This experiment was conducted to characterize and quantify the fractions that make up the carbohydrate and protein in silages. The design was completely randomized with four replications and five treatments: corn silage (AG 5011), sorghum-sudangrass silage, forage sorghum silage (BR 601) and sunflower silage (Rumbsol 91). Sunflower silage had the lowest value of total carbohydrates (TC) and B2 fraction (potentially degradable fraction of the fiber). Silages of corn, forage sorghum and sorghum-sudangrass showed no difference in cholesterol levels. Fraction C (indigestible cell wall fraction) was higher in silages of sunflower and sorghum-sudangrass. There was no effect on the protein fraction (non-protein nitrogen) between silages. Sunflower silage showed higher crude protein and total nitrogen. No differences were found between the silages of maize and sorghum, and fraction C was smaller for the corn silage and forage sorghum. Silages of corn, forage sorghum and sorghum-sudangrass presented lower nutritional value due to the greater amount of cell wall and less energy, when compared with silages of corn and sunflower.
feed evaluation; maize; sorghum; sunflower
