USO DO ÓLEO ESSENCIAL DE LARANJA DOCE EM SILAGEM DE GRÃOS DE MILHO REIDRATADO

Abstract

Corn is the main ingredient used in several diets of farm animals, due to its high availability and nutritional value. However, one of the characteristics of the corn grain is that it has a strong protein matrix which, in turn, hinders the use of starch in the grain by animals, especially ruminants. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the effects of different levels of sweet orange essential oil addition on rehydrated corn grain silage, evaluating chemical-bromatological and fermentative parameters. The treatments were carried out in a completely randomized experimental design consisting of five replications composed of 100% corn grain silage, corn grain + 250 mg/Kg of MV (green matter) of OELD (sweet orange essential oil), corn grain + 500 mg/Kg of OELD MV, corn grain + 750 mg/Kg of OELD MV, totaling 20 experimental silos. Corn kernels were rehydrated with water until reaching 35% moisture and added with different levels of sweet orange essential oil. The results found were significant (p<0.05) for protein parameters; pH; FDA; AND IS; loss by gases and loss by effluents in the treatment with the inclusion of 750 (mg/kg of MV) of OELD, being significant for NH3 when 500 (mg/kg of MV) was added. For the other parameters there was no significant effect. Thus, the sweet orange essential oil proved to be effective as a natural additive and substitute for synthetic additives, as it performed satisfactory results in improving the nutritional composition of the diet.