MICROBIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTIC AND FERMENTABILITY OF KING GRASS (Pennisetum hybrid) SILAGE TREATED BY LACTIC ACID BACTERIA-YEAST INOCULANTS CONSORTIUM COMBINED WITH RICE BRAN ADDITION

This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of inoculants consortium consisted of Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc) and combined with rice bran addition on microbiological characteristic and fermentability of king grass (Pennisetum hybrid) silage. Effectivity of treatments was assessed by addition of inoculants (control, Lp, Lp+Sc) and level of rice bran (0, 5 and 10%) which were arranged on Completely Randomized Design with Teatments Factors (3x3). The variables measured were total colonies of microbes (lactic acid bacteria, yeast and clostridia), total gas production, volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammonia (NH3). Results showed that clostridial colonies counted on silage treated by Lp and Lp+Sc around 37.5% and 68.7% in which lower than control. Addition of inoculants and rice bran increased fermentability of silage significantly (P<0.05), however treatment had no affected (P>0.05) on production of VFA and NH3. Gas production from silage fermentable fraction with inoculation of Lp (49.5 ml) and Lp+Sc (47.9 ml) higher than untreated silage (46.6 ml). It was concluded that the use of inoculants consortium consisted of L. plantarum and S. cerevisiae with rice bran addition improved fermentability and reduced clostridial colony in king grass silage.