The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of levels (10, 20, 30 and 40%, based on fresh matter) of coffee hulls added to elephantgrass at ensilage on the bromatological composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of the resulting silage and the production and composition of the silo effluent. Twenty cylindrical plastic silos measuring 0.25 m diameter x 0.75 m height were used. A complete randomized design was used with four replications. The results demonstrated coffee hulls efficiency on decreasing silage moisture, resulting in increase of DM content of 0.69% / unity of added additive. pH values decreased as levels of coffee hulls increased. The addition of coffee hulls favored the crude protein contents, which showed a quadratic effect, estimating maximum of 10.0% at 26.3% of coffee hulls addition. The addition of coffee hulls reduced ammoniacal nitrogen, insoluble neutral detergent fiber and IVDMD, and increased acid detergent insoluble nitrogen and lignin contents. Acid detergent fiber and cellulose contents were not affected. Effluent production during 21 days was reduced from 123.5 L/t (0.0% coffee hulls) to 26.7 L/t (10.0% coffee hulls). The dry matter, P, Na and K contents did not varied with number of days of collect, although the Mg content decreased and total nitrogen content increased. The values of biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand were not affected. The addition of 20% of coffee hulls was efficient to eliminate effluent production and to produce a good quality silage.
additive; biological oxygen demand; ensiling; pH
