Chemical composition, fermentation, in vitro digestibility and in situ degradability of sugar cane silages with Lactobacillus, urea and agricultural byproduct

The objective of this study was to evaluate the sugarcane silage in relation to chemical composition, pH, total losses, aerobic stability, in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDDM) and effective degradability (ED) of bovine and buffaloes under the following treatments (on a dry matter (DM) basis): sugarcane silage control (control), with addition of 3.3% urea; with addition of Lactobacillus buchneri (inoculate); with inoculate + 3.3% urea; with inoculate + 25.0% soybean hull, and with inoculate + 25.0% cassava byproduct meal. The experiment was analyzed through a completely randomized design with three replications, and for DM ED, a double 4 x 4 Latin square with a 4 x 2 factorial arrangement was used. The sugarcane variety was the RB-855156 (precocious). The urea increased the protein level and reduced neutral and acid detergent fiber and lignin fractions. Treatments with inoculate + cassava byproduct and inoculate + soybean hull increased DM levels. Bovines presented higher IVDDM than buffaloes. pH values varied from 3.1 to 4.0. Mean total losses observed were 7.8%. Treatments with inoculate + cassava and inoculate + soybean hulls resulted in larger aerobic stability with 61 and 81 hours, respectively, in relation to silages control (24 h) and control with 3.3% urea (33 h). A higher DM ED was verified for silages with inoculate + control and inoculate + soybean hulls at 2%/h passage rates and higher neutral detergent fiber ED for the treatment of control + inoculate + soybean hulls at 2 and 5%/h. Silages treated with urea, L. buchneri or agricultural byproduct plus inoculate presented better quality pattern.