The experiment was conducted to determine losses by gases and effluent, fermentation characteristics and nutritional value of elephant grass silage containing cassava meal, coffee hulls and cocoa meal. It was used a completely randomized experimental design in a 3 x 4 factorial scheme, with three additives evaluated in four levels (0, 10, 20 and 30% of natural matter), each one with five repetitions. The material was ensiled in PVC silos for 60 days. After opening of the silos, weightings were carried out for determination of losses through the quantification of effluent production and also by losses by gases. Samples were collected for subsequent analyses of ammonia nitrogen content and pH values, as well as the chemical-bromatological composition. The additive addition caused an increase in the dry matter contents and cocoa meal was the most efficient additive to control effluent and gas losses. The addition of cassava meal, coffee hulls and cocoa meal assured high recovery rates of dry matter, while cassava meal and cocoa meal favored the reduction of pH values and ammonia nitrogen contents, respectively, resulting in silages fermentation profile improvement. The silages containing cassava meal presented greater total digestible nutrients contents and they assured lower neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, cellulose and lignin contents. Addition of cocoa meal to elephant grass at the moment of the ensilage contributed to increase total nitrogen content, however it increases insoluble nitrogen contents in neutral detergent and acid detergent.
by-product; effluent; ensilage; gases; Pennisetum purpureum
