EFFECT OF MOLASSES AND CORN AS SILAGE ADDITIVES ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MOTT DWARF ELEPHANT GRASS SILAGE AT DIFFERENT FERMENTATION PERIODS

The aim of the present study was to determine the best stage of cut and to enhance the quality of mott grass silage by the addition of additives. For this purpose, mott grass was obtained at 45 and 60 days of its re-growth, chopped with an average particle length of XA inches and filled in plastic boxes by mixing two additives (molasses and corn), @ 0, 1, 3 and 5% of the forage dry matter (DM), with three replicates each. In this way, 72 silos for each stage of cut were prepared and kept at room temperature. Three silos of each treatment were opened at each fermentation period (30, 35 and 40 days) for determination of pH and lactic acid contents. The results indicated that mott grass cut at 45 days of its regrowth was the best to harvest maximum nutrients. The addition of molasses @ 3% was found to be the best at 35 days fermentation period. The pH decreased and lactic acid increased with level of additives and fermentation periods. Dry matter and crude protein contents increased to some extent. However, silage without additives showed the highest pH and low lactic acid, indicating the poor quality silage. Similarly, a loss in DM and crude protein was observed in mott grass ensiled without additives. It was concluded that the use of additives such as molasses @ 3% fodder DM is imperative to make quality mott grass silage