<i>In vitro</i> evaluation of nutritional quality of ensiled rice offal enhanced with nonprotein nitrogen sources and soybean meal residue

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the appearance, smell, texture, pH, temperature, chemical composition and energy content of ensiled Rice offal (RO) treated with non-protein nitrogen sources and soybean meal residue in a completely randomized design. Rice offal was treated with different proportions of Urea, Poultry litter (PL) and Soybean meal residue (SBMR) and ensiled. The treatment combinations were; A (100%RO), B (100%RO + Urea),
C (75%RO + 25%PL), D (50%RO + 50%PL), E (75%RO + 25%SBMR) and F (50%RO + 50%SBMR). The treatments were ensiled for 21 days in triplicates. The results showed that silages were adequately fermented with sweet aroma. The silages were acidic (4.70 – 5.80) except for treatments C and D which had pH of 7.20 and 7.00, respectively. The temperatures of the silages were significantly (P<0.05) different. The proximate composition of silages differed significantly (P<0.05), being highest for %CP, %EE and ash in treatment B. Dry matter contents were also significantly different (P<0.05) with treatment A having the highest (90.25%). Rice offal and Urea mixtures resulted in silages with highest NDF, HEM and Energy. Lowest NDF was obtained in treatment without additive (Treatment A) compared to all other treatments. Least ADF was obtained in Treatment E (75% RO + 25% SBMR). Enhancement of rice offal with urea, poultry litter and soybean meal residue has shown improvement in the silage physiochemical quality.

Keywords: In vitro; Additives; Ensilage; Rice offal; Poultry litter; Fermentation