Theme 2-1: Forage Production and Utilization--Oral Sessions
Description
The effects of storage duration (0, 6 and 12 weeks), storage medium (plastic container, polythene bag and jute sack) and varying mixture of grass-legume (60% Panicum maximum (6Pm); 30% Panicum maximum + 30% Lablab purpureus (3Pm3Lp); 40% Panicum maximum + 20% Lablab purpureus (4Pm2Lp); 40% Panicum maximum + 20% Stylosanthes hamata (4Pm2Sh) and 30% Panicum maximum + 30% Stylosanthes hamata (3Pm3Sh)) on shelf life and microbial load of grass-legume pellets were examined in the derived savanna zone of Nigeria (Latitude 80N, Longitude 40E) using a 3 x 3 x 5 factorial arrangement using completely randomized design with Microbial concentrations were significantly affected (p < 0.05) with plastic container having the lowest counts of total coliform (0.73 x 104cfu/l), total bacteria (2.05 x 104cfu/g), total fungi (1.12 x 104cfu/g) and total microbial concentration (4.07 x 104cfu/g). The study revealed that grass-legume pellet has good storage value and can be fed to ruminants as dry season feed.
Included in
Shelf Life Potential and Microbial Load of Varying Mixtures of Grass-Legume Pellets: A Dry Season Feed
The effects of storage duration (0, 6 and 12 weeks), storage medium (plastic container, polythene bag and jute sack) and varying mixture of grass-legume (60% Panicum maximum (6Pm); 30% Panicum maximum + 30% Lablab purpureus (3Pm3Lp); 40% Panicum maximum + 20% Lablab purpureus (4Pm2Lp); 40% Panicum maximum + 20% Stylosanthes hamata (4Pm2Sh) and 30% Panicum maximum + 30% Stylosanthes hamata (3Pm3Sh)) on shelf life and microbial load of grass-legume pellets were examined in the derived savanna zone of Nigeria (Latitude 80N, Longitude 40E) using a 3 x 3 x 5 factorial arrangement using completely randomized design with Microbial concentrations were significantly affected (p < 0.05) with plastic container having the lowest counts of total coliform (0.73 x 104cfu/l), total bacteria (2.05 x 104cfu/g), total fungi (1.12 x 104cfu/g) and total microbial concentration (4.07 x 104cfu/g). The study revealed that grass-legume pellet has good storage value and can be fed to ruminants as dry season feed.
