Silagem de palma forrageira.

Abstract

The biggest problems in animal production, in semi-arid tropical regions, is the decrease in the biomass production graze, in the dry season. This study was to do with objective of evaluate the chemical composition and fermentation characteristics of silage from Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. with different levels of pre-dehydration for use in the diet of ruminants. The forage cactus has been collected in the city of Patos- PB, after harvesting, the material was sliced into appropriate machine and then exposed to the sun to the levels of 69, 64 and 43% of damp, consisting of T1, T2 and T3 respectively. When the levels of moisture for each treatment, the samples was ground and ensiled in PVC silos of 0.60m long and 0.48 m in diameter. After 60 days, the silo was opened and made the analysis of: DM, CP, NDF, MM, pH, CE and IVDMD. The size of the forage cactus of the racket interferes with the speed of dehydration, the average time of exposure to the sun of the racket of forage cactus sliced to achieve 90% dry matter is 78 hours, the silages assessed the levels of moisture 64 and 69% have potential for production of silage in terms of dry matter, pH, in vitro digestibility and neutral detergent fiber satisfactory to the pattern of fermentation silages showed no variation and in vitro digestibility of dry matter.