Quality of total mixed ration containing ramie leaves (Boehmeria nivea, L. GAUD)

Abstract

Ensiling is an alternative method to optimize utilization of seasonal available ramie leaves (Boehmeria nivea, L. Gaud) in ruminant daily feed but there is still lack of information available on the impact of silo type to the silage quality. The study was aimed to compare portable tower silo (plastic container 200 l) and static trench silo (1 ton capacity) effects on physical (odor, texture, moisture, color and spoilage), fermentative (pH, DM, VFA, DMD, CP, NH3, CPD, WSC and fleigh number) and utilities (rumen ration fermentation and degradation) characteristics of silage produced. The results showed that trench silo was less effective in giving good physical characteristics of silage compare to the plastic container (9% vs 2.59% of spoilage respectively). Fermentative characteristic of silage produced in plastic container was excellent (fleigh number 118) while trench container produced good grade silage (fleigh number 74). All silage pH were less than 4.4. Utilities characteristic of silage were not affected by the type of silo. Both silage were highly fermentable and digestible to ruminant (>71% OMD). Plastic container produced better physical and fermentative characteristics of total mixed ration contained ramie leaves, but utilities characteristic of silage produced in both type of silo were equal.