In vitro Fermentation Characteristics and Acceptability by West African Dwarf Sheep of Ensiled Maize Stover

Fermentation is an important tool for upgrading crop residues for adequate utilisation by the microbes in the rumen. In a bid to actualise the mandate of better utilisation of unconventional feed sources, the potential of ensiled maize stover as a source of feed for ruminants, especially during the dry season, was investigated. The design of the experiment was complete randomized design (CRD). Half a tonne each of maize stovers (MS) was ensiled for 30 days using three energy additives (Molasses, Honey, and Sugar) at the rate of 50g/kg to obtain the following silages: MS only (control silage), MS and Molasses (M&M), MS and Honey (MSH), MS and sugar (MSS) which served as the treatments. Ten West African Dwarf Sheep (WAD sheep) were used to assess the silage acceptability using coefficient of preference (CoP) procedure. The nutritive value of the silages was determined using in vitro fermentation technique. MS only (control) and MSH silages were acceptable as the CoP was above unity. The organic matter digestibility (OMD %), metabolisable energy (ME) (MJ/kg DM), short chair fatty acids (SCFA) (µml) and dry matter degradability (DMD %) ranged from 51.44 – 59.66, 7.07 – 8.36, 0.70 – 0.92 and 40.00 – 70.00, respectively. The OMD, ME and SCFA were highest (P<0.05) in MSS silage. Total gas volume (TGV) (ml/200mg DM) and methane production (ml/200mg DM) ranged from 31.67 - 41.00 and 16.09–28.36%, the highest being from MSS silage and the least from MS silage (control). Soluble fraction (‘a') (ml) and potential gas production (a+b) (ml) ranged from 8.00 – 10.67ml and 31.67 – 41.00 ml, respectively. The result showed that in vitro gas fermentation of the ensiled maize stover without additives compares favourably with ensiled maize stover with additives and that the CoP is above unity with low level of methane production and a higher percentage of dry matter degradability.