Abstract
Cage layer waste and sudex grass were ensiled in the proportions of 0:100, 30:70, 40:60 and 50:50 wet basis, respectively. The influence of ensiling cage layer waste on Salmonellae, Shigella, Proteus, and total number of colony forming units (CFU) was investigated. The nutritive value of the silages was evaluated in a digestion trial. The experiment was conducted with 24 wethers allotted to four silages. Initial samples of cage layer waste showed 0.11 x 10(6) CFU and Salmonellae, Shigella and Proteus were present. Ensiling was effective in complete elimination of all the pathogens. Dry matter, crude protein and ash contents were increased linearly (p < .01) with the increase of cage layer waste in the silages (358 g.kg(-1) to 484 g.kg(-1); 76.3 g.kg(-1) to 183.2 g.kg(-1) and 38.5 g.kg(-1) to 169.4 g.kg(-1); DM basis, respectively). Water soluble carbohydrate values for silages were 38.3, 22.5, 20.1 and 20.0 g.kg(-1) DM basis, respectively. Ensiling decreased the pH values for all the silages and the decrease was higher for sudex grass ensiled alone than grass ensiled with cage layer waste. Lactic acid concentration in silages increased linearly (p < .01) with the increase of cage layer waste. The apparent digestibilities of DM, OM and CP for the animals fed sudex grass silage alone were, 496.0, 516.1, 496.7 g.kg(-1) DM basis respectively. However, digestibilities of all the components were higher (p < 0.01) for the animals fed silages containing cage layer waste. Among waste containing diets, the digestibilities of all the components showed quadratic affect (p < 0.01), increased for silages containing 30 and 40% cage layer waste and decreased when the level of waste increased from 40 to 50%. The results indicated that cage layer waste can be used upto 40 % in ruminants diet as a source of N without any adverse effect on the health of animals. Ensiling appeared to be feasible and effective method for eliminating the pathogen present in cage layer waste.