Abstract

RODRIGUEZ, R. et al. Effects of including sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and Vitafert as additives on the nutritional value of Cenchrus purpureus cv. CUBA CT-169 and Moringa oleifera silages. Cuban J. Agric. Sci. [online]. 2019, vol.53, n.2, pp. 119-135.  Epub Apr 01, 2019. ISSN 2079-3480.

The effect of including Vitafert (0 and 1 %) and sweet potato (0, 5, 10 and 15 %) on the nutritional value of mixed silages of C. purpureus cv. CUBA CT-169 and M. oleifera was evaluated. There were no differences on dry matter content, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber of evaluated silages (P>0.05). Organic matter was superior to 85% and differed between control and treatment with 10% of sweet potato (P< 0.05). Both additives increased the production of acetic acid regarding control (P< 0.0001). Only silage with Vitafert and 15% of sweet potato reduced levels of NH3 regarding control (P<0.001). In gas production, there was interaction between the two factors in the first stage of fermentation (P< 0.05). In the first three times of the initial phase, silage with Vitafert produced more gas than control, but there were no differences regarding the rest, except at 2 h. In the final stage of fermentation, there was no interaction between treatments and times. There was a tendency to increase the potential of gas production and Vmax, with the inclusion of Vitafert and increase of tuber levels. The inclusion of additives decreased NH3 levels and increased acetic and butyric acids, as well as SCFAs, ME and OMD (P< 0.01). The IVDDM increased with the inclusion of sweet potato (P< 0.0001). It can be concluded that Vitafert and sweet potato additives, at the evaluated concentrations, had no significant influence on chemical composition of mixed silages but both additives improved the fermentative characteristic of silages by reducing the levels of butyric acid and increasing propionic acid levels. Likewise, its use optimized the performance of kinetic parameters of in vitro fermentation and increased gas production, total and individual SCFAs, IVDDM, ME and OMD, having a positive effect of sweet potato inclusion level on several of these indicators.

Keywords : mixed silage; quality; additives; gas production.

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