Silage quality of six sorghum cultivars for sheep

Authors

  • Brena Santos Oliveira Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Campus Soane Nazaré de Andrade, Rodovia Jorge Amado, Km 16, Salobrinho, CEP 45662-900 Ilhéus, BA.
  • Luiz Gustavo Ribeiro Pereira Embrapa Gado de Leite, Rua Eugênio do Nascimento, no 610, Dom Bosco, CEP 36038-330 Juiz de Fora, MG.
  • José Augusto Gomes Azevêdo Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Campus Soane Nazaré de Andrade, Rodovia Jorge Amado, Km 16, Salobrinho, CEP 45662-900 Ilhéus, BA.
  • José Avelino Santos Rodrigues Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, Rodovia MG-424, Km 45, Zona Rural, CEP 35701-970 Sete Lagoas, MG.
  • Frederico Osório Velasco Universidade Federal de São João Del Rey, Campus Dom Bosco, Praça Frei Orlando, no 170, Centro, CEP 36307-352 São João Del Rei, MG.
  • André Luiz Alves Neves Embrapa Gado de Leite, Rua Eugênio do Nascimento, no 610, Dom Bosco, CEP 36038-330 Juiz de Fora, MG.
  • Rogério Martins Maurício Universidade Federal de São João Del Rey, Campus Dom Bosco, Praça Frei Orlando, no 170, Centro, CEP 36307-352 São João Del Rei, MG.
  • Rui da Silva Verneque Embrapa Gado de Leite, Rua Eugênio do Nascimento, no 610, Dom Bosco, CEP 36038-330 Juiz de Fora, MG.
  • Rafael Dantas dos Santos Embrapa Semiárido, Rodovia BR-428, Km 152, s/no, Zona Rural, CEP 56302-970 Petrolina, PE.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2018.v53.24696

Keywords:

Sorghum, digestibility, fermentation profile, nutritional value, ruminants, semiarid conditions

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the silage quality, fermentation profile, intake, and digestibility of six sorghum cultivars for sheep feeding. 'SF 15', 'IPA 2502', 'BRS 655', 'BR 601', 'BRS 506', and 'Sudão' were cultivated in randomized complete block designs with five replicates, harvested, and ensiled when plants reached the soft-dough grain stage. Silage quality was determined in laboratory silos. Intake and apparent digestibility were determined during 22 days, using 24 Santa Inês lambs (35.5±2.21 kg) randomly distributed in the treatments. Silage from 'IPA 2502' had the lowest contents of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber; the highest nonfibrous carbohydrate and total digestible nutrient contents; and the greatest dry matter degradability. Silages from 'BR 601' and 'BRS 506' showed the highest values of crude protein, whereas those of 'SF 15' and 'Sudão' had the highest levels of fibrous fractions. Lambs fed silage from 'IPA 2502' consumed more dry matter and nonfibrous carbohydrates, and their crude protein digestibility was also greater than that from the consumption of other cultivar silages. 'IPA 2502' stands out for its nutritional characteristics, which resulted in better animal performance.

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Published

2018-03-16

How to Cite

Oliveira, B. S., Pereira, L. G. R., Azevêdo, J. A. G., Rodrigues, J. A. S., Velasco, F. O., Neves, A. L. A., … dos Santos, R. D. (2018). Silage quality of six sorghum cultivars for sheep. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira, 53(2), 256–264. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2018.v53.24696

Issue

v.53, n.2, fev. 2018

Section

ANIMAL SCIENCE