EFFECTS OF ADDITIVES ON THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND POTENTIAL FEEDING VALUE OF CORN AND HYBRID NAPIER GRASS (Pennisetum purpureum x P. glaucum) SILAGES

Joe B. Poblete, Caren R. Tumambing, Ronela Angelika B. Narag, Jonalyn M. Sandro, Diane T. Salazar, Menandro M. Loresco, Angelo M. Tapia, Amado A. Angeles

Abstract


Physicochemical characteristics, in vitro gas production (IVGP), and in situ ruminal degradability of two forage types (FT): whole-plant corn (CS) and hybrid Napier grass silage (NS) with and without additives (ADD) were assessed in this study. The corn and Napier grass were ensiled without additive (control, CON), 2% w/w molasses (MOL), or an inoculant (LAB; Lactobacillus plantarum at 5 log CFU/g fresh) for 30 days. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design (4 replicates) in a 2 FT × 3 ADD factorial arrangement using the PROC GLIMMIX procedure of SAS v.9.4. CS had higher DM content than NS across all ADD. Adding MOL to NS reduced pH and increased the Flieg score (P<0.05), but it did not improve the IVGP kinetics and ruminal degradability. The potential gas production (a+b), rapidly soluble (a) DM, and organic matter (OM) fractions were higher (P<0.05) in CS than in NS, regardless of ADD. The LAB inoculant did not improve silage quality or potential feeding value of either FT. Overall, CS exhibited superior silage quality and potential feeding value compared with NS, regardless of ADD. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution because microbial populations, organic acids, and alcohol profiles were not evaluated.

Keywords


fermentation kinetics, lactic acid bacteria, dry matter recovery, total soluble sugar, Flieg score

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References


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