Production, quality and use of tropical grass silage in the ruminant diet

Abstract

Brazil has several species of tropical grass that can be ensiled, these grasses have high forage production potential. However, the largest production of these grasses occurs during periods of greater availability of abiotic factors, which promotes seasonality in forage production, requiring the use of forage conservation technologies to maintain higher quality food in times of scarcity. Tropical grass silage in Brazil has been limited by operational factors and by the plant itself, as these plants invariably have low dry matter and soluble carbohydrate contents, as well as a high buffering capacity at the ideal time for cutting. To circumvent these problems some additives have been used with very interesting results, but this practice can further burden the production process. Therefore, the aim of this review is to discuss the main barriers to silage production from tropical grasses, the factors that may alter the quality of silage and the implications of inserting this type of roughage into the ruminant diet.