Dwarf and tall elephant grass silages: intake, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, ruminal fermentation, and ingestive behavior in sheep

The objective of this study was to evaluate the exclusive supply of dwarf or tall elephant grass silages, harvested at 60 days of growth, without wilting or the use of additives, on intake, apparent digestibility, nitrogen balance, rumen parameters, and ingestive behavior of sheep. Eight castrated male crossbred sheep (57.6 +/- 5.25 kg body weight), fistulated in the rumen, were distributed in two 4 x 4 Latin squares with four treatments and eight animals per treatment and four periods. The treatments consisted of four elephant grass genotype silages (Mott, Taiwan A-146 2.37, IRI-381, or Elephant B). There was no effect of silages (P > 0.05) on dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, and total digestible nutrient intake. The dwarf-sized elephant grass silages provided higher crude protein intake (P = 0.047) and N intake (P = 0.047), while the IRI-381 genotype silage provided higher non-fibrous carbohydrate intake compared to Mott (P = 0.042), without differing from Taiwan A-146 2.37 and Elephant B silages. There were no differences (P > 0.05) among the digestibility coefficients of the evaluated silages. It was observed that silages produced with Mott and IRI-381 genotypes caused a slight decrease in ruminal pH (P = 0.013), and the propionic acid concentration was higher in the rumen fluid of the animals fed with Mott silage (P = 0.021). Therefore, dwarf or tall elephant grass silages, produced with cut genotypes at 60 days of growth and without the use of additives or wilting process, can be used in sheep feeding.