The objective of the study was to evaluate effects of microbially inoculated sunflower silage on total digestibility in ovines. Eight animals were assigned to a cross-over design, with two sub-periods (8 animals/treatment). Treatments were composed of sunflower silage (17.3% DM and 13.8% CP, on average) control or microbially inoculated with S. faecium plus L. plantarum (Pioneer 1174 product). Each experimental sub-period lasted for twenty-one days, where the last five were used for feces and urine collection. The inoculation decreased the digestibility of ADF (45.9% vs 50.2%), but it did not influence total digestibility of DM (57.0% vs 57.8%), CP (54.6% vs 55.1%), EE (63.6% vs 65.3%), NFC (81.79% vs 81.33%), NDF (43.7% vs 44.3%), starch (78.7% vs 74.1%), TDN (52.5% vs 53.0%), N retention (-0.93 vs -0.65 g of N/animal/day) or DM intake (2.49 vs 2.54% of BW).
ensiling; digestion; Helianthus annuus L.; lactic acid bacteria; sheep
