Sugarcane total mixed ration silage ensiling with chitosan and homolactic microbial inoculant: characteristics of silage and animal digestion

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate total mixed ration silages with sugarcane and the additives microbial inoculant and chitosan. Thirty mini-silos were used in a completely randomized design, with three treatments and ten replications. Silages were composed of sugarcane mixed with corn bran, whole soybean, urea, and mineral mixtures at a 50:50 roughage to concentrate ratio. Treatments consisted of control silage, microbial additive (Lactobacillus plantarum + Pediococcus acidilactici, 4 g/t of KeraSil, Kera Nutrição Animal), and chitosan (10 g/kg of natural matter). Silages were evaluated for fermentation and microbiological profile, fermentation losses, aerobic stability, chemical-bromatological composition, intake, and digestibility. Fermentation profile showed no significant difference between treatments for pH values, with a mean value of 4.79. Production of acetic and propionic acids showed no difference between treatments, with mean values of 7.34 and 0.053 mmol/kg DM, respectively. Dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein intake of the total mixed ration silage differed statistically from the other treatments (P0.05). Digestibility values of DM, OM, and NDF were higher in the total mixed ration silage (P0.05). Total mixed ration silage increased nutrient intake and digestibility, with a better fermentation pattern when added with the microbial inoculant.