Effect of additives on ensiling of taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) leaves and Stylo CIAT 184 (Stylosanthes guianensis (Aubl.) Sw. var. guianensis) forage

摘要

Thisstudyexaminedtheeffectsoflocallyavailablecarbohydrate-richfeedadditivesintheensilingofcultivatedStyloCIAT184(Stylosanthesguianensis(Aubl)Sw.Var.guianensis)forageandtaro(Colocasiaesculenta(L.)Schott)leaves.nbsp;Cassavarootmeal,sugarcanemolassesandtarorootmealwereusedassilageadditives,incorporatedatlevelsof0,25,50and75gkg-1pre-wiltedforageandleaves,with5gcommonsalt(NaCl)addedtoalltreatments.Theexperimentwasarrangedaccordingtoacompletelyrandomisedfactorialdesign,withadditivesourceandlevelofadditiveasfactors.Silagesampleswerecollectedat0,7,14,21,56and84daysofensilingandwereanalysedforpH,drymatter(DM),crudeprotein(CP),ammonianitrogen(NH3-N)andash.Neutraldetergentfibre(NDF)wasanalysedinsamplesfromdays21and84.IncorporationofcassavaortarorootmealasfermentationadditiveshadnoeffectonthepatternofpHchangeinensiledStyloforageorensiledtaroleaves.MolassesassilageadditiveacceleratedthefallinpHinbothStyloandtaroleafsilage,withtheeffectsmorepronouncedforthelatter.BreakdownofcrudeproteintoammoniawasgreaterinTarosilagereaching10%ofthetotalNfractionafter84days,comparedwith6%fortheStylosilage.