2.2. Silage preparation
Ruzigrass (B. ruziziensis) was harvested at 60 d after planning
on October, 2007, in the experiment field, Rajamangala
University of Technology-Isan Sakon Nakhon Campus, Thailand
and chopped with a forage cutter into 2- to 3-cm lengths and
mixed with the silage additives. Silages were untreated (CO), or
prepared with 5% molasses (MO), 1% FJLB (FJLB), or 5% molasses
plus 1% FJLB (MO-FJLB). FJLB was applied at 1% of fresh weight
(at log 5.64 cfu/g fresh weight). Molasses (70% dry matter (DM),
1% crude protein (CP) and 24.7% WSC on a DM basis) was
applied at 5% of fresh matter. The combined additives (MO-FJLB)
were mixed thoroughly and sprayed on the silage material. To
adjust the moisture content of the MO and CO silages, distilled
water (1% of fresh matter) was added. These mixtures were then
packed tightly in 100-kg plastic drums and stored at room
temperature (27–30 °C) for 45 d. Three samples per treatment
were chemically analyzed, and the remainder was used for the
feeding trial.