Black oat silage quality under ensiling phenological stages, particle size and pre-wilting

Abstract

The objective was evaluate the effect of growth stage, particle size and pre-wilting on fermentation characteristics and nutritional value of the black oat silage (Avena strigosa S.). The experiment was conducted during the winter of 2011, in the city of Renascença, Southwest region of Paraná State, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized distributed in a factorial (3x2x2) with four replications. The factors evaluated were particle sizes: 5, 13 and 22mm; ensilage stages: early flowering and full flowering; and management: with and without pre-wilting. The particle size changes only the silage pH, with better results under 22mm, without any effects on the chemical composition of the silage produced. The management of pre-wilting is efficient to restrict effluents emission at early flowering, also gives better silage fermentation conditions, with reduced buffering capacity of 87.68 to 53.20meq 100g NaOH DM-1 and of pH from 3.64 to 3.15, which ensure a better preservation of the forage nutritional value, having lower levels of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) with greater crude protein (CP), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and total digestible nutrients (TDN). With the advancement of maturity it is observed increases in NDF and ADF and decreases in the values of CP, IVDMD and TDN. The ensilage in the early flowering stage followed by pre-wilting has suitable conditions for fermentation and has better nutritional value.