF - 0.00336 × NDIP + 0.00075089 × iNDF. This equation was obtained to estimate the contamination using CP of the feeds: %C = 79.21 × (1 - e-0.0555t) × e-0.0874CP. It was concluded that A and B fractions and kd of CP could be highly biased by microbial CP contamination, and therefore these corrected values could be obtained mathematically, replacing the use of microbial markers. The percentage of contamination and the corrected apparent degradability of CP could be obtained from values of CP and time of incubation for each feed, which could reduce cost and labor involved when using 15N. © 2013 American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved.

Comparative in vitro evaluation of forage legumes (prosopis, acacia, atriplex, and leucaena) on ruminal fermentation and methanogenesis

Two experiments in vitro were conducted to evaluate four Egyptian forage legume browses, i.e., leaves of prosopis (Prosopis juliflora), acacia (Acacia saligna), atriplex (A triplex halimus), and leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), in comparison with Tifton (Cynodon sp.) grass hay for their gas production, methanogenic potential, and ruminal fermentation using a semi-automatic system for gas production (first experiment) and for ruminal and post ruminal protein degradability (second experiment). Acacia and leucaena showed pronounced methane inhibition compared with Tifton, while prosopis and leucaena decreased the acetate:propionate ratio (P<0.01). Acacia and leucaena presented a lower (P<0.01) ruminal NH3-N concentration associated with the decreasing (P<0.01) ruminal protein degradability. Leucaena, however, showed higher (P<0.01) intestinal protein digestibility than acacia. This study suggests that the potential methanogenic properties of leguminous browses may be related not only to tannin content, but also to other factors.

In vitro ruminal fermentation of diets containing wheat straw and date pits as forage.

The pH, VFA concentration, total gas and met hane production were determined in the rumen of four Sicilo- Sarde rams fitted with permanent canulas. Rams received a ration that included 1.5 kg DM of oat hay and were supplemented with one of four concentrates: CC (10% barley, 43.3% corn, 25% wheat bran, 17.7% soybean meal, 4% sheep Vitamin and Mineral Mixture (VMM)), SC (66% white sorghum, 30% faba, 4% sheep VMM); TC (71% triticale, 18% faba, 7%, soybean meal, 4% VMM) or BC (71.5% barley, 17.5% faba, 7% soybean meal and 4% VMM). 50 ml samples were taken before, 2, 5 and 8 hours after the morning meal. Total gas was determined on rumen content before the morning meal. The rumen pH was statistically different (P<0.05) before and 2 hours after the morning meal among concentrates feed. It was in favour of TC and BC (P<0.05) concentrates but was comparable at the end of the day. The concentration of VFA was significantly higher (P<0.05) for diets TC and BC following the meal and became comparable among concentrates thereafter. The proportion of acetate and butyrate acids evolved in the same way during the day regardless of the regimen. The total volu me of gas was different (P<0.05) among diets, the BC showed the highest value (87.00±17.29 ml) while the lowest value was found in the TC concentrate (56.58±13.06 ml). The CH4 production for the BC was significantly different (P<0.05) from that of TC. Quantities produced by the CC and SC were similar (22.08±4.18vs . 21.16±3.21).

Ruminal protein degradability of a range of tropical pastures

The rumen degradability parameters of the diet selected by two to four oesophageal-fistulated Brahman steers grazing a range of tropical pastures were determined by incubation of extrusa in nylon bags suspended in the rumen of rumen-fistulated (RF) Brahman steers. The effective protein degradability (Edg) was determined by measuring the rate of disappearance of neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen (NDIN) less acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) in the incubated extrusa. Six to eight RF steers also grazed each of the pastures along with the oesophageal-fistulated steers, to allow determination of key rumen parameters and rumen particulate matter fractional outflow rates (FOR). The seven pastures studied included: native tropical grass (C4) pasture (major species Heteropogon contortus and Bothriochloa bladhii), studied in the early wet (NPEW), the wet/dry transition (NPT) and the dry (NPD) seasons; introduced tropical grass (C4) pasture (Bothriochloa insculpta), studied in the mid wet season (BB); the introduced tropical legumes (C3), Lablab purpureus (LL) and Clitoria ternatea (BP); and the temperate grass (C3) pasture, ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum, RG). Using the measured particle FOR values in calculations, the Edg estimates were very high for both C4 and C3 species: 0.82–0.91 and 0.95–0.98 g/g crude protein (CP), respectively. Substitution of an assumed FOR (kp = 0.02/h) for the measured values for each pasture type did not markedly affect estimates of Edg. However, C4 tropical grasses had much lower effective rumen degradable protein (ERDP) fractions (23–66 g/kg DM) than the C3 pasture species RG and LL (356 and 243 g/kg DM, respectively). This was associated with a lower potential degradability and degradation rate of organic matter (OM) in sacco, lower in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and CP concentrations in the extrusa, and lower ammonia-N and branched-chain fatty acid concentrations in rumen fluid for the tropical grasses. As tropical grass pastures senesced, there was a decline in Edg, the ERDP and rumen undegradable protein (UDP) fractions, the potential degradability and degradation rate of OM and the IVOMD. These results provide useful data for estimating protein supply to cattle grazing tropical pastures.

