Ensiling characteristics of daikon (Raphanus sativus) by-product and its potential as an animal feed resource

Ensiling of the by-product of daikon or Oriental radish (Raphanus sativus), a popular root vegetable in East Asia, as a viable preservation method and potential animal feed resource was investigated. Two separate experiments were carried out: the first involved a study of the chemical and some intrinsic pre-ensiling characteristics of daikon as a prelude to ensiling of daikon by-product. The high moisture content of daikon by-product was adjusted first with wheat straw as a sole absorbent and inoculated with or without Lactobacillus plantarum (LP), a lactic acid culture, the monitoring of fermentation products and microbial development in the silages with days in ensilage and the study of the aerobic stability after 6 days. The second investigated the use of dried beet pulp, bean stalks and husks and wheat bran as alternate in-silo effluent absorbents followed by silage intake and preference test with sheep. While ensiling daikon with or without LP produced well fermented silage, a major limitation is the high effluent production and consequent nutrient losses; incorporation with dry materials is sine qua non for its preservation by ensilage. Silages were stable after 4 days of aerobic exposure but began to deteriorate after 5 days especially with daikon added with the wheat straw absorbent. Wheat straw retained effluent most followed by bean stalks and husks, and dried beet pulp in that order, while wheat bran showed poor effluent retention capacity. Dried beet pulp/daikon mixture silage was best in terms of feed intake and preference.