Silage production of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L) K. Schum.)

Authors

  • João Batista de Andrade Instituto de Zootecnia, Divisão de Nutrição Animal e Pastagens, Seção de Agronomia de Plantas Forrageiras, Nova Odessa, SP
  • Pedro de Andrade Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Departamento de Nutrição Animal e Pastagens, Jaboticabal, SP

Abstract

A study was conductec at Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Agronomia de Jaboticabal, from October 1971 te October 1972, with Pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) K. Schum as a crop silage. It was determined the dry matter yield and composition, and the silage quality evaluated by pH and lactic, acetic and butiric acid contents. It was also compared two aditives (sugar cane and molasses), for the forage conservation. It was used an all randomized design, where treatments were the combination 01 three cutting dates (68. 81 and 134 days of vegetative growth), and three levels of the aditives (O, 20% of sugar cane and 6% of molasses). These treatments were replicated four times. The dry and fresh, material yields were; 6.7€”55.3; 10.8€”76.0 and 21.9€”81.0 ton/ha, at 68, 81 and 134 days respectively. Crude protein, ether extract and ash content decreased with age from 13.40 to 5.52%; 2.47 to 1.32% and 11.05 to 5.91% respectively. Crude fiber increased from 33.54 to 36.64% at 68 days and 134 days respectively. Best silage was obtained when the forage was harvested with 134 days. When aditives were used the quality of the silage was improved considering the low level of the butiric acid and the high lactic acid content of the silage. It was concluded that Pennisetum Americanum (L.) K. Schum. does not present any advantage grasses, but it can be used as forage for silage as dry matter composition over other tropical satisfactorily.

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Published

2014-01-29

Issue

Section

FORAGE CROPS AND PASTURES

How to Cite

Silage production of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L) K. Schum.). (2014). Bulletin of Animal Husbandry, 39(2), 155-165. http://bia.iz.sp.gov.br/index.php/bia/article/view/202

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