<b>Effect of wilting and inoculant on Tanzania grass silage quality and heifers performance</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v28i4.600

Abstract

The objective was to study the e ffect of particle size, dry matter content and the addition of bacterial inoculant to the ensiling of Tanzania grass ( Panicum maximum, Jacq. cv. Tanzânia) on the physical characteristics and losses occurred during silo unloading. Dry matter intake, live we ight gain and feed conversion of beef heifers fed TMR containing grass silage were measured. The small particle size in the forage did not increase either wet or DM silages bulk densities, did not reduce the porosity and did not change the unloading losses. The forage wilting was not enough to reduce the DM density due to the compensatory effect established by the higher DM content, which presented the highest losses. No significant differences were observed for treatments on animal DM intake (2.4%BW), body weight gain (1.03 kg animal^-1 day^-1) and feed conversion (7.91 kg MS kg^-1 BWG). Treatments in the ensiling of Tanzania grass did not prevent unloading losses and did not improve animal performance.