EFFECT OF AMMONIATION AND MOISTURE-CONTENT ON THE QUALITY OF SIGNAL GRASS (BRACHIARIA-DECUMBENS STAPF) HAY

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of two moisture levels (18-20% and 13-15%) and three anhydrous ammonia levels (0.0; 1 .5; 3.0% of NH3) on the quality of Brachiaria decumbens Stapf hay. The hay was bailed in April and weighed and treated under plastic cover d uring 30 days. The hay presented a similar chemical composition when b ailed with high or low moisture. The percentages of NDF (80.59; 77.61; 76.10%); hemicellulose (32.56; 29.48; 28.76%) and lignin (9.53; 8.21; 7.54% decreased and the percentages of crude protein (4.04; 11.35; 13 .22%) and IVDMD (36.78; 49.72; 54.33%) increased as the NH3 level incr eased. The fractions ADF, cellulose, and ADIN did not change due to th e ammoniation. The incidence of fungi decreased with application of NH 3 being the better results obtained with the 1.5% treatments.