CHARACTERIZATION OF SILAGE OF REHYDRATED CORN GRAIN ASSOCIATED WITH TILAPIA RESIDUE

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological, chemical characteristcs and fermentative losses of corn silage rehydrated with water or whey associated to different levels of tilapia residue inclusion. A completely randomized design was used in a 5x2 factorial arrangement (five inclusion levels of tilapia residue: 0; 12.5; 25; 37.5 and 50% in substitution of dehydrated corn; and two sources of rehydration of corn: water or whey) for silage production. The production of gases of the silage with up to 25% inclusion of the tilapia residue was 62.7% greater for the corn rehydrate with whey (P <0.01). The amount of lactic acid bacteria was lesser for all levels of inclusion of tilapia residue when the source of rehydration was water (P <0.01). The levels of mineral matter, organic matter, crude protein, ethereal extract, calcium and phosphorus were greater in silages rehydrated with whey with the increase of the inclusion level of tilapia residue (P <0.01). Tilapia residue silage with rehydrated corn is an alternative that can be used in the poultry and swine diet, however, its use is conditioned to the evaluation of the best level of inclusion within an animal category.