In situ degradability of dry matter and neutral-detergent fibre of thorn scrubland forage consumed by goats in the semi-arid region of north Mexico

Three goats provided with oesophageal and ruminal cannulae were used to determine variations in dry matter (DM) and neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) degradability of the forage consumed when grazing thorn scrubland in the semi-arid region of north Mexico, during two consecutive dry and wet periods. Ingesta samples were incubated intraruminally, the data were fitted to the exponential equation P = a + b (1-e(-ct)) and statistically analysed using a randomized-block design. Organic matter and crude protein (CP) contents were higher (P < 0.05) in the wet seasons. Values of NDF were similar in dry and wet season of both years whereas higher numerical values of acid-detergent fibre (ADF), lignin and cellulose were registered in the dry seasons. DM and NDF degradabilities after 24 and 48 h of ruminal incubation were higher (P < 0.05) in the wet seasons. Higher values (P < 0.05) in DM and NDF bag losses at zero time (A fraction) were registered in the two wet seasons. The insoluble but fermentable DM and NDF (B fractions) were higher (P < 0.05) in the 1999 wet season and variable in the rest of the studied period. Numerically higher values of DM and NDF c fraction were found in wet periods, whereas DM and NDF potential degradabilities were higher (P < 0.05) in the wet season in 1999 and similar across seasons in 2000. Lowest (P < 0.05) contents of CP in grazed forage, DM and NDF degradabilities after 48 h of ruminal incubation, and A, and B, and c fractions were observed in the dry seasons. Thus, these results may be related to both the lower feeding value of forage consumed by the animals and lower performance of livestock during this period. Then, the DM and NDF degradability after 48 h, together with the insoluble but fermentable matter and the c fraction permit the nutritive value of the forage consumed by grazing goats to be accurately described.

Effect of linseed oil and fish oil alone or as an equal mixture of ruminal fatty acid metabolism in growing steers fed maize silage-based diets

Based on the potential benefits to human health there is interest in increasing 18:3n-3, 20:5n-3, 22:6n-6, and cis-9,trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in ruminant foods. Four Aberdeen Angus steers (406 ± 8.2 kg BW) fitted with rumen and duodenal cannulae were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square experiment with 21 d periods to examine the potential of fish oil (FO) and linseed oil (LO) in the diet to increase ruminal outflow of trans-11 18:1 and total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in growing cattle. Treatments consisted of a control diet (60:40; forage:concentrate ratio, on a DM basis, respectively) based on maize silage, or the same basal ration containing 30 g/kg DM of FO, LO or a mixture (1:1, w/w) of FO and LO (LFO). Diets were offered as total mixed rations and fed at a rate of 85 g DM/kg BW0.75/d. Oils had no effect (P = 0.52) on DM intake. Linseed oil had no effect (P > 0.05) on ruminal pH or VFA concentrations, while FO shifted rumen fermentation towards propionate at the expense of acetate. Compared with the control, LO increased (P < 0.05) 18:0, cis 18:1 (Δ9, 12-15), trans 18:1 (Δ4-9, 11-16), trans 18:2, geometric isomers of ∆9,11, ∆11,13, and ∆13,15 CLA, trans-8,cis-10 CLA, trans-10,trans-12 CLA, trans-12,trans-14 CLA, and 18:3n-3 flow at the duodenum. Inclusion of FO in the diet resulted in higher (P < 0.05) flows of cis-9 16:1, trans 16:1 (Δ6-13), cis 18:1 (Δ9, 11, and 13), trans 18:1 (Δ6-15), trans 18:2, 20:5n-3, 22:5n-3, and 22:6n-3, and lowered (P < 0.001) 18:0 at the duodenum relative to the control. For most fatty acids at the duodenum responses to LFO were intermediate of FO and LO. However, LFO resulted in higher (P = 0.04) flows of total trans 18:1 than LO and increased (P < 0.01) trans-6 16:1 and trans-12 18:1 at the duodenum compared with FO or LO. Biohydrogenation of cis-9 18:1 and 18:2n-6 in the rumen was independent of treatment, but both FO and LO increased (P < 0.001) the extent of 18:3n-3 biohydrogenation compared with the control. Ruminal 18:3n-3 biohydrogenation was higher (P < 0.001) for LO and LFO than FO, while biohydrogenation of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 in the rumen was marginally lower (P = 0.05) for LFO than FO. In conclusion, LO and FO at 30 g/kg DM altered the biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids in the rumen causing an increase in the flow of specific intermediates at the duodenum, but the potential of these oils fed alone or as a mixture to increase n-3 PUFA at the duodenum in cattle appears limited.

