Vol. 11, Special Issue 9 (2022)

Author(s):
YG Kansagara, HH Savsani, MR Chavda, MD Odedra, DD Garg, SY Belim, KR Makwana and BK Kansagara

Abstract:
The present study was envisaged to study the effect of bacterial inoculants and xylanase on silage quality of seasonal pasture hay 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 ratio in plastic jar 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 10⁶ cfu/g and 2 x 10⁶ cfu/g, respectively. All silages were evaluated for proximate and chemical composition after 45 days of ensiling. Ensiling significantly (p<0.01) reduces DM content in all experimental silages except PH. Silage pH was significantly (p<0.01) reduced in all inoculated silages except X silage. The contents of DM was significantly (p<0.001) lower in all inoculated silages, while that of CF was significantly lower in XLPLF silage as compared to PH silage. The CP content was significantly higher in LP silage while, NFE and EE were significantly higher in LP, LPLF and in LPLF, XLPLF silages, respectively as compared to PH silage. CF, CP and EE contents of all inoculated silages were comparable with control. NDF was significantly (p<0.01) decreased in X silage while, ADF content was significantly (p<0.01) decreased in in X and XLPLF silages as compared to PH silage. Cellulose and hemicellulose contents were not affected by any treatments. Thus, it could be concluded that among all additives bacterial inoculants significantly improves silage quality and nutritional value.