Characteristics of Moringa oleifera silage with mixtures of Panicum maximum and wheat offals

Abstract

This study was designed to assess some quality characteristics of moringa silage with or without Guinea grass and wheat offals for an optimization of surplus production of moringa and Guinea grass usually produced during the growing season. Moringa (leaves + soft stems + petioles), Panicum maximum, and wheat offals were ensiled as follows (w/w); 100Moringa oleifera (FMO), 50Moringa oleifera + 50Wheat offal (50MW), 50Moringa oleifera + 50Panicum maximum (50MP), 50Moringa oleifera + 40Panicum maximum + 10Wheat offal (M40P10W), 50Moringa oleifera + 30Panicum maximum + 20Wheat offal (M30P20W), 50Moringa oleifera + 20Panicum maximum + 30Wheat offal (M20P30W) and 50Moringa oleifera + 10Panicum maximum + 40Wheat offal (M10P40W) in a completely randomized design with three replicates each. The silages were opened after 35 days for assessment. A significantly (P<0.05) highest pH of 6.40 was recorded for FMO, while pH values for moringa silage combinations ranged between 3.61 for M20P30W and 4.04 for M40P10W. The pH of M20P30W and M10P40W were comparable (P>0.05) but both were significantly (P<0.05) lower compared to other silage combinations. Silage colours were light olive green (FMO and 50MW) and olive green (50MP, M10P40W, M20P30W and M40P10W). Silage combinations of the three experimental feed materials had the most pleasant smell, with an observed improving smell with increasing proportion of wheat offals. A similar trend was observed for silage texture, and the aggregates of the three subjective indices. With the exception of 50MP, all the experimental silages met the minimum crude protein requirement for ruminants.

Keywords: Silage, dry season feed supplementation, ruminants, tropical region, Moringa oleifera.