INVESTIGATIONS ON SILAGE MAKING
DIGESTIBILITY AND NUTRITIVE VALUE OF GREEN GUAR (CYAMOPSIS
PSORALOIDES) AND WHEAT-(TRITICUM
VULGARE) BHOOSA SILAGE
N. D. KEHAR and P. N. JOHRI, Indian Veterinary Research Institute,
Izatnagar (U.P.)
Received on June 17, 1958 and accepted for publication on August 8, 1958
Except for the monsoon months and sometime thereafter, the roughage supply for live-
stock, in India, mainly comprises coarse fodders like cereal straws which are nutritionally
deficient in many respects. In order to effect an improvement in the palatability of these coarse
roughages and also to provide nutritious and succulent fodder for the dry periods of the year,
attempts have been made in these laboratories to ensile coarse roughages with green legumi-
nous fodders. Kehar and Sahai [1949-50] showed that the ensilage of paddy (Oryza sativa)
straw with berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) yielded a succulent fodder of high nutritive value.
Kehar, Sahai and Daniel [1954-55 a and b] further showed that ensilage of cowpeas (Vigna
catjang) and pakar (Ficus infectoria) leaves and cowpeas and jaman (Eugenia jambolana)-shed
leaves provided succulent and nutritious fodder. The present investigation is an attempt to
ensile wheat-bhoosa with green guar.
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
Green guar was chaffed into 5 to 6 inches bits and was uniformly mixed with
wheat-bhoosa in the proportion of 3 : 2, on dry matter basis, and ensiled in silo-pits of
8 feet X 5 feet X 4 feet dimensions layer by layer. At the bottom, as well as on the sides,
the pits were lined with a 6-inch layer of some coarse fodder. After each addition of about
8-10 md. of the material, a dilute solution of molasses (at the rate of 2 per cent on the weight
of the fresh crop) was sprinkled uniformly and the material was trampled to exclude all the
air, as much as possible. When the filled material reached two feet above the ground level,
the top was covered with a 6-inch layer of dried bhurra (Saccharum munj) and was finally cover-
ed with earth, pressed and then plastered with clay. The crevices observed, consequent on
the shrinking of the material, were promptly repaired.
After a period of six months, one of the pits was opened. The silage was found to be of
greenish yellow colour with pleasant fruity smell.
The chemical composition of green guar and wheat-bhoosa silage, as compared with some
other common silages, is given in Table I.
It is clear from Table I that in crude protein content green guar and wheat-bhoosa
silage is richer than jowar (Andropogon sorghum), maize (Zea mays,) bhurra (Saccharum munj) and
guinea (Panicum maximum) grass silages enlisted in Table I. The total carbohydrate content
in green guar and wheat-bhoosa silage is, however, lower as compared with other silages.
Feeding experiments with green guar and wheat-bhoosa silage were conducted on five
adult Kumauni bullocks. The animals, during the experimental feeding period, received silage
ad lib and an ounce of common salt per head. The feeding period lasted for 30 days, and during
the last ten days a metabolism trial was conducted.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Food consumption and general condition of animals
The silage was found to be quite palatable. The average dry matter consumption, per
day, from this silage worked out to be 755 gm. per 100 lb. body weight. Throughout the ex-
perimental feeding period, the animals maintained healthy appearance and exhibited an
increase in body weight. The average gain over the initial body weight at the end of the feed-
ing period, was found to be 9 lb. per head.
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