Evaluation of the Addition of Urea or Calcium Oxide (CaO) on the Recovery of Dry Matter of the By-Product of Sweet Corn Silage

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the addition of different percentages of urea or calcium oxide (CaO) on the fermentative characteristics and chemical composition of the by-product of sweet corn silage, without whole kernel corn. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2 × 5 factorial scheme, with two additives (CaO or urea) and five inclusion levels (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0% in natural matter of by-product of sweet corn silage). There was interaction between the type of additives and addition levels (CaO or urea) for pH values (P < 0.05). The mean pH values ranged from 3.40 to 5.36 in the additive silage. For effluent production, the additive type interaction and addition levels were significant (P < 0.05). The addition of CaO independent of the level used was not effective in reducing dry matter (DM) losses during ensilage. The total losses of DM presented a significant increase with the levels of addition of CaO, varying from 91 to 177% in relation to the control silage. The addition of urea to all levels had a satisfactory effect on the total loss of DM, ranging from 38 to 69% improvement in the reduction in relation to the control silage. The additive CaO was not efficient in reducing the fermentation losses and preserving the silage. However, urea was efficient in the recovery of DM in the ensilage process.