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

Abstract

Corn stover are burnt after corn cobs collection in the field, creating global warming
along with precious organic matter wastage. In this experiment corn stover silage (CSS) (stover
without cobs and corn seeds/grains) inoculated with 10% water, 1% molasses and 0.2% urea were
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 of bunkers
was without any significant difference (P>0.05). Regarding chemical analysis high DM, Ash, NDF and
ADF with 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 fulfill all the maintenance
requirements in large ruminants.