The experiment evaluated the chemical composition, in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD), and fermentative characteristics of elephant grass silages with different coffee hull levels. The elephant grass presented 17.2% of dry matter (DM), cut with 45 days of growing. The coffee hull addition levels were 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24%, in fresh matter basis (weight/weight) with four replications per treatment. The material was ensiled in cylindrical plastic silos. In the ensiling process, the forage packing density was 500 kg/m³. It was observed increase of DM, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent insoluble nitrogen, and lignin concentration, as a function of coffee hull levels. Crude protein showed quadratic behaviour, estimating maximum CP value of 9.9% for the 16.4% coffee hull addition level. Neutral detergent fiber reduced linearly and silage lactic acid concentration showed quadratic behaviour as a function of coffee hull levels, estimating maximum value of 11.4% to 25.6% hull level. Coffee hull was efficient to increase silage DM concentration; however, the silage IVDMD decreased. The coffee hulls use in elephantgrass ensilage improved the fermentative characteristics of the silage.
additive; byproduct; ensilage; fermentation; Pennisetum purpureum
