Year: 2026 | Month: February | Volume 16 | Issue 1
Impact of Molasses and Ground Corn Grains as a Source of Energy Supplementation on Composition, Quality, Nutritional Values and in vitro Gas Production Parameters of Corn Stover Silage
Hamed M. Gaafar
Reda A. Mesbah
Mohamed E. Sayed-Ahmed
Essam M. El-Kotamy
Khaled M.I. Sharaf and Hamada A. Areda
DOI:10.30954/2277-940X.01.2026.1
Abstract:
After harvesting ears, green corn stover was cut to 1.5 to 2.0 cm using a harvester chopper. It was then either left unsupplemented (T1) or supplemented with 3% molasses (T2) or 3% ground yellow corn grains (T3) and stored for 45 days in 0.5 kg capacity plastic bags. Samples were subsequently analyzed for chemical composition, silage quality, and in vitro gas production. Supplementing corn stover silage with molasses or ground corn grains significantly enhances dry matter, crude protein, and nitrogen-free extract levels, while decreasing crude fiber and various fiber fractions compared to the control. Organic matter, ether extract, and ash contents remain largely unchanged by these treatments. Supplementation of corn stover silage with molasses and ground corn grain decreases pH and butyric acid concentration, while increasing total volatile fatty acids, lactic, acetic, and propionic acids concentrations, with ammonia-N levels remaining largely unchanged. Cumulative gas production showed a marked increase when molasses and ground corn grains were added to corn stover silage, enhancing degradable fractions and total gas output. Although methane production components declined, gas production was rapid in the first 12 hours, moderate in the next, and slower thereafter. The supplementation notably improved short-chain fatty acid concentration, microbial protein production, dry matter intake, degradability, digestibility, total digestible nutrients, and energy metrics (P<0.05). On conclusion, supplementing corn stover silage with molasses or ground corn grains enhances its chemical composition, quality, and nutritional value, resulting in more efficient in vitro gas production.
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