The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of periods of pre-wilting of stargrass [Cynodon plectostachyus (K. Schum.) Pilg.] and Tifton 85 bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.) on some characteristics of their silage. Arandomized design with ten treatments and three replications was used. The treatments were arranged in a 2x5 factorial, two grasses (stargrass and Tifton 85) and five periods of pre-wilting of forage (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 h). The grasses were harvested at 50 days regrowth and stored for 55 days in experimental silos. The pre-wilting caused an increase in dry matter content of forage and silage of both, Tifton 85 and stargrass. There was a decrease in the levels of ammonia-N (N-NH3/N-total) of the stargrass silage at a rate of 1.66 percentage unit per hour of pre-wilting, but there was no change in this variable of Tifton 85 silage. The Tifton 85 silage presented higher dry matter recovery and content of NDF and lower protein content than the silage stargrass. The pH and ADF content of the silage were not affected by pre-wilting.
dry matter content; N-ammonia; pH; stargrass; Tifton 85 bermudagrass
