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Chemical composition, characteristics concerned with fermentative quality and microbial population of ensiled pearl millet and sorghum stover in semi‐arid West Africa
Author(s) -
Cai Yimin,
Du Zhumei,
Yamasaki Seishi,
Jethro Delma B.,
Man Nignan
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
animal science journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.606
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1740-0929
pISSN - 1344-3941
DOI - 10.1111/asj.13463
Subject(s) - silage , stover , sorghum , lactic acid , dry matter , population , agronomy , neutral detergent fiber , food science , ruminant , chemistry , biology , crop , bacteria , genetics , demography , sociology
To effectively utilize crop by‐product resources for ruminant feed in semi‐arid West Africa, we studied the chemical composition, characteristics concerned with fermentative quality, and microbial population of ensiled pearl millet stover (PMS) and sorghum stover (SS) in Mozambique. After panicle harvest, the PMS and SS were exposed in the field for 7, 21, 35, 49, 63, 77, 91, and 120 days under natural weather conditions. The fresh stover silages were prepared and stored for 120 days. With increased exposure time, the dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, and neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen contents increased, whereas the crude protein, ether extract, gross energy, digestible energy, metabolizable energy, and true protein contents decreased. After 120 days of field exposure, aerobic bacteria dominated both stovers, and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) decreased to below detectable levels. After 120 days of ensiling, LAB dominated the silage of both crops, while the harmful microorganisms as aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, yeast, and mold were reduced or below detectable levels. Both silages did not produce more lactic acid to reduce the pH value, but they preserved nutrients well during ensiling. Therefore, PMS and SS can be prepared as silage for ruminant feed in semi‐arid West Africa.