Caroço de açaí (Euterpe oleraceae Mart.) como aditivo na ensilagem de Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça

Abstract

Tropical grasses when reaped at the maximum productivity point, without compromising the nutritional value can present high humidity, and this can compromise the ensiling process. The use of moisture sequestrant additives may be an alternative. The objective of this study was to evalue the potential of açaí seed as a sequestrant moisture additive in Mombaça grass silage, as well as its potential for use in sheep diets. Two experiments were carried out: Experiment 1 -Evaluation of the inclusion of açaí seed as a sequestrant additive in the silage of Mombaça grass, and Experiment 2- Metabolic assay using aditivated silage with açaí seed. For the experiment 1 silos with Mombaça grass were constructed, adding açaí seed in the proportions of 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 g.kg -1 based on natural matter, thus constituting a completely randomized design of 5 treatments with 25 experimental units. The silos were opened after 80 days of ensilage, and the silage samples were analyzed for losses, chemical composition, nitrogenous fractions and pH. For experiment 2, were used 5 castrated male sheep in a 5x5 Latin square design, with 5 periods and 5 treatments, fed with Mombaça silage plus the same levels of inclusion of açaí seed described in Experiment 1. The diet of sheep was composed o f silage (as a source of roughage) and concentrate in the proportion of 60:40. The experimental periods were in 19 days, considering 14 days for adaptation and 5 days of collection, analyzing consumption, digestibility and nitrogen balance. It was observed a linear increase (P <0.05) for the dry matter content of the silages due to the inclusion of the aça í seed, a linear decrease (P <0.05) for gas and effluent losses with the addition of açaí seed in silage, demonstrating efficiency in its use as a moisture sequestrant additive. There was a reduction (P <0.05) in the crude protein and ammoniacal nitrogen content of the silage with the inclusion of açaí seed. There was a linear increase (P <0.05) for the consumption of: dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber in sheep, as the inclusion of açaí seed in the silage. There was a decrease (P <0.05) in the apparent digestibility coefficients with the increased inclusion of the açaí seed. However, there was not effect on consumption of digestible energy, consumption of total digestible nutrients and nitrogen balance (P> 0.05). The aça í seed is indicated as a moisture sequestering additive in the silage of Panicum maximum cv. Mombasa with addition of up to 200 g.kg-1 natural matter, because it increases the dry matter recovery of the ensiled material, promotes the increase of the dry matter intake of the animals, without impairing the ingestion of digestible energy and nitrogen retention . The use of açaí seeds brings benefits to the environment, as it reduces the disposal of waste from the agribusiness and the impact caused by the production of agricultural effluent.