Dry Matter Losses in Tanzânia Grass (Panicum maximum, Jacq, cv. Tanzânia) Silage

Dry Matter Losses in Tanzânia Grass (Panicum maximum, Jacq, cv. Tanzânia) Silage

A spring cut of Tanzânia grass (Panicum maximum, Schum, cv. Tanzânia) was harvested (20% DM), in a 60-day regrowth sward. Laboratory silos (20 L) were filled with chopped forage. Nine treatments, in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement with four replication each. Treatments consisted on the addition of 3 levels of dehydrated and pellet citrus pulp (CP) (0, 5 and 10%- fresh basis) combined with 3 particle sizes (Larger (1), medium (2) and smaller (3)). After 60 days silos were opened, effluent and gas yield was calculated. Reduction in particle size lowered gas losses in silage. Major benefit on preventing gas losses from more finely cut forage (sizes 2 and 3) was observed when higher CP levels were added. Gas losses were maximum when 1.2% and 4.6% of CP were added in forage particle sizes 1 and 2, respectively. For size 3, a linear trend was observed. The lowest silage effluent yields for both, particle sizes 1 (1,81 g/ 100 g DM) and 2 (2,67 g/100 g DM), were when CP addition was up to 7,89% and 7,50%, respectively. When the higher CP level was added (10%) no differences in effluent yield were detected among particle sizes.