Microbial populations, pH, ammonium nitrogen/total nitrogen (N-NH3) ratio, concentrations of lactic acid, acetic acid and butyric acid and the chemical composition of Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basiliski silages at different regrowth ages (30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 days) were evaluated by using 2-kg capacity laboratory silos. It was used a 5 × 6 factorial scheme (5 regrowth ages × 6 fermentation periods) in a complete random design, with three replicates. The fermentation periods were 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 56 days. Lactic acid bacteria populations were recorded in fresh forage varying from 3.93 (30 days of regrowth) to 5.51 (70 days of regrowth) log colony-forming units (cfu)/g forage. Maximum populations of these microorganisms were recorded in the silages on the seventh day of fermentation (8.69 log cfu/g silage). Enterobacteria populations persisted until the 28th day, with maximum values found as early as the first day of fermentation (7.89 log cfu/g silage). Levels of DM, NDF, ADF and ADIN increased linearly whereas values of CP decreased linearly with age of regrowth of the plants. There was a linear reduction in the levels of DM, CP and NDF and linear increase in the levels of ADIN over the period of fermentation. N-NH3 level decreased and increased linearly with regrowth age and fermentation period, respectively. The pH decreased exponentially with fermentation period. Lactic acid increased and butyric acid decreased linearly with regrowth age. The predominant Lactobacillus plantarum species in signalgrass plants is Lactobacillus plantarum.
acetic acid; butyric acid; enterobacteria; lactic acid; lactic acid bacteria
