Study of Nutritional Characteristics of Silages from CO3, CO5, Red Napier (BH18), and Super Napier among Small Holder Dairy Farms in Kilinochchi District, Sri Lanka
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31357/ait.v4i01.7857Keywords:
CO3, CO5, ensiling, forage, red Napier, silage, super NapierAbstract
A study was conducted to examine the nutritive values of the silages made from major grasses available in the Kilinochchi District. Inadequate quality forage and the lower availability of forage crops are considered as a limiting factor for livestock production. Introducing different silage grasses helps to overcome these problems all over the dry zone. In the dry zone of Sri Lanka, insufficient fodder production is one of the main factors restricting dairy production. Silage is a feed that has been preserved by acidification as a result of fermentation in the absence of oxygen. “Ensiled forage” or “silage,” can remain intact for up to three years when stored properly. The lack of high-quality forages and their accessibility may be a factor in Sri Lanka for the lower dairy productivity of livestock. In the dry zone of Sri Lanka, insufficient fodder production is one of the main factors restricting dairy production. The main objective of this study is to find out the nutritional characteristics of silage made from different grasses (Indian red Napier, CO5 grass, and other Napier grasses, CO3 and super Napier) grown in the Northern part of Sri Lanka. Properly matured grasses were harvested and four silage samples (T1, T2, T3, and T4) were prepared according to the standard procedure. The proximate composition of different types of silage made from different grasses was significantly different (p<0.05). Among the silages, CO5 had the highest percentage of crude protein (CP) (16.07 %) and moisture (75.04 %) meanwhile super Napier had the highest percentage of fiber (31.43%), lowest percentage of ash content (2.5%) and lowest percentage of fat content (1.16%). Based on the above results, we can conclude that the super Napier silage has a higher nutrient value compared with other silages. Therefore, silage made from super Napier can be suggested for the Kilinochchi district farmers to provide better yield and growth performances.
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Copyright (c) 2025 S. Thanusan, H.M. Chamara Pushpakumara, S. Piratheepan
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