Physico-chemical Characteristics of Ensiled Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam.)) Foliage, and Fermentation Kinetics of Cassava Silage

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the physico-chemical characteristics of ensiled cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam.)) foliage with or without additives molasses and rice bran. Six treatment combinations were from two crop species (cassava and sweetpotato) and three additives (without additive, 10% molasses, and 10% rice bran). The physical (color, odor, texture) and chemical characteristics (pH, total soluble sugars, Flieg point, dry matter, organic matter, ash, crude protein, NDF, ADF, hemicellulose) of the samples were evaluated following standard procedures. Fermentation kinetics of cassava foliage silage and ruminal in situ DM degradability of cassava foliage silage were evaluated for 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h using cannulated cattle. Results showed that cassava foliage (CF) and sweetpotato foliage (SF) silages with molasses had the lowest pH of 3.82 and 3.80, respectively due to high TSS values of the samples. CF had the highest crude protein (19.06%) compared to SF silage (11.61%). Moreover, CF had low fiber fractions (NDF and ADF) resulting in a high effective dry matter degradability (74.73%) of the silage. Results on silage quality, nutritive value, and dry matter degradability evaluation proved the potential of cassava foliage silage with molasses as an alternative high protein feed for ruminants.