Tanzania Grass ensiled with wheat meal levels

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the best level of wheat meal in Tanzania grass ensilage, by chemical composition, fermentative characteristics, energetic estimates and feed value index. Treatments were composed by Tanzania grass, cut off at 46 days, plus 8% 16%; 24%; or 34% of wheat meal; besides one treatment without wheat. After diced and mixed, the material was compressed into experimental silos, which were open after 60 days. Wheat meal addition improved the silage chemical-bromatologic composition, increased dry matter and non-fibrous carbohydrates, content reduced fibrous portion levels. Fermentative characteristics also improved, with decreasing in pH levels and ammoniac nitrogen. Feed value index increased linearly as wheat bran increased, as well as the estimated value for the total digestible nutrients and energy fractions, which was attributed to the high nutritional content of this feedstuff.