Impact of biological and chemical additives on fermentation characteristics of seasonal pasture hay and green maize based silage Kansagara Y. G.*, Savsani H. H., Chavda M. R., Javiya B. B., Belim S. Y., Makwana K. R., Waghmasi D. G., Ribadiya N. K. Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Junagadh-362001 *Correspondence: yashkansagara06.yk@gmail.com
Online published on 10 November, 2022. Abstract The present study was envisaged to study the impact of biological and chemical additives on fermentation characteristics of seasonal pasture hay (PH) and green maize based silage. Different silages were prepared by using green maize fodder and seasonal pasture hay in the proportion of 10:0 & 7:3 ratioin plastic jars of 3 kg capacity by adding common salt @ 0.5%, urea @1% and molasses @ 1.5% in each silages with seven different treatments viz. Control (only green maize), PH (green maize and seasonal pasture hay in 7:3 ratio), X (PH added with xylanase), LP (PH added with L. plantarum), LF (PH added with L. fermentum), LPLF (PH added with both bacterial inoculants) and XLPLF (PH added with xylanase and both bacterial inoculants). Xylanase, L. plantarum and L. fermentum were used @ 1500 IU/g, 1 x 106cfu/g and 2 x 106cfu/g, respectively. All silages were evaluated for their fermentation characteristics after 45 days of ensiling. Silage pH was reduced significantly (p<0.001) in all inoculated silages. Levels of lactic acid and TVFA were significantly (p<0.001) higher in all inoculated silages as compared to PH silage. While, WSC content was significantly (P<0.01) decreased in all inoculated silages. Additives had no significant effect on NH3-N content of silages. Total N content was found significantly (p<0.01) higher in LP silage as compared to PH silage. It was concluded that xylanase and LAB inoculants improve fermentation quality of silage. Top Keywords Bacterial inoculants, Green maize, Seasonal pasture hay, Silage, Xylanase. Top |