Effect of Urea-Molasses and Lactic Culture on Silage Fermentation of Cenchrus ciliaris

Abstract

To study the effect of additives, urea, molasses and lactobacillus cultures, on silage fermentation of Cmchrus ciliaris in arid regions, S treatments with different proportions  of urea (1 and 2% OM) and molasses (8%) were studied in laboratory silos. Molasses addition showed a significant effect (P<O.O1) on lactic acid production, pH and coliform population, while crude protein levels of the silage increased to 9.29% and 12.27% (OM) on addition of 1% and 2% urea, respectively, Uniform addition of LAB culture at the rate of 6% (cell concentration US x 106 cells gm'l) affected final silage quality only in the presence of added molasses