The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the fermentative and chemical parameters of four different bulk densities of marandugrass (Brachiaria brizantha) silages. The forage was harvested with 60 days of vegetative growth and 32% of DM. The bulk densities used were 100, 120, 140 and 160 kg DM/m³. Treatments were distributed in a completely randomized design with four replicates. Gas production data were analyzed by repeated measures model. The lower density silages showed greater gas production. Low effluent production was observed in all treatments due to the high forage DM during harvesting. Higher bulk density silos showed lower DM losses and also achieved a lower pH than lower density silos. Ammoniacal nitrogen concentration was not influenced by treatments and the observed values were satisfactory for tropical grasses silages. Bulk density increase provided a reduction in NIDN, B3 fraction, NDF and ADF concentration. Higher bulk densities also provided greater DM recovery and greater true in vitro DM digestibility.
Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu; ensilage; fermentation; losses; tropical grass
