Preparation and evaluation of cattle feed by ensiling wet rice straw, market fish waste and molasses

The research was intended to produce cattle feed with wet rice straw processed with market fish wastes (MFW) and fermented with 5% molasses to enhance the storage quality and nutrients of rice straw. Feeds were placed in plastic drums and sealed properly. The preparation was completed under room temperature following T0 (0% MFW), T1 (5% MFW), T2 (10% MFW), and T3 (15% MFW) to examine the physical qualities, metabolizable Energy (ME), in vitro organic matter digestibility (OMD) and other nutritional properties, at different intervals (0, 30, 45, and 60 days). The organoleptic and physical characteristics (smell, color, and hardness) of feeds were improved in treatments with market fish wastes up to 60 days but after 45 days, in T3, fungi and some bad smells were obtained. The pH, dry matter (DM), crude fiber (CF) were reduced and the crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), ash, ME, OMD were elevated significantly with MFW and ensiling time (P< 0.05). Comparing the parameters, T2 and T3 were preferable to prepare silages as cattle feed. Finally, it can be summed up that market fish waste is a valuable resource for the preservation of rice straw which provides farmers with cheap and environmentally friendly cattle feed.