Sugarcane bagasse silage treated with anydrum ammonia as exclusive forage in sheep diet

The effects of adding 0; 2; 3 and 4% of anhydrous ammonia (NH3) to sugarcane bagasse (based on dry matter) were studied in order to evaluate the chemical composition, consumption and apparent digestibility of nutrients in sheep. Four sheep were used, kept in total confinement, with an average live weight of 40.7 kg, for 72 days, distributed in a 4 x 4 Latin square experimental design. The use of anhydrous ammonia did not influence the levels of crude protein, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, but there was a linear reduction (P<0.05) of the fiber content in acid detergent and a quadratic effect (P<0.05) for the fiber content in neutral detergent, with increasing doses of anhydrous ammonia in sugarcane bagasse. There was no effect of ammoniated sugarcane bagasse (P>0.05) on the intake and digestibility of dry matter, fiber in neutral detergent, fiber in acid detergent, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin. It is concluded that sugarcane bagasse ammoniated with up to 4% NH3 should not be used as exclusive forage in the diet of sheep in confinement.