CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND LOSSES IN PRE-DRIED ORANGE BAGASSE SILAGE

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the bromatological [dry matter, crude protein (CP), neutral (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin and total digestible nutrients (TDN)] and fermentation characteristics [pH and ammoniacal nitrogen in relation to total nitrogen (N-NH3/TN)] of pre-dried orange bagasse silage after different periods of storage, as well as parameters related to nutrient losses from gases and effluents and dry matter recovery. A completely randomized design with five treatments and six replicates was adopted in which the treatments consisted of the different days of opening of the mini-silos (10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 days). Dry matter, CP, NDF, lignin, TDN, N-NH3/TN or dry matter recovery did not differ (P>0.05) between days of opening of the mini-silos. A reduction (P<0.05) was observed in ADF content, dry matter losses, losses from gases, and pH values. Ensiling can be used to store pre-dried orange bagasse since the process maintains its nutritional value.