DOI: 10.11648/j.ijast.20261003.12 ISSN: 2640-1312

Effects of Maize Bran and Molasses Additives on Fermentation Quality, Nutritive Value and Digestibility of Chloris gayana and Tripsacum laxum Silages

Fredrick Karumuna, Andrew Mihambo
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This study evaluated the effects of maize bran and molasses additives on the silage quality of Rhodes grass ( Chloris gayana ) and Guatemala grass ( Tripsacum laxum ) as a strategy for improving feed availability during the dry season among smallholder dairy farmers in Mpwapwa District, Tanzania. The experiment was conducted at the Livestock Training Agency (LITA), Mpwapwa using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three treatments: grass without additive (control), grass with 10% maize bran, and grass with 3% molasses. The silages were ensiled for 21 days and analyzed for chemical composition, in vitro digestibility, metabolizable energy, pH, and organoleptic characteristics. Results showed that additive treatments significantly (P < 0.05) improved silage quality compared to the control treatment. Maize bran treatment produced the highest crude protein, ether extract, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), and metabolizable energy values in both forage species, while reducing fibre fractions such as neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF). Molasses treatment also improved fermentation and nutritive quality, although its effects were generally lower than maize bran. Control treatments recorded higher fibre contents and lower digestibility and energy values, indicating poor fermentation quality. Silage pH was significantly reduced by additive application, with molasses-treated silage recording the lowest pH values, indicating improved lactic acid fermentation and preservation. Organoleptic evaluation revealed that maize bran-treated silage had superior colour, smell, texture, and taste scores compared to the control treatment. Rhodes grass silage generally showed better fermentation quality, digestibility, and nutritive value than Guatemala grass silage across treatments. The study concludes that maize bran and molasses are effective additives for improving tropical grass silage quality, with maize bran showing the greatest overall improvement in nutritional and sensory characteristics. Therefore, the use of maize bran and molasses during ensiling is recommended for smallholder dairy farmers to improve feed conservation and livestock productivity during dry seasons.

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