PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MAIZE STOVER SILAGE

Abstract

The research was conducted at the Livestock Teaching and Research Farm, Department of Animal Science, Adamawa State University, to determine physical and chemical characteristics of urea treated maize stover at different levels of urea inclusion incubated for 21 days. The colour/appearance, smell, texture, pH and temperature for urea treated maize stover were dark yellowish/brown colour in all the treatments an indication of good quality and normal color range for grass, cereal and maize silages. The mild sour smell in treatment M2 and sour smell in both M3 and M4 also shows that, there was normal lactic acid fermentation in the process, urea treated maize stover had leafy and soft texture in all the treated materials in M2, M3 and M4.The chemical composition of urea treated maize stover obtained ranged as follows; DM (80.52-90.10%), CP (5.7-12.8%), CF (34.6-41.5%), NDF (61.43.1%), ADF (42.3-46.6%), lignin (5.2-8.2%), EE (1.83-1.86%), Ash (8.2-13.8%), NEE (29.5-45.8%), Gross energy (18.8-23.9MJ/kg), Ca (2.2-6.6 g/kg), phosphorus (0.9-4.4 g/kg), K (1 1.4-12.8 g/kg), Na (0.15-0.33 g/kg), Mg (2.1-2.5 g/kg), Mn (107-122 mg/kg), zn (13-26 mg/kg) and Cu (l .4-3.0 mg/kg). Urea treatment had significantly (P<O.O1) increased the crude protein values from 5.7-12.8 and significant (P<0.05) increase on Ash, Na, Calcium, Copper, gross energy, sodium, phosphorus and zinc. There was also significant (P<O.05) decrease in NDF, ADF, lignin, K, Mn, and Cu across the treatments.