Abstract
Six different mixed silages were prepared by using maize fodder and two tree leaves viz jamun (Syzygium cuminii) and mango (Mangifera indica) each at 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75 ratio (w/w), and compared with a control (100 % maize fodder) in glass jar to determine the effect of addition of these leaves on silage characteristics as well as digestion kinetic of ensiling as mixture of maize fodder. pH of the silages ranged from 4.55-4.85. Silage made from 100 % maize had lower (P < 0.05) pH in comparison to tree leaves-maize mixed silages. There were no differences in color and texture among various silages. Smell became slight butyric acid odour from lactic acid odour when the proportion of tree leaves were above 25 % irrespective of either jamun or mango leaves. The DM content of silages ranged from 28.00 +/- 0.20 in pure maize silage to 38.85 +/- 3.80 in 25:75 mixed silage. The protein content of maize-tree leaves silages were decreased with increased proportion of either jamun or mango leaves in the silages. The NDF, ADF and lignin content of mixed silages were increased (P < 0.05) with increased levels of tree leaves in the silages. The potential and effective degradability of silages decreased with increased level of tree leaves in the silages. The potential degradability of crude protein did not follow any pattern irrespective of silages. The effective degradability (%) of crude protein decreased from 52.80 in pure maize silage to 14.90 when proportion of jamun leaves increased from 0 to 75% while same was decreased to 27.42 with increased level of mango leaves in silages from 0 to 75%. The UDP content (g/kg DM) of silages containing 25% jamun and mango leaves was higher (109.57, 101.89) than other silages. It is inferred that mango and jamun tree leaves can be used @ 25 % level along with maize fodder for preparation silages without affecting quality of silages.