Objective

: To evaluate the inclusion of different proportions of leaves from Manihot esculenta Crantz in the nutritional quality of Sacharum officinarum L. silages in Argentina.

Materials and Methods

: A complete randomized design and three replicas per treatment were used: T1) M. esculenta (30 %): S. officinarum (70 %); T2) M. esculenta (50 %): S. officinarum (50 %) and T3) M. esculenta (70 %): S. officinarum (30 %). At 60 days of the silage the percentage content of dry matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, phosphorus, calcium, potassium and magnesium, was determined. Digestibility by formula, total digestible nutrients and digestible energy, were estimated. The organoleptic and pH characteristics were determined. A variance analysis and Tukey’s test at 0,05 % were used for the separation of means among treatments.

Results

:The crude protein had values between 8,4 (T1) and 16,0 % (T3). The aggregation of 70,0 % of M. esculenta leaves in the mixture increased the protein value in 90,0 and 25,5 % with regards to treatments T1 and T2. The acid detergent fiber was lower in T3 and, consequently, digestibility and total digestible nutrients increased in this treatment compared with the others.

Conclusions

:The inclusion of M. esculenta leaves improved the nutritional quality of the S. officinarum silage, by increasing, proportionally and significantly, the protein values, digestibility and total digestible nutrients. The ensiled material showed an adequate conservation process.

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