Effect of sodium hydroxide treatment in ginger lily forage (Hedychium gardnerianum, Sheppard ex Ker-Gawl) as forage for animal feeding

This study evaluated the effect of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) on chemical composition (fibrous structure) and nutritive value Hedychium gardnerianum (ginger lily), a fibre source traditionally used in ruminant feeding Azores. Ginger lily samples were manually harvested dried forced-air oven at 65ºC until constant weight. Treatments applied by spraying ginger with NaOH solution concentration 0, 2, 4, 6, 8%, rate 1 L per kg dry lily, waiting 7 days. The subject to analyses laboratory for determination matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), ash, NDF (neutral detergent fibre), ADF (acid ADL lignin). DM digestibility (DMD) organic (OMD) determined vitro. treatment led significant (p<0.05) reduction vitro DMD OMD increase, best results obtained an 8% concentration. It was concluded that influences lily’s composition, reducing concentrations, increasing DMD. Key words: gardnerianum, digestibility, treatment, roughage.