Effects of altering the grain content of sorghum silage on its nutritive value.

Ensiling sorghum with tropical forages has been shown to be a promising alternative for ruminant feed production, as this approach improves the quality of the sorghum silage. In this context, the goal of this study was to evaluate the fermentation characteristics and nutritive value of sweet sorghum silage made with different levels of Paiaguas palisadegrass and Ipypora grass. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized 2 x 6 factorial design with four replications. Two forages (Paiaguas palisadegrass and Ipypora grass) were added to sorghum at six levels (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100%), for a total of 48 experimental silos. After 50 days of fermentation, the silos were opened, and the fermentation profile and chemical composition of the silage were analysed. The results showed that the addition of Paiaguas palisadegrass and Ipypora grass to the sorghum silage increased the pH, buffering capacity and NH3-NT of the silage and reduced its dry matter content but did not affect its fermentation characteristics, which remained within an appropriate range. The addition of increasing levels of Paiaguas palisadegrass and Ipypora grass to the sorghum silage increased the crude protein and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of the silage and decreased the fibre fraction (neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and lignin) and ether extract contents. Adding tropical forages to sorghum silage material at levels above 40% is recommended. Among forage crops, addition of Paiaguas palisadegrass to sorghum silage resulted in higher content of crude protein and IVDMD. Mixed silages can be an effective alternative to improve the quality of forage sorghum silage.

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Effect of the inclusion of tropical tree legumes, Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala, on the nutritive value of silages prepared from tropical grasses

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600076565 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 120 (3) ◽

pp. 397-406 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

M. Tjandraatmadja ◽

I. C. MacRae ◽

B. W. Norton

Keyword(s):

Leucaena Leucocephala ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Production Systems ◽

Gliricidia Sepium ◽

Ammonia Concentration ◽

Total N ◽

Tropical Grasses ◽

Digitaria Decumbens ◽

Sorghum Silage ◽

The University

SUMMARYSilages were prepared from the tropical grasses, pangola grass (Digitaria decumbens) and setaria (Setaria sphacelata), with the addition of molasses (4% w/w) and/or leaves (33%) from the leguminous trees leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) and gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium). All forages were grown at the University of Queensland farm in south eastern Queensland during 1985. These silages, together with hays made from these grasses and sorghum silage (13 diets) were fed to sheep to assess their nutritive value. All silages were well preserved, as indicated by low pH (3·5–4·4), low ammonia N (26–57 g/kg total N) and high lactic acid (73–95% total acids) contents. The addition of legumes increased both the dry matter (DM) and total N (TN) contents of silages to the same extent as the addition of both legumes and molasses at ensiling. Sheep given silages prepared from pangola grass and legumes (±molasses) consumed similar DM intakes (22·9–25·4 g/kg0·75 per day) as sheep given pangola grass hay (23·9 g/kg0'75 per day). Silage made from pangola grass + molasses was of low palatability (16·1 g/kg0·75 per day). The digestibilities of silage DM (DMD) and its fibrous components were significantly (P<0·05) lower (DMD 53·3–60·6%) than that of pangola hay (DMD 64·7%). Silages and hay made from setaria, and sorghum silage, were of lower nutritive value than those from pangola grass. The addition of leucaena and molasses increased silage DM intakes (21·1 g/kg0·75 per day) above those for setaria hay and setaria + molasses silage (16·7 and 19·0 g/kg0·75 per day respectively). The intakes of silages made from gliricidia (17·1 g/kg0·75 per day) were significantly (P <0·05) improved when molasses was included at ensiling (21·8 g/kg0·75 per day). The digestibilities of silage DM were significantly (P<0·05) higher (DMD 53·6–60·4%) than that of setaria hay (DMD 40·6). Liveweight change in sheep was significantly (P<0·05) correlated with intakes of digestible DM (r2= 0·74) and with N intake (r2= 0·82). The inclusion of legumes in the silages increased N retention and, for setaria silages, also increased rumen ammonia concentration. It was concluded that tropical grasses can be effectively ensiled by the addition of legumes alone and, with the exception of setaria/gliricidia silages, the resultant silages were of sufficiently high quality to merit their use in tropical animal production systems.

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