Efeito de Diferentes Volumosos sobre a Degradabilidade in situ de Nutrientes e Variáveis da Fermentação Ruminal, Mediante a Aplicação da Somatotropina Bovina

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of diets with different forages (sugarcane, corn silage, hydrolyzed bagasse and sugarcane + corn silage) on the ruminal Fermentation and ruminal nutrients degradability, by the application of bovine somatotropin. Three bovines with ruminal cannulas were used in a factorial scheme (4 x 2). The pH, number of protozoa, ammonia and volatile fatty acids concentration were quantified. The potential and the effective degradability and degradation rate of dry matter and crude protein in each diet were evaluated, beyond gross energy disappearance. There were differences among diets on the effective degradability of dry matter and potential degradability, effective degradability and potentially degradable fraction of crude protein, being verified the same for the rBST application. There was effect of different forages on the variables of ruminal Fermentation. The treatments did not affect the gross energy disappearance. The rBST application did not affect the variables of ruminal fermentation.

Degradabilidade ruminal da matéria seca, da proteína bruta e da fração fibrosa de silagens de milho, de sorgo e de Brachiaria brizantha

Avaliou-se a degradação da matéria seca (MS), da proteína bruta (PB), da fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), da fibra em detergente ácido (FDA) e da hemicelulose das silagens de milho, de sorgo e de Brachiaria brizantha. Foram utilizados três novilhos Nelore, machos, fistulados no rúmen, com média de peso de 200kg. em cada animal foram incubadas amostras das três silagens nos tempos de 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 e 96 horas. Para as degradabilidades potencial e efetiva da MS (taxa de passagem no rúmen de 5%/h), a silagem de milho foi a que apresentou valores mais altos, 80,1 e 56,7%, respectivamente, seguida da silagem de sorgo, 73,0 e 45,3%, e da silagem de Brachiaria, 60,8 e 33,7%. Para a PB, o maior valor de degradabilidade foi verificado para a silagem de milho, 87,0%, seguida das silagens de sorgo, 81,8%, e de Brachiaria, 75,2%. A degradabilidade da FDN foi maior para as silagens de milho e sorgo. Para FDA, a silagem de sorgo apresentou perfil de degradação menor que a silagem de milho. Os resultados sugerem melhor qualidade da silagem de milho, seguida pela do sorgo e pela de Brachiaria.

Influência da frequência de suplementação no consumo, na digestibilidade e na fermentação ruminal em novilhos de corte mantidos em pastagem de capim-marandu

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Degradabilidade ruminal in situ da matéria seca e da fibra em detergente neutro em silagens de híbridos de sorgo colhidos em diferentes épocas

O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de avaliar o efeito das silagens de três híbridos de sorgo: granífero (Conti-Silo, de porte baixo), duplo propósito (Conti-Silo-03, de porte médio) e forrageiro (547-F, de porte alto) e de três épocas distintas (aos 105, 112 e 119 dias após a semeadura) sobre a degradabilidade in situ da matéria seca (MS) e da fibra em detergente neutro (FDN). Foram utilizados três bovinos adultos mestiços fistulados no rúmem, distribuídos em um delineamento experimental em parcelas subdivididas, com três tempos de incubação (6, 24, 96 horas). Houve diferença (P<0,05) nas frações de desaparecimento da MS e de FDN após 6, 24 e 96 horas de incubação ruminal entre as diferentes silagens. Quanto à época de colheita, a diferença na degradação de MS foi observada após 96 horas de incubação, destacando-se a variedade de duplo propósito, superior nos três diferentes cortes. Com a maturação, observou-se tendência de aumento na fração degradável da MS, porém esse efeito foi menos evidente nas silagens de sorgo forrageiro. Para a FDN não houve diferença (P<0,05) entre silagens em nenhum dos tempos de incubação.

Avaliação do capim-elefante (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) cultivar taiwan A-148, ensilado com diferentes técnicas de redução de umidade

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes técnicas de redução de umidade sobre a composição química, digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS) e degradação ruminal da matéria seca da silagem de capim-elefante (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) cv. Taiwan A-148. Os tratamentos (A, Controle; B, 20,0; C, 30,0; D, 40,0% de sabugo de milho; E, emurchecimento por 12 horas; F, emurchecimento por 24 horas; e G, esmagamento + emurchecimento por 24 horas) foram distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com três repetições. Os tratamentos da silagem B e E não foram eficientes em reduzir a umidade excessiva da forragem. O emurchecimento por 24 horas aumentou o teor de MS, sem influir no teor de PB e na DIVMS. Os tratamentos C e D favoreceram o desenvolvimento da população de clostrídeos, aumentaram a concentração de N-NH3 e reduziram a concentração de ácido lático e a DIVMS das silagens. O tratamento G aumentou o teor de MS e reduziu a concentração de N-NH3 e DIVMS. A adiçao de sabugo de milho (tratamentos B, C e D) reduziu a degradação ruminal da MS das silagens. O sabugo de milho reduziu a umidade, mas apresentou efeitos negativos na qualidade da silagem, enquanto o esmagamento e/ou emurchecimento foram procedimentos que mostraram bons resultados em relação à conservação do material ensilado.