Nutritional evaluation of baby corn husk — A new feed resource for livestock

Abstract

This study was taken up to assess the nutritional worth of baby corn husk (BCH) for ruminants. Fresh chaffed BCH, or BCH wilted for 2–3 days and ensiled for 42 days or fresh BCH mixed with chaffed rice straw in 70: 30 ratio (BCH- RS) and ensiled for 42 days in lab silos in triplicate. The in-vitro gas production studies revealed that the net gas production (NGP), NDF and true OM digestibility, and ME availability was highest in BCH followed by that in ensiled BCH and lowest in ensiled BCH-RS. The methane production as per cent of net gas production was also lowest in BCH and highest in ensiled BCH-RS. The total and individual volatile fatty acid production was highest BCH, statistically, comparable with that of ensiled BCH but higher than BCH-RS silage. The relative proportion of individual volatile fatty acid was comparable in all the groups. For in vivo evaluation, 10 male Murrah buffalo calves divided into 2 equal groups were offered ad lib. either chaffed conventional green maize fodder or fresh chaffed BCH with daily supplementation of 25g mineral mixer and common salt for 30 days. The daily DM intake was significantly higher in buffalo calves fed conventional green fodder as compared to chaffed BCH. The digestibility of all the nutrients was higher in fresh BCH as compared to green maize fodder. The N-retained and apparent biological valve of protein was high in fresh BCH as compared to green maize fed group, but the differences were statistically nonsignificant. The calves offered BCH as compared to those offered green maize had higher total-N, TCA-N but slightly lower TVFAs. In another in vivo trial, the digestibility of nutrients and N-retention were considerably higher in 5 male Murrah buffalo calves offered concentrate mixture, ensiled BCH and wheat straw in 40: 30: 30 ratio on DM basis as total mixed ration (TMR) as compared to those offered fresh BCH. The higher digestibility of nutrient, N-retention, apparent biological valve and favourable rumen environment conclusively revealed that fresh or ensiled BCH was highly acceptable and palatable as compared to conventional maize fodder.