Vol. 4, Issue 5, Part A (2019)

Author(s): Sakwa Nabuko Boniface, Ondiek James Ombiro, King’ori Anthony Macharia and Ndambi Oghaiki Asaah

Abstract: Dairy cows’ production potential in Kenya is affected by inadequate supply of quality feeds. Chemical analysis and in-vitro degradability of feed ingredients from twelve farms using each of the three interventions: maize train and bale silage, silagefrom Service Provider Enterprises (SPEs), and feed ingredients from farms using ration formulation (Rumen8) software were compared with 12 control farms for each intervention. Data from the experiments was subjected to analysis of variance using the General linear model. Mean separation was done using least significant difference at 5% level of significance. Dry matter content of maize train silage (34.4%) and baled silage (34.9%) differed from SPEs silages (32.3%)(p<0.05).Neutral detergent fibre ranged from 13.9% in soybean meal to 46.6% in SPEs silage. Metabolizable energy ranged from 8.7MJ/kgDM in sunflower meal to14.7MJ/kgDMin maize germ. Organic matter degradability was high in maize train silage (56.4%) and lowest in sunflower meal (25.8%). In conclusion,use of maize train and baler intervention is the best fodder conservation measure forquality silage.