CARACTERÍSTICAS NUTRITIVAS DEL ENSILAJE DE Leucaena leucocephala CON DIFERENTES ADITIVOS Nutritive Characteristics of Silage of Leucaena Leucocephala With Different Additives

Influence of molasses and formic acid upon nutritive characteristics of Leucaena leucocephala silage was studied in very dryland farming area in Zulia state, Venezuela. Three levels of molasses (0, 2.5 and 5%) and formic acid (0; 0.25 and 0.5%) were evaluated, the statistical design used was completely ramdomized in a factorial arrangement 3x3. Response variables considered were total dry matter (TDM), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and no structural carbohydrates (NSC). Results showed significant effect (P<0.05) of molasses and formic acid on the study variables. Addition of molasses and formic increased TDM. CP, ADF and NDF while reducing. According to the results of this investigation, the highest levels of molasses and formic reduce the nutritive value of Leucaena leucocephala silage.