AbstractsBiology & Animal Science

The use of various crops fro preparing silage in three types of silos to feed livestock during the dry season in Ghana

by Kwame Ambrose Tuah




Institution: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Department:
Year: 1971
Record ID: 1541053
Full text PDF: http://dspace.knust.edu.gh:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1506


Abstract

In Experiment I silages were prepared from maize, sorghum and guinea grass in concrete culvert, steel drum and polyethylene bag silos. The ensuing materials were compacted by trampling. Molasses was added to the guinea grass fresh forage at the rate of 45.40 Kg molasses per 908 Kg of fresh forage. All the maize silages spoiled. The causes of the spoilage losses in all types of silos and every type of forage have been discussed. Guinea grass and sorghum silages were fed to young bulls. There was no significant difference between the consumption of sorghum and guinea grass silages. There was no significant difference between the consumption of silages in the different types of silos. In Experiment II, silages were prepared from a mixture of grasses as well as maize. Molasses was added to the mixed grasses. The silages were fed to dairy cows to determine palatability. There was a significant difference at both 5 and 1 levels between the consumption of mixed grasses and the maize silages. The possible reasons for the causes of the greater consumption of maize silages than that of grass silages have been discussed. It was found that concrete culvert silos were the mot economical followed by polyethylene bags and steel drums. A thesis submitted to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Science degree in Animal Science, 1971 KNUST