Co-ensiling garlic stalk with citrus pulp improves the fermentation quality and feed-nutritional value

Effects of mixed sugarcane tops and napiergrass silages on fermentative quality, nutritional value, and milk yield in water buffaloes

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of sugarcane tops (STs) and napiergrass (NG) silage on fermentative quality, nutritional value and milk yield in water buffaloes. Silage were prepared either conventionally without ST (C) or mixed with 25% (S1), 50% (S2), and 75% (S3) ST based on fresh matter. Twenty-eight lactating buffaloes were divided into four groups with seven replicates and fed four experimental diets containing the corresponding silages. The S3 silage fermented well with a higher (P < 0.05) lactic acid content and lower (P < 0.05) pH and ammonia-N level than those of other mixed silage. Silage with increasing ST proportions showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, organic matter, and gross energy. As a result, water buffalo fed S3 silage increased dry matter intake (P < 0.05) and tended to have higher milk yield and feed efficiency as compared with the C group. Our study indicates that adding ST improves NG silage fermentation and enhances the nutrient digestibility and milk production in water buffaloes, and mixing ratio of 25%NG and 75%ST had the highest lactate fermentation quality and presented a high feed value.

Substitution of raw lucerne with raw citrus lemon by-product in silage: In vitro apparent digestibility and gas production

Fruit pomace addition to lucerne silage could rapidly reduce silage pH creating an acidic environment and thus maybe preventing spoilage. However, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different rates of inclusion of citrus lemon by-products on lucerne. In this study, the following five different treatments were prepared: L0 (control) with 100% lucerne; L25 (75% lucerne with 25% lemon pomace); L50 (50% lucerne with 50% lemon pomace); L75 (25% lucerne with 75% lemon pomace); and L100 (100% lemon pomace). After ensiling, the chemical composition, nutritive value, stability, in vitro apparent digestibility, and gas production of silage were determined. The dry matter (DM) content was higher for lemon pomace substitution equal to or exceeded 50% (P &lt; 0.01). Crude protein, on the contrary, decreased (P &lt; 0.01) over the same percentage of substitution. The L100 and L75 treatments showed higher DM apparent disappearance rate and lower (P &lt; 0.05) crude protein and neutral detergent fiber apparent degradation rate vs. L0. Lemon pomace could be used at high inclusion level in lucerne silage, allowing the preservation of this by-product all the year, improving some chemical silage characteristics, and reducing proteolytic processes that usually happen on lucerne silage. Moreover, the in vitro apparent digestibility and gas production results showed that a partial substitution of lucerne with lemon pomace is able to improve silage digestibility.

Effects of maize silage substitution with sugarbeet or citrus pulp ensiled with corncobs on growth performance, digestibility, and economic benefits in buffalo calves

Ensiling of high-moisture agro-industrial wastes with dry roughage as animal feeds may be a secure way to reduce the feeding cost. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of either sugarbeet or citrus pulp ensiled with ground corncobs and used as a replacement of maize silage or maize fodder in total mixed ration (TMR) for fattening of buffalo calves. Twenty male calves of Nili-Ravi buffalo (aged 14 ± 2 months weighing 133 ± 5 kg) were randomly assigned to one of four iso-nutritious (12% CP and 69% TDN) experimental diets with 50:50 forage to concentrate ratio (dry matter basis) as: (1) TMR maize silage, (2) TMR sugarbeet pulp ensiled with corncobs, (3) TMR citrus pulp ensiled with corncobs, and (4) TMR green maize fodder with wheat straw. All calves received TMRs for ad libitum intake twice daily for 80-day period. Daily feed intake, fortnightly body weights, and digestibility and N balance study during last 15 days were recorded of individual animals. The calves fed TMR sugarbeet pulp silage got highest daily gain (856 g/d, P < 0.05) than citrus pulp silage (776 g/d) or green maize fodder (704 g/d). Average intake of nutrients was same among all the calves. Feed conversion ratio and digestibility of DM, NDF, and ADF were higher (P < 0.05) with TMR sugarbeet pulp silage compared to other TMRs. Economic benefit (output/input) with TMR sugarbeet pulp silage had 15.46, 34.27, and 37.36% higher effect for fattening of buffalo calves compared to citrus pulp silage, green maize fodder, and maize silage-based TMRs, respectively. In conclusion, sugarbeet pulp ensiled with ground corncobs is simple and appropriate method for silage making and its inclusion up to 50% of DM in TMR had pronounced economic impact to the production of buffalo calves.