Substitution of sugarcane silage by pineapple stalk silage (PSS) in sheep feed

Abstract

We evaluated the disappearance rate and the digestibility of pineapple stalk silage (PSS) as a replacement to sugarcane silage added 0.5% urea (SCS) in sheep feed. We used five non-castrated male Santa Inês lambs, arranged in a 5×5 Latin Square, fed diets containing 13.5% CP and 63% TDN. We evaluated the following treatments: 100% PSS:0% SCS (100P); 75% PSS:25% SCS (75P); 50% PSS:50% SCS (50P); 25% PSS:75% SCS (25P) and 0% PSS:100% SCS (0P). There were no differences (P>0,05) among treatments for DM intake (597.27 g/day), DM digestibility (DMD) and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD) (P>0.05) with PSS inclusion. There was an increase in the ruminal digesta dry matter disappearance (%/h) and a linear decrease in ruminal pH (P<0.05) with PSS addition. Regarding DM disappearance, digestibility and intake, pineapple stalk silage may be used as a replacement to sugarcane silage+0.5% urea (SCS in sheep feed.