Legume Leaves in Improving the Quality of Feed Silage Ruminants: Advantages, Challenges and Strategies | Chapter 8 | Innovations in Biological Science Vol. 8

 

Feed is an essential element in animal husbandry, and silage is increasingly becoming the top choice in providing quality feed to ruminants. In this context, an overview of the use of legume leaves in improving the quality of silage attracts attention for its potential in increasing the nutritional value of feed. The purpose of this review was to explore the advantages, challenges, and strategies associated with the use of legume leaves in silage for ruminants. Leguminosae, with its ability to nitrogen fixation, offers a major advantage in the provision of protein and another significant role of improving silage qualities. However, challenges such as diversity of legume species, proper silage management, how to procure it efficiently and toxicity are factors to consider. Necessary strategies include selection of suitable varieties, increased cultivation of legumes, and application of effective silage conservation technologies and addressing risks. The implication of this review is that the use of legume leaves in silage has enormous potential to improve ruminant feed quality, which in turn can increase livestock productivity. In the livestock industry, this can lead to improved production efficiency and animal welfare. While in the context of research, this broadens horizons about innovative feed strategies. The conclusions and recommendations of this review affirm the importance of further research in this area as well as the need to develop policies that support the use of legume leaves in silage to strengthen the sustainability and production efficiency of ruminant animals.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Paulus C. Paat
Research Center for Animal Husbandry, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia.

Agustinus N. Kairupan
Research Center for Animal Husbandry, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia.

Derek J. Polakitan
Research Center for Animal Husbandry, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia.

Hasrianti Silondae
Research Center for Animal Husbandry, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia.

Gabriel H. Joseph
Research Center for Agroindustry, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia.

Jantje G. Kindange
Research Center for Macroeconomics and Finance, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/ibs/v8/1271

Research on Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Decomposition in Fecal Manure of Cattle Fed Browse/Maize Silages | Chapter 12 | Research and Development in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 3

 

Soil organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) decomposition in fecal manure of cattle fed browses of
Calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus), Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) and Leucaena (Leucaena
leucocephala) browse/maize silage mixtures and maize (Zea mays) silage alone when applied to the
soil were investigated in a pot experiment in comparison to the corresponding silages fed. Maize
silage alone had the lowest N and a larger C: N ratio, making it a poor quality compost when applied
to the soil, but compared to the browse/maize silage mixtures it had the highest level of soluble N as
non-protein nitrogen (NPN) which makes much of its N available for soil microbial decomposition of its
organic C. Calliandra browse/maize silage mixture had the highest level of fiber-bound N (ADFN),
which reduces N availability for soil microbial decomposition of its organic C in spite of its high N
content and a narrower C: N ratio. Fecal manure from maize silage alone had a lower level of N and a
wider C: N ratio than fecal manure from the other silages fed which would affect its decomposition in
the soil, but it had the lowest level of ADFN and much of its N is made available for soil microbial
decomposition of its organic C. Soil samples after 12 weeks of the experiment showed that Calliandra
browse/maize silage mixture maintained the highest level of C in the soil, while maize silage alone
maintained the lowest level. Also soils treated with fecal manure from the other browse/maize silage
mixtures maintained higher levels of C than fecal manure from maize silage alone. Organic C levels
were lowest at 8 weeks of the experiment for all treatments and rose to the original levels at 12 weeks
which could have been as a result of biotic and hydrologic factors coupled with soil aggregation.
Decomposition of organic N followed a similar trend as organic C. The two elements are linked in both
plant inputs in the soil and in the eventual soil humic substances. The soils treated with browse/maize
silage mixtures maintained C: N ratios that were similar to that of the control soil and higher than
those of the fecal manure treatments. Thus, in spite of the added silage materials to the soil, rapid
decomposition of organic C could not occur to reflect benefits of adding the silage materials to the
soil. Thus, fecal manure, particularly from feeding animals on browse/forage diets is more beneficial in
the soil as it would decompose more readily releasing the plant nutrients they contain.

Author (s) Details

Habib Kato
Department of Agriculture, Kyambogo University, Kyambogo, Uganda.

Robert Mulebeke
Department of Agriculture, Kyambogo University, Kyambogo, Uganda.

Felix Budara Bareeba
Department of Agricultural Production, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

Elly Nyambobo Sabiiti
Department of Agricultural Production, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

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Evaluation of Maize Accessions for Nutrients Composition, Forage and Silage Yields: Critical Overview | Chapter 6 | Research and Development in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 3

 

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the yield of forage, silage and nutrients composition of two
maize accessions: West Atlantic Seed Alliance 1 (WASA1) and an accession from Shika tagged
(SHIMAZ). The maize seeds were planted in plots of 5 m x 5 m (25 m2) size with four replicates for
each accession. The results showed that, there was no significant (P > 0.05) difference between the
accessions for plant height and number of leaves at 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks after sowing (WAS), but leaf
area index (LAI) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in SHIMAZ accession at 6 and 10 WAS. The
number of leaves per plant, green leaves, leaf area and forage yield at 91, 105 and 119 days after
sowing (DAS) were not significant (P > 0.05) in the two accessions of maize, but leaf area and LAI
were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in WASA1 accession. The percentage dry-matter (DM) content
was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in WASA1, although leaf, and stem ratios were significantly (P <
0.01) higher at various stages of harvest. The crude protein (CP) and nitrogen free-extract (NFE) were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in WASA1 accession while crude fibre (CF) was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in SHIMAZ. The proximate components (ash, EE and CP) and NDF were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in WASA1 silage, but NFE and ADF were higher (P < 0.05) in SHIMAZ accession.

Author (s) Details

Professor J. T. Amodu
National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria.

Dr. T. T. Akpensuen
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria.

Dr. D. D. Dung
National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria.

Dr. R. J. Tanko
National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria.

Dr. A. Musa
International Livestock Research Institute, Kano, Nigeria.

S. A. Abubakar
National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria.

Dr. M. R. Hassan
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria.

Dr. J. O. Jegede
National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria.

I. Sani
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria.

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