Effects on in vitro digestibility and rumen fermentation of maize straw silage as a partial dietary replacement for Napier grass

Abstract

. Maize straw is an agricultural by-product that has the potential to be used as an alternative feed for ruminants. In order to utilise this crop residue rationally, their nutritional value should be improved to promote their use as silage. This study aimed to evaluate in vitro fermentability and digestibility of maize by-product silage in ruminant feed rations based on Indigofera zollingeriana as a substitute for Napier grass (NG). A completely randomised design with 3 treatments and 8 replications was applied. The proportion of forage and concentrate in rations was 45:55% on a dry matter (DM) basis. The experimental treatments included a ration containing 35% NG (R0), a ration containing 17.5% NG and 17.5% maize straw silage (MSS) (R1)