CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND PROFILE OF FERMENTATION OF THE SILAGES OF FIVE SORGHUM HYBRIDS (Sorghum bicolor x Sorghum sudanense)

Five hybrids of Sorghum bicolor x Sorghum sudanense were analyzed asgreen forage (P0) and silage with 7 (P1), 14 (P2), 28 (P3) and 56 (P4) days after ensiling. The hybrids were cultivated at CNPMS/EMBRAPA and ensiled 60 days after planting, in PVC silos, with four repetitions per period. There were determinations of dry matter (DM), pH values and contents of alcohol soluble carbohydrates (CHO’s), crude protein (CP), amoniacal nitrogen (N-NH3/NT), coefficients of IVDMD and cell wall components. A randomized sample design was used in a 5 x 5 factorial arrangement. The analyzed materials showed low DM and CP contents and IVDDM coefficients. All hybrids had similar values for fiber ration. An increase of total phenol contents with ensiling was observed, and those showed negative correlation with IVDDM. It was concluded that DM contents of the studied ensilages were unsatisfactory but, despite the high humidity, the ensilages presented good fermentative standards. As for the quality of the voluminous one, the ensilages were considered of average quality due to the low CP content