RAJENDRA CHAUHAN, DIGVIJAY SINGH AND ASHOK K VERMA
Aanchal Cattle Feed Factory, Rudrapur-244 923
NDDB, Noida-201301
Senior TCM, Kemin- India- 600058
*(e-mail: chauhan77r@gmail.com)
(Received: 9 November 2025; Accepted: 10 December 2025)
SUMMARY
To evaluate the proper combination of empty pea pods (EPP) based mixed fodder along with the available crop residues (bagasse and wheat straw) for silage making, a trial was conducted during Rabi season, 2025 at a cattle feed plant (CFP), Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, India. In total 7 treatment combinations were made to find out best combinations to get good to satisfactory silage quality. It was found that good quality silage can be made by using empty pea pods (EPP) in combination with wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse and dry jaggery in the ratio of (70:29:1) in form of silage bales during winter season. After completion of 45 days of ensiling period, amongst different silage treatments T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 & T6 treatments, silage pH was recorded 3.97, 3.96, 4.0, 4.5, 4.39 and 4.25; moisture content (%) was recorded 65.9, 68.5, 71.2, 68.13, 75.68 and 76.55; crude protein was recorded 7.68, 10.39, 11.02, 7.17, 9.23 and 10.08; ether extract was recorded 1.1, 1.08, 1.0,1.1, 1.0 and 1.0; crude fibre was recorded 48.23, 44.17, 43.87 59.85, 61.0 and 51.23; acid insoluble ash was recorded 3.11, 3.0, 2.92,2.04, 1.52 and 1.15, respectively. Based on total marks scored in different silage treatments as per the data recording for proximate parameters and texture, colour and aroma, overall silage quality was judged good in case of T1, satisfactory in case of T2, T3, T5 and T6 and average in case of T4 and T7 treatment combinations.
Key words: Silage, pea pods, pH, crop residues, bagasse, wheat straw and proximate parameters