Using Dried Soybean Curd Residue to Improve the Quality and Inhibit the Effluent of Stylo Silage

In tropical and subtropical regions, stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis) is a main silage material, but there are some problems like poor fermentation quality and effluent production during ensiling due to its high-moisture content after harvest. This study aimed to investigate the impact of incorporating dried soybean curd residue (SR) into high-moisture stylo at different percentages (0%, 3%, 6%, or 9% of fresh grass weight) to silage production. The findings revealed that adding SR, even at a 3% rate, significantly enhanced the fermentation quality and aerobic stability, and reduced the protein degradation during ensiling, compared with the control (p < 0.01). Effluent production resulted in the losses of dry matter and crude protein during the initial ensiling phase (3-15 days, p < 0.01), while no significant changes occurred during 30-60 days (p > 0.05). Notably, the addition of SR at a 3% rate effectively eliminated effluent production (0.00- vs. 30.4-mL·kg^-1 FM). These results indicate that the inclusion of SR presents a promising and efficient strategy for producing high-quality stylo silage without effluent.