Determination of Fermentation Properties and Digestibility Characteristics of Combination of Corn-Soybean and Corn Silages

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine in vivo digestibility and fermentation property of various silages made of green herbage of Corn (C) and corn-soybean mixtures at different rates (90% corn + 10% soybean (90C10SB), 80% corn + 20% soybean (80C20SB), 70% corn + 30 soybean (70C30SB)). Each mixture was prepared at rates given above on fresh material basis and ensiled in 120 L plastic barrels (a total of 20, 5 replicate for 4 treatments) for 90 days. pH values of C silage were higher and acetic acid levels were lower than that of 80C20SB (p<0.05). Concentrations of lactic and propionic acid of corn-soybean mixture silages were found to be similar to C silage. Digestibility of DM, OM, ADF and NDF were higher in C silage than that of other silages, whereas digestibility of CP and EE of 80C20SB silage were higher than corn silage (p<0.05). It was concluded that ensiling corn with 20 or 30% soybean addition at green herbage basis generates desirable outcomes for fermentation properties and digestibility of crude nutrients.