ANALYSIS OF THE CORN STOVER FOR ENSILING, FEED NUTRIENTS AND DIGESTIBILITY IN CROSSBRED CATTLE.

Abstract

Corn stoverare burnt after corn cobs collection in the field, creating global warming along with precious organic matter wastage. In this experiment corn stover silage (CSS)(stoverwithout cobs and corn seeds/grains)inoculated with 10% water, 1%molasses and 0.2% ureawere compared with the normal whole crop corn (WCC)silage at full bloom stage (30% DM). Twenty (n=20) bunker silos of > ten tons capacity each were prepared separately for both types. The results revealed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between both of these types regarding sensory score (colour, smell and structure) and flieg score. Values regarding average pH, feed intake (after balancing DM%) and time of appearance of fungal mass after opening of both types ofbunkers was without any significant difference (P>0.05). Regardingchemical analysis high DM, Ash, NDF andADFwith significant difference (P<0.05) while low GE, ME, CP and Body weight gain but without any significant difference (P>0.05) were observed. It can be concluded that CSS can be successfully used instead of burning this precious commodity by adopting this method to fulfillall the maintenance requirements in large ruminants.