The mixed silage of maize and dendromass as a potential feed for wild ruminants

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the mixed silage of maize and dendromass – twigs of broadleaf and conifer trees – as palatable feed for wild ruminants, rich in energy and of sufficient structural crude fibre content. In the experiment, we compared nutrient content of the M1 feed mixture (70 % maize + 30 % Dendro 1) and the M2 feed mixture (70 % maize + 30 % Dendro 2). Two variants of dendromass were used in the feed mixtures: Dendro 1 (75 % oak twigs, 25 % spruce twigs) and Dendro 2 (50 % oak twigs, 50 % spruce twigs). Spruce and oak twigs had higher dry matter content than maize. This was reflected also in the ensilaged mixtures made by combining maize and dendromass, in which the dry matter content was higher by 34.16 and 58.31 g per kilogram of fresh feed than in maize due to the addition of dendromass. Concentrations of crude protein and saccharides matched the character of the feed and were lower in the mixture of maize and dendromass compared to maize. As the crude fibre content in dendromass was 367.25 and 345.65 g.kg-1 of dry matter and the entire fibre complex content was significantly higher than in maize, a significant increase in the content of all components of the fibre complex was determined. Fermentation process in the maize silage was more intense compared to mixture silages of maize and dendromass. It can be recommended to use the silage production of such mixtures to wild ruminant keepers in winter and at higher crude protein content also in summer. This method of biological protection of forests provides the necessary nutrients to the wild ruminants. Utilization of dendromass as feed is also considered as a partial recycling of logging waste.