Forage yield and nutritive value of Desho grass (Pennisetum glaucifolium Trin.) as affected by cutting heights in the central highlands of Ethiopia.

Desho grass (Pennisetum glaucifolium Trin) an important fodder grass. However, information on its production is lacking. This study was carried out to evaluate the forage dry matter yield and nutritive value of Desho grass harvested at different cutting heights (CH), under rain-fed conditions in two different sites in central highlands of Ethiopia for two years. The treatments (T1-T8) were: 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120 cm cutting heights, distributed in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The root splits of the grass were planted in a 3 m × 4 m (12 m2) plot size with 0.5 m × 0.25 m inter and intra-row spacing. In the two locations, over the years, significant differences were observed among cutting heights. The interaction of cutting heights by locations, and location by years were also significant. The interaction among cutting height, location, and year was insignificant. The highest (number of leaves per plant) NLPP was attained as the plant height advance, while the number of tillers per plant (NTPP) showed non-significant differene in different treatments. The dry matter yield (DMY) increased linearly with an increase in CH (ranging from 12.2 to 20.1 t ha-1 at Holetta, and 4.2 to 11.4 t ha-1at Kulumsa). The grass's ash and crude protein (CP) contents decreased as the cutting height increased. An increase in CH increased the fiber content Neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and Acid detergent lignin (ADL), resulting decrease in in-vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). We recommend that desho grass be managed at 80-90 cm height resulting in optimum dry matter yield and nutritive value for use in smallholder farmers and market-oriented livestock producers of the central highlands of Ethiopia and major growing areas.

Nutritional and logarithmic fungal count of brewery spent grain in different conservation techniques and brewery factories'.

The higher moisture level (70-80%) in wet brewer's grain (WBG) poses two major difficulties when using it as a feed for different classes of animals. Firstly, transport of WBG is costly. Secondly, the rich polysaccharide and protein content and the high moisture content of WBG make it susceptible to microbial growth and spoilage. Therefore this study was planned to examine the effect of soaking, sun drying and ensiling on nutritional and fungal load dynamics of wet brewers' grain. Wet brewers' grain was collected from Meta Abo, Habesha, Dashen and Bedele breweries, Ethiopia. The sample was labeled and kept in a separate sterile bag and stored under - 20 °C. For soaking, 2 kg sample was uniformly treated with salt (3% on dry matter basis), placed in plastic container and covered with a lead for partial aerobic condition. Wet brewers' grain (2 kg) was exposed to sun drying for the consecutive three days, eight hours per day. The sample (2 kg) with molasses (3% on dry matter basis) was ensiled in a plastic bottle. All samples except sun dried, were subjected to oven drying at 55 °C for 72 h. To evaluate insacco degradability, samples were incubated for 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h in nylon bags (6.5 × 14 cm, 50 µm pore size) placed in ventral sac of three cannulated Boran-Friesian steers (550 ± 15 kg live weight). The samples (25 g) were dissolved in 225 ml of peptone water. Potato Dextrose agar medium was injected with 1 ppm per each 100 ml of agar with chloramphenicol and streptomycin to restrict bacterial growth. Plates were incubated aerobically at 28 ± 1 °C for 3 day and growing molds and yeast colonies were directly counted. The sample received from Meta Abo brewery factory had the higher (p < 0.05) acid detergent fiber, lignin and digestible organic matter but comparable dry matter (DM), ash, crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber with other breweries. The minimal loss on DM and other nutrients, lower fungal, yeast and mold colony counts and the higher CP digestion kinetics was observed in ensiling techniques. If supply is not a constraint under local conditions, ensiling can be recommended as the best conservation practice.

Nutritional and fungal load dynamics of fresh brewers' grain stored under aerobic conditions.

Brewers' spent grain (BSG) is the amplest by-product of the brewing process. The fresh BSG is currently used as low-cost cattle feed due to its microbiological instability and high perishability. While recent research looked at the effects of storage time and temperature on the characteristics of wet brewers grains (WBG) as ruminant feeds. Three storage temperatures (15, 20, and 25 °C) and periods (2, 4 and 6 days) were arranged in a 3 × 3 factorial design. Surface spoilage was not apparent at 15 °C throughout the storage periods. Deterioration was not also observed at 20 °C until the fourth day of storage where slight mold growth was apparent. Extensive mold growth was detected late in the sixth day at 20 °C and continued manifestations up until the last day of storage at 25 °C. Changes in major nutrients, DM losses, and yeast and mold colony count were significantly affected by the interaction of storage temperatures and durations (P < 0.05). Except for samples stored at 15 °C, nutrients contents decreased concomitantly (exceptions are ADF, lignin, and loss in DM) with prolonged storage times (p < 0.05) and increasing temperatures (p < 0.05). Contrast analysis indicated that it would be safe to store under aerobic storage conditions and feed the WBG for dairy cattle.