SHELF LIFE POTENTIAL AND MICROBIAL LOAD OF VARYING MIXTURES OF GRASSLEGUME PELLETS: A DRY SEASON FEED

Abstract

The effects of storage duration (0, 6 and 12 weeks), storage medium (plastic container, polythene bag and jute sack) and varying mixture of grass-legume (60% Panicum maximum (6Pm); 30% Panicum maximum + 30% Lablab purpureus (3Pm3Lp); 40% Panicum maximum + 20% Lablab purpureus (4Pm2Lp); 40% Panicum maximum + 20% Stylosanthes hamata (4Pm2Sh) and 30% Panicum maximum + 30% Stylosanthes hamata (3Pm3Sh)) on shelf life and microbial load of grass-legume pellets were examined in the derived savanna zone of Nigeria using a 3 x 3 x 5 factorial arrangement using completely randomized design. Results revealed that, microbial concentrations were significantly affected (p<0.05) with plastic container having the lower (p<0.05) counts of total coliform (0.73 x 104cfu/l), total bacteria (2.05 x 104cfu/g), total fungi (1.12 x 104 cfu/g) and total microbial concentration (4.07 x 104cfu/g) compared to other storage media. Similarly, pellet with varying mixture of grass-legume (60% Panicum maximum (6Pm) had lowest (p<0.05) microbial concentrations in all the determined parameters except for total coliform count which was lower with a concentration of 1.10 x 104 from 30% Panicum maximum + 30% Lablab purpureus (3Pm3Lp) pellet.The study revealed that, the grass-legume pellets (60% Panicum maximum) can be stored in plastic container for a period of 12 weeks with a tolerable microbial load. Thus, it is recommended that these pellets can be fed to ruminant during the dry season.