 | Abstract 6Effect of ammonia level, time of exposure to ammonia and period of storage on chemical composition and digestibility of two tropical grasses hay.Reis,-RA; Garcia,-R Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Vicosa, 36570 Vicosa, MG, Brazil. Proceedings of the XVI International Grassland Congress, 4-11 October 1989, Nice, France. 1989, 1001-1002; 8 ref. Versailles, France; Association Francaise pour la Production Fourragere. Melinis minutiflora and Brachiaria decumbens hay was treated with 0, 2, 4 or 6% anhydrous ammonia for 30 or 45 d. There was a significant decrease of NDF and hemicellulose with increasing ammonia levels for both hays. However, ADF, cellulose and lignin contents were not affected by ammoniation. Total N, acid detergent insoluble N and in vitro DM digestibility were increased by ammoniation. There were no significant effects of time of exposure on NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, acid detergent insoluble N and in vitro DM digestibility. There was no alteration in chemical composition of the fibre fraction for control or treated grass hay during 60 d storage when sampled every 15 d. Total N decreased in response to aeration during storage from 0 to 60 d. The in vitro DM digestibility observed after ammoniation was not affected by storage of either hay. This abstract relates to the following species: |