The use of food and agricultural by-products in animal nutrition is gaining attention as a viable strategy to address livestock feed shortages, lower feed costs, and reduce environmental pollution. This study evaluated the fermentation characteristics, nutritional value, and in vitro ruminal digestibility of corn straw silage supplemented with papaya peel at 0 (control), 15, 30, and 45% on a fresh-weight basis. Crude protein content increased significantly at the higher inclusion levels of papaya peel (30% and 45%) compared to the control (p < 0.05). The organic matter and acid detergent fiber contents of papaya peel–treated silages were lower than those of the control silage (p < 0.05). Neutral detergent fiber content was higher in the control and 15% papaya peel–treated silage than in those treated with 30 or 45% papaya peel (p < 0.05). Total digestible nutrients and relative feed values were significantly improved by papaya peel addition compared to the control silage (p < 0.05). Silage with 15% papaya peel had a significantly lower pH and higher lactic and acetic acid contents than the other silages (p < 0.05). Compared with the control silage, papaya peel–treated silages showed higher in vitro ruminal dry matter digestibility, with the 15% treatment showing significantly greater digestibility than that of the control silage (p < 0.05). The control silage had significantly higher H2 production than the papaya peel–treated silage (p < 0.05). Our findings demonstrated that papaya peel addition enhanced fermentation and nutrient digestibility of corn straw silage, with 15% papaya peel inclusion achieving the highest fermentation efficacy and ruminal digestibility.
Citation: Huade Xie, Fanquan Zeng, Li Liang, Jingzhen Li, Xianqing Luo, Fang Xie, Chengjian Yang. Papaya peel enhances fermentation and ruminal digestibility of corn straw silage[J]. AIMS Agriculture and Food, 2025, 10(4): 917-930. doi: 10.3934/agrfood.2025047
The use of food and agricultural by-products in animal nutrition is gaining attention as a viable strategy to address livestock feed shortages, lower feed costs, and reduce environmental pollution. This study evaluated the fermentation characteristics, nutritional value, and in vitro ruminal digestibility of corn straw silage supplemented with papaya peel at 0 (control), 15, 30, and 45% on a fresh-weight basis. Crude protein content increased significantly at the higher inclusion levels of papaya peel (30% and 45%) compared to the control (p < 0.05). The organic matter and acid detergent fiber contents of papaya peel–treated silages were lower than those of the control silage (p < 0.05). Neutral detergent fiber content was higher in the control and 15% papaya peel–treated silage than in those treated with 30 or 45% papaya peel (p < 0.05). Total digestible nutrients and relative feed values were significantly improved by papaya peel addition compared to the control silage (p < 0.05). Silage with 15% papaya peel had a significantly lower pH and higher lactic and acetic acid contents than the other silages (p < 0.05). Compared with the control silage, papaya peel–treated silages showed higher in vitro ruminal dry matter digestibility, with the 15% treatment showing significantly greater digestibility than that of the control silage (p < 0.05). The control silage had significantly higher H2 production than the papaya peel–treated silage (p < 0.05). Our findings demonstrated that papaya peel addition enhanced fermentation and nutrient digestibility of corn straw silage, with 15% papaya peel inclusion achieving the highest fermentation efficacy and ruminal digestibility.
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Huade Xie, Fanquan Zeng, Li Liang, Jingzhen Li, Xianqing Luo, Fang Xie, Chengjian Yang. Papaya peel enhances fermentation and ruminal digestibility of corn straw silage[J]. AIMS Agriculture and Food, 2025, 10(4): 917-930. doi: 10.3934/agrfood.2025047
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