Nutritive and Fermentative Traits of African Stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst) Forage Preserved for Silage and Haylage

Abstract

Climate shifts have significantly affected livestock systems due to their environmental interdependence. Among the strategies adopted by livestock systems to fill the gaps in forage biomass, preserved forages are the most commonly used. This research assessed the nutritional profile of African Stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst) preserved as silage and haylage at different feed-out periods (45, 60, 90, and 120 days). We found greater dry matter (DM) content in haylage (29.7%), with no important variations in silage over time. Stargrass silage had crude protein (CP) levels greater (13.0%) than haylage (11.9%); the former was not affected by the duration of the preservation period. Silage had lower levels of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and higher levels of in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). The net energy for lactation (NEL) was similar for the two types of preservations evaluated. A principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that most of the variance in the dataset (69.6%) was explained by two principal components. PC1 showed that the most relevant variables were ADF, α-NDF, dNDF30, d NDF48, and NDICP, while Ash, Ca, and insoluble CP were the most relevant variables in PC2. Unlike haylage, the nutritional value of silage remained constant (p > 0.05) up to 120 days of preservation. It is important to note that haylage should not be stored beyond 90 days, regardless of the type of preservation.