Effect of graded molasses toward physicochemical of rice straw silage

An abstract of the research paper presented to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, in partial requirement on the course DVT 55204 – Research Project. Rice straw is one of the most abundant agricultural waste products in Malaysia. Use of rice straw as animal feed are uncommon due to its low palatability. Ensiling the rice straw may potentially increase it palatability. Rice straw for silage is advantageous due to its abundance, cost-effectiveness, and the potential to enhance the nutritional quality of the forage, offering a sustainable solution for livestock feed and contributing to efficient agricultural waste management. This research delves into the "Effect of Graded Molasses on the Physicochemical Characteristics of Rice Straw Silage," exploring seven distinct treatments labeled A to G, each representing varying concentrations of molasses (0%, 0.4%, 0.8%, 1.2%, 1.6%, 1.8%, and 2%). The physicochemical parameters assessed include pH, water content, color, smell, texture, and the presence of mold in the silage. Despite the range of molasses concentrations employed, the study reveals significant differences across these parameters among the treatments. This indicates that the addition of molasses, within the examined concentrations, exert discernible effects on the evaluated physicochemical characteristics which are pH, water content, smell, colour, texture and formation of mold on the rice straw silage. These findings contribute valuable insights to silage preservation practices, offering practical implications for optimizing molasses utilization in the context of forage conservation.
Key word: Effective microbe,Molasses,rice straw,pH ,Physicochemical