Effects of Harvesting Interval and Processing on Physico-Chemical and Nutritional Properties of Cogon Grass (Imperata cylindrica Linn) Silage

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the nutritional composition, physicochemical properties, and sensory attributes of cogon grass silages. The study took into consideration the impact of harvesting intervals and various processing methods. Employing a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments and three replications, the findings highlighted that, particularly after 20 and 25 days, the physicochemical qualities of the silages surpassed those of the other treatments, specifically in terms of pH, titratable acidity, and total soluble solids. Furthermore, the study recommended the incorporation of maize bran along with Leucaena leucocephala leaf meals and urea-molasses at a moderate level (2.1% of silage mass) after 20 and 25 days last cutting of cogon grass silages, based on the observed results. The study also suggested that future research should focus on assessing fermentation product levels, including volatile fatty acids, ammonia, and alcohol contents.