| Autor: |
Usman S; State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China. samaila2019@lzu.edu.cn.; Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. samaila2019@lzu.edu.cn., Dele PA; Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria., Jimoh SO; Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.; Grassland Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology and Restoration, Ministry of Agriculture, 120 East Wulanchabu Street, Hohhot, 010010, Inner Mongolia, China.; Sustainable Environment Food and Agriculture Initiative, Lagos, 104101, Nigeria., Aderinboye RY; Department of Animal Nutrition, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria., Olanite JA; Department of Pasture and Range Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. |
| Abstrakt: |
Despite large-scale sorghum production in Nigeria, its utilization as livestock feed is limited to the stover following grain harvest. Therefore, we evaluated the physical, fermentative, and nutritive quality of whole-crop silages from three Sorghum bicolor varieties at different ensiling durations. The experiment was 3×5 factorial comprising three varieties (Samsorg14, Samsorg17, and Samsorg41) and five ensiling durations (0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks). Forages were ensiled at the dough stage, and the silos were opened at the pre-determined durations for quality analyses. Samsorg14 silage recorded higher pH (5.88) and significant titratable acidity (8.32 g kg -1 ), while the least pH was observed for Samsorg17 silage (4.63). The forages ensiled for 8 weeks had a higher pH (5.04) compared with 4.51, 5.03, and 4.57 recorded at 4, 12, and 16 weeks, respectively. In contrast, forages ensiled for 4 weeks recorded the highest titratable acidity (8.39) and Flieg point (104.07). CP content was higher in fresh Samsorg17 (110.64 g kg -1 ) and lower (71.01 g kg -1 ) in Samsorg41 ensiled for 8 weeks as influenced by variety × ensiling duration. Cumulative gas volume and methane were higher for Samsorg41 silage (21.21 and 6.76 ml 200 mg -1 DM respectively). Ensiling for 16 weeks resulted in higher silages' IVDMD (44.00%) compared with other ensiling durations. Samsorg14 and Samsorg17 had a relatively stable silage pH, higher CP, and digestibility. Therefore, their silages could be conserved up to 16 weeks to provide high-quality feed for ruminants during the dry season to maintain animal productivity and ultimately enhance food security. |
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