Produção e qualidade da silagem de sorgo para ruminantes: aspectos agronômicos, fermentativos e nutricionais
Produção e qualidade da silagem de sorgo para ruminantes: aspectos agronômicos, fermentativos e nutricionais
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.811112520034
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Palavras-chave: aditivo, conservação, fermentação, forragem
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Keywords: additive, conservation, fermentation, forage
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Abstract: Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a forage crop of great importance for ruminant feeding, especially in regions with semi-arid climates or subject to seasonal pasture production. Considered a viable alternative to corn, sorghum stands out for its high drought resistance, regrowth capacity suitable for ensiling, tolerance to lower fertility soils, and reduced water requirements, which favor its adoption in less intensified production systems. Additionally, sorghum has a bromatological composition compatible with the nutritional requirements of ruminants, with crude protein levels that may exceed those of corn, depending on the genotype and management practices used. Sorghum silage can be produced using different types of hybrids—grain, forage, sweet, and dual-purpose—which directly influence green mass yield, grain content, and the quality of the resulting silage. The harvesting stage is a determining factor, with ensiling recommended at the dough to early hard grain stage, with dry matter content ranging from 28% to 35%, in order to ensure proper lactic fermentation. Other factors such as compaction, pH, and climatic conditions also directly affect the ensilability of sorghum and the final quality of the silage. In ruminant nutrition, sorghum silage can reach up to 95% of the nutritional value of corn silage, with good dry matter digestibility and adequate supply of energy and protein. The proper use of sorghum silage contributes to effective dietary supplementation of herds during the dry season, improves animal performance, and enhances the efficiency of production systems. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the agronomic, fermentative, and nutritional aspects involved in the production and use of sorghum silage in ruminant feeding.
- Lerner Arévalo Pinedo
- Andressa Fernanda Campos
- Vanessa Peripolli
- Elizabeth Schwegler
- Paula Gabriela da Silva Pires
- Ana Elisa Alvim Dias Montagner
- Betina Raquel Cunha dos Santos