Nutrient Value and Palatability for Cattle on Corn Stover Silage

抄録

As cultivated areas in Cambodia have increased, feed resources for feeding and grazing cattle have decreased significantly. Plantings of yellow corn, however, have increased substantially, in particular, in the north-west of Cambodia; consequently, a huge amount of corn residue is being produced but remains unused, despite offering potential as a cattle feed, particularly after ensiling. The aim of this study was to identify nutritive value and palatability of corn stover silage for cattle feeding. Corn stover was chopped at approximate 4 to 6 cm in length and ensilaged with different treatments as follows: 15% water (CSN), 3% salt+15% water (CSSa), 3% sugar palm+15% water (CSSu), and 10% rice bran+15% water (CSRB). Cattle were adapted over a 5 day periods and 1 kg of each silage was offered to each animal. The result shown that crude protein content in silage increased on average from 6.41 to 9.7%. Within the treatments the chemical composition of dry matter, crude protein, organic matter, ash and crude fiber were similar. However, the intake of silage was significantly different. Cattle consumed more CSSu (177.88 gDM) than the other types of silages and ate about 100 gDM or less. CSSa was the lowest intake. In conclusion, sugar (palm sugar) should be added to reach carbohydrate requirement in order to help the silage fermentation process as the stover was mature with high DM% and needed additional flavour added to the silage.