Effect of poultry litter addition on the nutritional and fermentative characteristics of cassava (<i>Manihot esculenta</i>) by-products silage

<span>The addition of poultry litter at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% to cassava by product in the ensiling process was evaluated. Both nutritional and fermentative characteristics were determined. Increasing levels of poultry litter had a significant effect on DM, CP, EE, Ash, Calcium, NDF, ADF, Cellulose and Hemicellulose content of the silage; however, no clear tendencies were found for lignin content. On the other hand, poultry litter addition decreased NFC concentration and IVDMD of the silage. Buffer capacity, pH, N-NH3 and organoleptic traits of silage were also evaluated for all treatments. The pH showed a growing tendency as poultry litter was increased, whereas buffer capacity and N-NH3 were significantly increased with higher rates of poultry litter added to the silage. Organoleptic evaluation indicated better characteristics in treatments with higher poultry litter content. Treatments with low poultry litter content showed a slight alcoholic smell and no ammonia smell was evident for the 5 treatments evaluated. The 10% poultry litter treatment was defined as the best to preserve nutritional and fermentative characteristics of the silage.