EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF MOLASSES ON ELEPHANT GRASS (PENNISETUM PURPEREUM) AND DESHO GRASS (PENNISETUM PEDICELLATUM) SILAGE QUALITY

Abstract

In tropical region inadequate quality and quantity of feeds are the major constraints to livestock production sector. Most of feed resources are low in nutrient content to meet nutrient requirements of maintenance, production and reproduction. The experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of molasses on elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) silage quality in Wolkite University. The aim of this study was to identify the effect of different levels of molasses on silages quality of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum). Elephant grasses were harvested from Wolkite University dairy farm and desho grasses were harvested from around Wolkite town from farmer’s backyard when they were at the ages of medium stages of growth. The harvested grasses was chopped up to 2cm particle size each weighing 2kg each silage materials treated with different levels of molasses (0%, 3% and 5%), packed in 2kg holding plastic bags silo, doubled it and stored in thatched barn. Treatments were assigned to a completely randomized design in factorial arrangement (2x3) with three replications. The silage was opened after 30 days, analyzed for sensory qualities; chemical composition and in vitro DM digestibility. Treated silages had better appearance qualities than the control silages. All of the silages had good and very good degrees in organoleptic test method based on DM, PH. The treated silages had lower PH compared with the control (p<0.05).The control group had lower DM content than treated silages (p<0.05). Elephant grass silages had higher CP, CF and temperature than desho grass silages. Desho grass silage produced higher quality and preserved better than Elephant grass as indicated by higher sensory qualities, ether extract, invitro dry matter digestibility and stability. But lower PH, DM, Crude Protein and Crude Fiber. Desho grass with 5% molasses showed that its silage contains higher Moisture, IVDMD and EE (C. fat) than elephant grasses. Silages with 5% molasses had higher quality than silages mixed with 0% and 3% molasses levels as indicated by higher DM, EE and IVDMD, but lower PH and NDF. Therefore, it was concluded that Elephant and Desho grasses ensiled with 5% molasses level was the most optimal techniques to achieve high quality silage fermentation under smallholder farmers.