The impact of wheat bran and molasses addition to caramba mix silage on feed value and in vitro organic matter digestibility

Abstract

BackgroundThe fermentation process in silage is an inherently uncontrolled process that results in significant nutritional losses. Supplementing silage with different additives may boost nutrient and energy recovery during fermentation, which in turn can boost animal productivity. However, the impact of wheat bran and molasses addition on feed value of caramba mix silage is unknown. MethodsThis study determined the impact of molasses and wheat straw addition on fermentation and in vitro organic matter digestibility of caramba mix silage. Caramba was cut at harvest maturity and subjected to five different treatments, i.e., control, addition of 5% and 10% molasses, and addition of 5% and 10% wheat bran. Caramba mix and additives were mixed and ensiled into laboratory type 1 L glass containers. Silage fermentation, chemical and microbiological composition, and in vitro metabolic energy content in silages were determined 60 days after the initiation of treatments. ResultsDifferent chemical and microbial properties of silage were significantly altered by the addition of molasses and wheat bran. The addition of 10% molasses resulted in the highest values of all measured traits of Caramba mix silage. The dry matter was 27.00%, 28.44%, 33.93%, 32.67%, and 30.61% in control, 5% molasses, 10% molasses, 5% wheat bran and 10% wheat bran, respectively. Similarly, pH was 5.32, 4.89, 4.56, 4.62, and 4.39 in control, 5% molasses, 10% molasses, 5% wheat bran and 10% wheat bran, respectively. Likewise, crude protein was 14.58%, 13.03%, 16.23%, 14.75%, and 16.42% in control, 5% molasses, 10% molasses, 5% wheat bran and 10% wheat bran, respectively. ConclusionIt is concluded that addition of molasses and wheat bran to the caramba mix silage increased the chemical, and microbiological qualities. Particularly molasses improved the digestibility of silage. Therefore, it is recommended that 10% molasses should be added during the fermentation of the silage to improve chemical, and microbiological properties of Caramba mix silage.