The objective of this study was to quantify the population of molds and yeasts, evaluate losses dry matter and chemical composition of buffelgrass hay ammoniated with urea. We used a completely randomized design with five treatments and five replicates. The treatments consisted the urea levels (0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0%) that were added to the hay bales based on dry matter. The inclusion of 1.0% of urea increased dry matter recovery (93.21%) compared to non-ammoniated hay. There was quadratic effect for the pH with highest value observed at the level of 0.5% of urea (8.88), reducing the other levels of urea. The addition of urea levels was efficient to reduce the population of molds and yeasts, reducing from 6.50 log CFU/g in untreated hay with urea to 3.65 log CFU/g when added 4% of urea in the hay. The addition of urea resulted in increased contents of organic matter and crude protein hay buffelgrass, reaching the highest values with the use de 4.0% of urea, with 90.96% and 14.03%, respectively. The application of urea does not provide decreased in respect losses of dry matter, except at a level of 1.0%, however it is efficient in to reduce the population of molds and yeasts and elevate the crude protein of buffel grass hay.
additivies; ammoniation; cenchrus ciliares; forage conservation; molds and yeasts