MAIZE COBS

The persistent challenge of feed scarcity, especially in regions with seasonal droughts, underscores the critical need to convert abundant agricultural residues into sustainable livestock feed. Despite being a widely accessible agricultural by-product, maize cobs are not very useful due to their high fiber content and poor digestion. This study sought to determine how the chemical and physical composition of the maize cobs were affected by ensiling with different volume of wood ash extract for 21 days. Four treatments were evaluated: T1 (UMC): Untreated maize cob (control); T2 (WMC): maize cob soaked in water; T3 (MCWAE250ml): maize cob ensiled with 250ml WAE; T4 (MCWAE500ml): maize cob ensiled with 500ml WAE. Results indicated that ensiling, particularly with WAE, significantly altered the nutritional profile. T2 showed the highest Crude Protein (CP=5.53%), a substantial increase from the control (T1, CP=3.21%). Fiber analysis revealed that the higher WAE volume in T4 effectively reduced Crude Fibre (CF=25.37%) compared to T1 (CF=30.42%) and T3 (CF=39.87%). Mineral analysis demonstrated that WAE enrichment significantly increased key minerals; T3 had the highest Calcium (Ca=128.30 mg/100g) and Zinc (Zn=2.05 mg/100g), while T2 recorded the highest Nitrogen (N=893.50 mg/100g). Physical properties improved, with T4 exhibiting a dark brown colour and less abrasive texture deemed desirable for silage. The study concludes that ensiling maize cobs with wood ash extract, particularly at 250ml (T3), optimally enhances the mineral profile (Ca, Zn) and at 500ml (T4) reduces fiber content, converting them into a digestible, nutrient-rich, and stable feed, thereby presenting a practical method for agricultural waste recycling

The agricultural sector in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa faces persistent challenges in meeting livestock nutritional needs, particularly during dry seasons when conventional feed becomes scarce and expensive. Maize cobs, despite being a widely accessible agriculture by-product of maize processing, are not very useful because of the high fibre content and poor digestion. This study shows the impact of a short-term (14-day) ensiling period with wood ash extract (WAE) on the chemical and physical characteristics of maize cobs, with a focus on their usefulness as a feed ingredient.The cobs were subjected to four treatments: untreated control (T1), water-soaked (T2), ensiled with 250ml WAE (T3), and ensiled with 500ml WAE (T4). Results showed that WAE treatment significantly altered the proximate composition. Moisture content increased from 11.93% in T1 to 22.87% in T4, and ash content rose from 1.55% in T1 to 2.41% in T4, indicating mineral enrichment. However, a leaching effect was observed; crude protein, which increased to 5.53% in T2, decreased to 3.78% in T4. Similarly, ether extract (fat) was lowest (0.39%) in T4. Carbohydrates were substantially reduced from 55.44% in T1 to 40.94% in T4, indicating microbial utilization during fermentation. Mineral analysis revealed that T3 was most effective for enrichment, increasing Potassium to 314.60 mg/100g and Zinc to 1.82 mg/100g, while higher volumes (T4) led to leaching of Phosphorus (25.72 mg/100g). Physically, the treated cobs exhibited a softer texture and a characteristic vinegar-like aroma, indicating successful fermentation.The study concludes that ensiling maize cobs with a moderate volume (250ml) of wood ash extract (T3) optimally enhances the mineral profile and induces beneficial fermentation, presenting a practical strategy for valorizing this agro-waste into a valuable feed resource for smallholder farmers in Nigeria.

This study investigated the chemical composition and some mineral properties of maize cobs ensiled with wood ash extract fortified with molasses. The study aimed to determine the effect of soaking durations and additive combination on the proximate and mineral composition of maize cob silage. Six treatments were used, comprising ordinary dried ground maize cobs (control), maize soaked in only water, maize soaked in 500 ml of wood ash for three days, maize soaked in 500 ml of wood ash for seven days, maize soaked in 500 ml of wood ash and molasses for three days, and maize soaked in 500 ml of wood ash and molasses for seven days. Samples of these differently treated maize cobs were analyzed for moisture content, dry matter content, crude protein, crude fat, ash, crude fiber, carbohydrate, and selected minerals such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, and sodium. The results showed that the inclusion of wood ash extract and molasses, as well as prolonged soaking duration, had significant effects (p < 0.05) on the chemical and mineral composition of the maize cob silage. Moisture, ash, and mineral contents increased with the addition of wood ash extract and molasses, while crude protein, fat, and carbohydrate showed slight decreases as fermentation progressed. The highest ash (6.53%), calcium (188.30 mg/100g), potassium (578.10 mg/100g), and sodium (99.91 mg/100g) contents were recorded in maize soaked in 500 ml wood ash and molasses for seven days, while the control recorded the least mineral enrichment.

This study investigated the chemical composition and some mineral properties of maize cobs ensiled with wood ash extract fortified with molasses. The study aimed to determine the effect of soaking durations and additive combination on the proximate and mineral composition of maize cob silage. Six treatments were used, comprising ordinary dried ground maize cobs (control), maize soaked in only water, maize soaked in 500 ml of wood ash for three days, maize soaked in 500 ml of wood ash for seven days, maize soaked in 500 ml of wood ash and molasses for three days, and maize soaked in 500 ml of wood ash and molasses for seven days. Samples of these differently treated maize cobs were analyzed for moisture content, dry matter content, crude protein, crude fat, ash, crude fiber, carbohydrate, and selected minerals such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, and sodium. The results showed that the inclusion of wood ash extract and molasses, as well as prolonged soaking duration, had significant effects (p < 0.05) on the chemical and mineral composition of the maize cob silage. Moisture, ash, and mineral contents increased with the addition of wood ash extract and molasses, while crude protein, fat, and carbohydrate showed slight decreases as fermentation progressed. The highest ash (6.53%), calcium (188.30 mg/100g), potassium (578.10 mg/100g), and sodium (99.91 mg/100g) contents were recorded in maize soaked in 500 ml wood ash and molasses for seven days, while the control recorded the least mineral enrichment. The increase in mineral content indicates that wood ash extract served as a good mineral fortifier, while molasses enhanced fermentation and nutrient stability. Prolonged soaking improved nutrient diffusion and fermentation efficiency, resulting in better silage quality. The combination of wood ash extract and molasses for seven days proved to be the most effective treatment, producing silage with improved nutritional and mineral composition suitable for livestock feed. This study concludes that maize cobs can be effectively converted into nutritionally valuable and mineralrich silage through ensiling with wood ash extract fortified with molasses, thereby providing a cost-effective and sustainable feed resource for livestock production.