BROMATOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF SUGAR-CANE FERMENTED UNDER 2-LAYER HEIGHTS WITH BOVINE FECES AND UREA

The effect of three urea levels (0.05 and 1%) and two layer heightss ( 15 and 20 cm measured from the soil) on the bromatological composition of sugar cane protein with 30% bovine faeces 48 hr after the beginnin g of fermentation was evaluated under rustic conditions. A completely randomized design in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement with four replicati ons was used. A significant interaction was only found between the ure a levels and layer height for dry matter, crude protein and true prote in. The lowest content of dry matter was obtained with 1% urea and a 1 5 cm layer. Crude protein differed with 0% urea (4.69 and 4.45%) in re spect to 0.5% (10.18 and 8.66%) and 1% (11.69 and 10.41%) for both lay er heights, respectively. True protein was higher (P < 0.01) with 0.5 and 1% urea (9.56 and 9.99%) at 15 cm. Layer height and urea levels ha d no effects on neutral detergent fibre or on organic matter digestibi lity. Results allow to conclude the possibility of increasing the true protein content of sugar cane to 9% through fermentation with 30% bov ine faeces, 0.5% urea and a 15 cm layer.