Alternative plant species for silage

Dear readers, silage as mentioned in other articles is an alternative to preserve fodder and supply it in critical times, but for this, you must harvest forage material of good quality both protein and fiber. In the southern area of Lake Maracaibo of the State of Zulia Venezuela, there is an indigenous species (Paspalum virgatum) adapted to the climatic conditions of the area that is considered a weed by several producers for its low nutritional values with respect to protein, but if harvested at the right time it can provide protein and fiber.

If you plan to use this plant for silage it would be important to mix it with another species such as Cassava leaves, the nutritional quality of the aerial part of the cassava, varies depending on its composition, that is, when the stems are included in the mixtures, the fiber levels increase at the time of cutting, according to Buitrago et al. (2001), the percentage of cassava protein in leaves is 22%, in leaves with petiole included 21% and when the mixture is composed of leaf, petiole and tender stems is approaching values of 20%, which certifies that the yucca leaf has adequate protein percentages.

Nowadays, the chemical composition of pastures is very variable, and is closely related to the ecosystem where it develops, so producers must design food strategies that allow them to give continuity to the productive cycle of cattle. In the countries of the tropics, due to the climatic diversity they have, there is a great variety of native forage species, which provide a considerable option to feed cattle herds, they are plants that present various characteristics that make them interesting to consider in the food plans of ruminant animals, one of these species is the cabezona (Paspalum virgatum) which stands out for its wide range of adaptation, foliage and rapid growth, which despite the season has the ability to maintain a considerable supply throughout the year.

In Venezuela particularly because it is one of the tropical countries, the Paspalum. virgatum is one of the forage species that has a high range of adaptation in the different ecosystems, Guzmán (1998), mentioned that this grass exhibits high fiber values, which can affect the digestibility of it, as well as physical characteristics in its leaves, which have serrated and very sharp edges, which make it difficult to access and unappetizing for animal consumption. This is the reason why the cabezona has been classified as a weed, and it is rarely used because it has a low quality.

In the south of Lake Maracaibo, Paspalum virgatum is sometimes incorporated into the grazing system, especially in the exploitation of cattle destined for meat production, due to the coverage that is presented, however when the plant reaches an advanced degree of maturity, Gonzales and Piña (1995), mention that it is rejected by animals due to the rusticity of its leaves, which can cause mechanical damage to the oral apparatus, causing lacerations that impair their consumption, in addition that nutritionally this species may not cover the necessary requirements to feed the bovine, due to the limitations generated by the fibrous content, this situation causes the plant to establish itself and cover the grazing areas in their entirety, because the viability of its seeds is quite high which facilitates its propagation.

The situation raised above, has generated as consequences the little use of the forage biomass of Paspalum virgatum, which despite the limitations it presents makes it interesting to evaluate management alternatives that allow to benefit from its extraordinary adaptation in the area, since it manages to express high yields throughout the year, in addition its persistence and high ability to establish and compete with other species, gives it a great advantage in relation to other pastures.

On the other hand, of this species (Paspalum virgatum), there have been few investigations carried out to provide a management alternative that allows a good use of the species, considering that it has a wide range of adaptation and excellent performance. This situation makes the use of this forage resource attractive, which at certain times behaves as an invasive species, but which can provide a food alternative for cattle herds.

According to what was mentioned by Hiriart (2008) the silage, being a technique of conservation of the wet fodder, allows to store green grass in special conditions of absence of oxygen, period during which a series of chemical and biochemical transformations that define its quality occur; process that could favor the quality and digestibility of a species like P. Virgatum especially if it is enriched with a rich source of proteins as is the case of yucca leaves for which Contreras and Pirela (2013), report a 22.7% crude protein.

Therefore, dear readers, it would be an excellent initiative to take the Paspalum Virgatum as an option to make a silage associated with another species, to improve its nutritional quality thus taking advantage of its benefits in a timely manner. In the same way, the species Manihot esculentum is taken into account, which according to Aguilar (2017), is a shrubby plant characterized by its high protein content in the leaves, Available data indicate that the yucca foliage, when supplied to ruminants in fresh form, acts as a surpassing protein source, therefore, it can be an alternative to conventional protein sources.