Effects of Molasses on the Fermentation Quality of Wheat Straw and Poultry Litter Ensiled with Citrus Pulp
Migwi, P.K; Gallanga, J.R; Barneveld, R.J
Proceedings of the 6. KARI Scientific Conference. Agricultural Research and Development for Sustainable Resource Management and Increased Production1999
Proceedings of the 6. KARI Scientific Conference. Agricultural Research and Development for Sustainable Resource Management and Increased Production1999
AbstractAbstract
[en] Studies were conducted to find out whether inclusion of molasses had any effect on the fermentation quality and potential nutritive value of silage when wheat straw and poultry litter were ensiled with citrus pulp. A 4 x 2 factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with four treatments (T) containing wheat straw, poultry litter and citrus pulp respectively on DM basis with 0 and 5% molasses, were prepared as follows-: T1 (75:25:0); T2 (60:25:15); T3 (45:25:30) and T4 (30:25:45). For each treatment in triplicate between 5-10 kg of thoroughly mixed material were ensiled for for a period of 60 days in 20-l hard plastic container laboratory silos, lined with a double layer of polythene bags. Inclusion of 5% molasses when ensiling wheat straw and poultry litter with 0, 15, 30 and 45% citrus pulp had no significant effect on pH, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) and in vitro OM digestibility. However, molasses resulted in a significant decrease in volatile fatty acids including N-butyric acid. There was a complete elimination of coliforms in all treatments, except in the silage that had neither molasses nor citrus pulp. There was a significant difference in titratable acidity levels between silage with 0 and 5% molasses, but this was only in silage with 30% citrus pulp. As the proportion of citrus pulp in silage increased from 0 to 45%, there was significant increase in silage acidity and also an increase in pH. However, there was no significant difference in pH between silage with 30 and 45% citrus pulp. There was a significant (P < 0.001) increase in in vitro OM digestibility from 0.33 to about 0.56 for silage with 0 and 45% citrus pulp respectively. It is concluded that when wheat straw and poultry litter are ensiled with citrus pulp, use of molasses offers no significant benefit inspite of the cost associated with its use. However, when no citrus pulp is included in the pre-mix, addition of some molasses would appear desirable so as to stimulate favourable fermentation. This can produce silage that is both safe from potentially pathogenic microorganisms such as coliforms and a potential feed resource for ruminants
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Mbandi, G.C.O.; Njuho, P.M.; Ogutu, J.K.S.; Ayemba, J.A.; Okech, A.G.O.; Ikitoo, E.C.; Nyaga, A.N. (eds.); 699 p; ISBN 9966-879-25-0;
; 1999; p. 267-274; 6. KARI Scientific Conference on Agricultural Research and Development for Sustainable Resource Management and Increased Production; Nairobi (Kenya); 9-13 Nov 1998; Available from Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. BOX 57811, Nairobi, Kenya. E-mail: resource.centre@kari.org; 18 refs.,5tabs

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Conference; Numerical Data
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