Physicochemical and microbial properties of total mix ration silage treated with different levels of chitosan Available to Purchase

Silage is one method of preserving feed or fodder through an ensilage process. Some additives are ordinarily used in the production of silage to improve product quality. This research aimed to evaluate the optimum level of chitosan administration to improve the quality of the total mix ration (TMR) silage. This research was arranged on Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five treatments and six replications. The treatments are SA (TMR silage with distilled water control, 0% chitosan), SB (TMR silage with 1% acetic acid control, 0% chitosan), SC (TMR silage with 0.5% chitosan diluted in 1% acetic acid), SD (TMR silage with 1% chitosan diluted in 1% acetic acid) and SE (TMR silage with 1.5% chitosan diluted in 1% acetic acid). The variables studied were physical quality, nutrient content, and microbial count of TMR silage. SD treatment (1% chitosan addition) has the highest lactic acid bacteria count among other treatments (P<0.05), without any significant differences in the population of clostridia bacteria (P>0.05). Nevertheless, SE treatment (1.5% chitosan addition) reduce weight loss percentage among other treatment (P<0.05), and enhance nutrient quality and Fleigh point (P<0.05). Chitosan addition to TMR silage improves the quality of chitosan, especially in its nutritional quality and microbial properties. While there is no significant difference of chitosan addition on TMR silage in the physical quality of chitosan. Administration of 1-1.5% chitosan improves the nutritional quality and microbial properties of chitosan, without changing the physical quality of TMR silage.