@article{MAKHILLRJANS20082427613,
    title = {Use of Legume in the Improvement of Silage Quality of Columbus Grass <I>(Sorghum almum </I>Parodi)},
    journal = {Research Journal of Animal Sciences},
    volume = {2},
    number = {4},
    pages = {109-112},
    year = {2008},
    issn = {1993-5269},
    doi = {rjnasci.2008.109.112},
    url = {https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?issn=1993-5269&doi=rjnasci.2008.109.112},
    author = {I.R. Muhammad,M. Baba,A. Mustapha,M.Y. Ahmad and},
    keywords = {Grass-legume silage,proximate composition,Semi arid zone,Columbus grass (Sorghum almum),Centurion (Centrocema pascourum),Lablab bean (Lablab purpureum) and Groundnut (Arachis hypogea)},
    abstract = {An experiment was conducted to determine the species of legume that is compatible with Columbus<I> </I>grass<I> </I>for ensilage and to establish the optimum proportion of legume inclusion for better silage preparation. Field grown Columbus grass (<I>Sorghum almum</I> Parodi) was sampled at soft dough stage and fortified with legumes forage from Centurion (<I>Centrocema pascourum L.</I>); Lablab bean (<I>Lablab purpureum </I>(<I>L.</I>) and Groundnut (<I>Arachis hypogea L</I>). The treatments were 100% Columbus grass<I>;</I> 80% Columbus grass<I> </I>plus 20% groundnut; 60% Columbus grass<I> </I>plus 40% groundnut; 80% Columbus grass<I> </I>plus 20% Lablab; 60% Columbus grass<I> </I>plus 40% Lablab; 80% Columbus grass<I> </I>plus 20% Centurion and 60% Columbus grass<I> </I>plus 40% Centurion. Each of the treatment combination was ensilage using <I>in vitro </I>silos, kept at room temperature of 26°C for 21days incubation period. Thereafter, pH and proximate composition were examined. The results obtained showed the compounded silages were good and moderately acidic with pH varying from 5.33-5.77. Higher acidic value was obtained from silage prepared of 60% Columbus grass plus 40% groundnut<I>. </I>Dry matter as fed varied significantly (p&lt;0.05) from 308.0-508.0 g kg <SUP>1</SUP> succulent silage. Significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) dry matter as fed was observed from treatments that had 60% Columbus<I> grass</I> plus 40% Lablab. Significantly higher CP was obtained from the inclusion of 40% of lablab. Organic matter content (OM) of the silage vary significantly (p&lt;0.5) from 45.7-69.1%. Ether Extract (EE) varied (p&lt;0.05) from 6.6-19.4% with the higher values obtained from Columbus grass plus 40% lablab. The content of ash obtained showed significant variations (p&lt;0.05) in the composed silages. Higher OM and CF content were obtained from treatments that had 100% Columbus grass.}
    }