RESEARCH ARTICLES

Sensory and chemical evaluation of laboratory ensiled hybrid Napier grass prepared using Lactobacillus plantarum and propionic acid as additives
K.A. Akhil Prasad, M.T. Dipu, Jith John Mathew, K. Ally, D.K. Deepak Mathew and R. Rejeesh

doi: https://doi.org/10.51966/jvas.2023.54.2.516-523

Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences.2023.54(2):516 - 523

Author Details

K.A. Akhil Prasad : MVSc Scholar, Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur-680651, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.

M. T. Dipu : Associate Professor, Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur-680651, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.

Jith John Mathew : Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur-680651, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.

K. Ally : Professor and Head, Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur-680651, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.

D.K. Deepak Mathew: Assistant Professor, Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.

R. Rejeesh : Assistant Professor, Department of Dairy Microbiology, College of Dairy Science and Technology, Trivandrum

 

Article History

Received: 15.11.2022 Accepted: 09.01.2023 Published online: 30.06.2023

Corresponding author: M. T. Dipu

e-mail : dipu@kvasu.ac.in

Citation: Prasad, K.A.A., Dipu, M.T., Mathew, J.J., Ally, K., Mathew, D.K.D. and Rejeesh, R. 2023. Sensory and chemical evaluation of laboratory ensiled hybrid Napier grass prepared using Lactobacillus plantarum and propionic acid as additives. J. Vet. Anim. Sci. 54(2):516-523

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51966/jvas.2023.54.2.516-523



Abstract


The present study was undertaken to evaluate silage made from hybrid Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ensiled in the laboratory using various additives with regard to sensory as well as chemical characteristics. Four different silages were prepared viz., grass ensiled without additives (GS) as control, and grass silage with Lactobacillus plantarum at 1 x 105 CFU per gram of fresh forage (GSL), grass silage with propionic acid at the rate 0.45 kg per ton of fodder (GSA), and grass silage with combination of Lactobacillus plantarum (1 x 105 CFU per gram of fresh forage) and propionic acid (0.45 kg per ton of fodder) (GSLA) in triplicates. One from each triplicate was opened on 21, 30 and 45 days of ensiling and was evaluated for sensory (colour, aroma, presence or absence of extraneous matter) and chemical (pH, lactic acid, proximate analysis and fibre fractions) characteristics. From the overall results, it could be concluded that hybrid Napier grass, ensiled for 21 days using L. plantarum was effective in preserving its nutritive value.

Keywords: Laboratory ensiling, silage score card, hybrid Napier grass, Lactobacillus plantarum, propionic acid