The Use of Removed Mesquite Brush as a Fiber Replacement in Silage Production

Abstract

Mesquite (Prosopis L.) is considered an invasive browse species in most of the American Southwest. Mechanical intervention removes yields an excess of organic debris. Anecdotal evidence in the past has supported using such browse as feed for livestock. Thus, our objectives were to (1) determine the nutritive value and fermentation characteristics of silage produced with mesquite biomass, and (2) evaluate solvent treatment of mesquite biomass prior to ensiling. In Experiment 1, we evaluated mesquite inclusion rate (0, 250, 500, 750, or 1000 g kg−1 DM), length of fermentation (28, 56, or 84 d), and silage inoculant. In Experiment 2, we evaluated the effects of mesquite pre-treatment with acid (H2SO4) or alkali (NaOH) solutions. Concentrations of NDF, ADF, and ADL, as well as IVTD, decreased (p −1 DM did not differ from grass silage. There was no effect (p > 0.05) of inoculation, though increasing length of incubation did increase (p p −1.

Keywords

• mesquite
• <i>Prosopis</i>
• silage
• inoculant
• fermentation length
• pretreatment