Effect of carbohydrate additives on fermentation characteristics, chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) silage

3^rd International Conference on Veterinary & Livestock

November 02-03, 2017 Bangkok, Thailand

J J Baloyi, Rambau and F Fushai

University of Venda, South Africa

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Vet Sci Technol

Abstract :

The objective of the study was to determine the eff ect of carbohydrate additives on the fermentation characteristics, chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of Napier grass silage. Napier grass planted at the School of Agriculture Experimental Farm, University of Venda in 5Ã?Â?4 meters plots was irrigated for a period of 12 weeks. Aft er 12 weeks, the Napier freshly cut grass was ensiled with no additive, molasses, maize meal and brown sugar at 10% fresh weight in a completely randomized design replicated 6 times for 90 days in 1 liter glass jars. Aft er 90 days, silages were determined for fermentation quality and nutritive composition using standard protocols. Th e in vitro DM and CP degradability of rumen un-degradable residue collected aft er 12, 24 and 48 hours incubation was determined by sequential digestion in pepsin (abomasal) and pancreatin (small intestine) solutions. Collected data were subjected to analysis of variance using general linear model procedures of Minitab Statistical package version 17. Molasses treatment had higher (P<0.05) residual water soluble carbohydrates, ash and DM content and lower (P<0.05) ammonium nitrogen and neutral detergent fi ber content of silage. In addition, maize meal silage had higher (P<0.05) fat content and lower (P<0.01) acid detergent fi ber. Improved (P<0.01) CP disappearance due to additives caused subsequent reduction (P<0.01) on in vitro CP digestibility aft er 12 hour incubation. Our results suggest that additives were eff ective in improving the quality of Napier grass silage leading to improved ruminal degradability, hence, decreased in vitro digestibility.