Quality properties of sunn hemp (<i>Crotalaria juncea</i> L.) and maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) silages

Abstract

Maize is an ideal forage crop for ensilage because of its high levels of fermentable carbohydrates, although it is low in protein. Sunn hemp is a legume with a high crude protein content with potential to be used in combination with maize to provide a silage with a higher protein content. Different percentages of sunn hemp-maize mixtures of 80-20, 60-40, 40-60 and 20-80 respectively were compared to silages of sole maize and sunn hemp. In the laboratory study, DLG classifications (color, smell, structure, total score and quality class), silage loss (%), silage pH, dry matter content, flieg score, crude protein content, crude ash content, NDF, ADF, metabolic energy (MJ kg-1 DM), dry matter intake, percent digestible dry matter and relative feed value were determined at the end of 60 days ensilage. The crude protein contents of silages increased as the sunn hemp ratio in the mixtures increased. In addition, pure sunn hemp silage and mixtures, especially 80% sunn hemp mixed with 20% maize, were found suitable for silage and it was concluded that sunn hemp and sunn hemp-maize silage mixtures could be used in animal husbandry.