Assessment of silage quality and forage acceptability of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L. Roberty) ensiled with cassava peels by wad goat

Abstract

Vetiver grass was harvested at 4, 6 and 8-week regrowth and were ensiled with cassava peels at ratio 60:40 and 100% without cassava peels. The quality and chemical composition of the silages were assessed. The silages along with fresh unensiled re-growths of vetiver grass were fed to WAD goats in a cafeteria method to determine the coefficient of preference of the diets. Results showed that ensiling reduced both the crude protein and crude fiber contents. Ensiling with cassava peels improved the quality and acceptability of the silage while ensiled grasses without cassava peels had poor silage quality and rejection by the animals. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2013.