Food fortification of pangola grass (Digitaría eriantha Steud) silage to increase its digestibility

Objective: To evaluate the effect of different urea concentrations (2%, 3%, and 5%) on the nutritional composition and digestibility of pangola grass (Digitaria eriantha Steud) silage. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study was conducted at the Instituto Tecnológico Superior, located in the municipality of Juan Rodríguez Clara, Veracruz. A completely randomized design with three repetitions was established. Pangola grass was harvested at 45 days of regrowth and three types of microsilos were prepared with 2%, 3%, and 5% urea, along with a control without treatment. After 30 days of fermentation, subsamples were taken from the microsilos to perform proximate and Van Soest analyses. Results: The use of microsilos treated with 5% urea increased crude protein (CP) content, significantly improved protein content, and reached the highest concentration level. Additionally, it reduced acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Study Limitations/Implications: The risk of urea intoxication in animals was the main limitation resulting from the urea-treated microsilo technique. This risk is directly related to incorrect dosages and the distribution of urea in the silage. Findings/Conclusions: Adding urea to silage is a practical and cost-effective strategy to optimize livestock production in tropical regions, because it enhances the efficient use of forage resources and meets the nutritional needs of animals.