Abstract

An investigation was carried out to evaluate the effects of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria on the nutritional values of guinea grass silages. The four epiphytic lactic acid bacteria, namely, Weissella confusa, Weissella paramesenteroides, Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. dextranicum, and Lactococcus lactis ssp. hordniaewere individually applied in inoculation of guinea grass silages at the rate of 1 × 10⁵ CFU/g. Treatments were opened in three replications on days 14, 21 and 28. Value of pH, Proximate and Van Soest analysis and ammonia nitrogen were measured for each silage sample. Epiphytic lactic acid bacteria effectively increased crude protein (P<0.01), while acid detergent fiber (P<0.05), neutral detergent fiber, ammonia nitrogen and pH value (P<0.01) decreased significantly. It seems that increasing duration of silage making improved nutritional value of the silages (P<0.01).

Key words: Lactic acid bacteria, inoculation, nutritional value, guinea grass silage.