ENSILING PROPORTION AND DURATION EFFECTS ON FERMENTATION, NUTRITIONAL QUALITY AND METHANE CHARACTERISTICS OF MAIZE–DANIELLA SILAGE
Keywords:
Daniella oliveri; fodder; forage; in vitro; methane; Zea maysAbstract
Seasonal fodder scarcity necessitates alternative silage strategies such as combining maize with Daniella oliveri which may enhance fermentation quality, nutritive value, digestibility, and methane mitigation in tropical ruminant systems. This study evaluated the effects of ensiling proportions and durations of maize (Zea mays) and Daniella oliveri on fermentation quality, nutrient composition, fibre fractions, in vitro digestibility, and methane production of mixed silages. Forage proportions comprising 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100 maize–Daniella ratios were ensiled in laboratory silos for 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks in a 5 × 5 factorial arrangement fitted into a completely randomized design. Physical characteristics, pH, organic acids, proximate composition, fibre fractions, forage quality indices, in vitro gas production, and methane emissions were determined. Sole maize silage exhibited superior fermentation quality, with lower pH, higher lactic acid, and reduced butyric acid levels, while sole D. oliveri silage consistently showed poor fermentation stability with elevated pH (>6.0) and high butyric acid. Inclusion of D. oliveri improved crude protein (up to 172 g/kg DM at 75M: 25D, 8 weeks) and ether extract content but also increased fibre fractions and reduced fermentation quality at higher proportions. In vitro assessments revealed greater energy efficiency and digestibility in maize-dominated silages, whereas sole D. oliveri produced the highest methane gas (17.3 ml/200 mg DM). Overall, 25% inclusion of D. oliveri with maize balanced nutritional enhancement and fermentation quality, while minimizing methane emissions. These results suggest maize–Daniella silage as a sustainable dry-season feed option for ruminant animal production in the tropics.
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