Esta pesquisa foi realizada com o objetivo de avaliar o valor nutritivo de silagens de capim-elefante contendo níveis crescentes de subproduto desidratado de maracujá (SDM). Foram testados cinco níveis de adição de SDM (0,0; 3,5; 7,0; 10,5 e 14,0%) na dieta de 20 ovinos machos, não-castrados, segundo delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos (níveis de adição) e quatro repetições. Foram estimados os consumos de MS (CMS), PB (CPB), FDN (CFDN) e FDA (CFDA), as digestibilidades aparentes da MS (DAMS), PB (DAPB), FDN (DAFDN), FDA (DAFDA) e hemicelulose (DAHEM), além dos valores de nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) e do balanço de nitrogênio (BN). Com a inclusão de SDM na ensilagem do capim-elefante, ocorreram elevações nos CMS e CPB, sem, no entanto, alterar os valores de CFDN e CFDA. As DAMS, DAPB e os valores de NDT e BN elevaram com a adição de SDM, mas as DAFDN, DAFDA e DAHEM não foram alteradas. A adição de SDM na ensilagem de capim-elefante é uma prática recomendável, pois o uso dessas silagens aumentou o consumo e a digestibilidade dos nutrientes e elevou a densidade energética da dieta.

This research was carried out to evaluate the nutritive value of elephant grass silages, with increasing levels of dehydrated passion fruit by-product (DPFB). Five inclusion levels were studied (0.0, 3.5, 7.0, 10.5, and 14.0%). Twenty castrated male sheep were assigned to a complete randomized design with five treatments (inclusion levels) and four replicates. The intakes of DM (DMI), CP (CPI), NDF (NDFI) and ADF (IADF) were determined, as well as the DM apparent digestibility (DMAD), CP (CPAD), NDF (NDFAD), ADF (ADFAD) and hemicellulose (HEMIAD). In addition, it was determined total digestible nutrients (TDN) and the nitrogen balance (NB). The DPFB inclusion during the elephantgrass ensiling process raised the DMI and the CPI, although there was no effect on the NDFI and ADFI. The DPFB addition also raised the DMAD, CPAD, the TDN and the NB. The NDFAD, ADFAD and the HEMIAD were not affected by the treatments. It was concluded that the DPFB addition by the time of elephantgrass ensiling is a recommended practice, increasing the energetic density, the intake and apparent digestibility of the silages.