In situ dry matter degradability of three tropical forages of green chopped and ensiled forms

Dry matter (DM) ruminal degradability of corn (Zea mays L.), millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L. R. Br.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench.) was evaluated using in situ technique with samples in green chopped and ensiled forms. Two crossbred fistulated (live weight of 480kg) dry cows participated. Samples of six grams in each forage were incubated in the rumen for 6, 24 and 96 hours. We estimated time zero (t0) washing the bags in water and it was used to calculate solubility. The experimental design followed a randomized block design with a split plot. We compared the average of DM through the SNK test at 5% probability. The results of disappearance (%) of dry matter forages of green chopped and ensiled forms in 0, 6, 24 and 96 hours were respectively: millet (10,07, 14,50, 20,36, 47,86; 11,64, 15,69, 21,60, 33,37), corn (12,64, 20,08, 31,77, 68,11; 13,31, 20,97, 35,31, 67,33) and sorghum (10,20, 21,55, 26,56, 58,95; 10,07, 15,10, 24,89, 44,52). The potential degradation (%) of silages was: millet (36,44), corn (81,18) and sorghum (51,30).