Table 1 Chemical composition and epiphytic microbial populations of fresh napiergrass at two harvest dates

pH

5.91

5.88

DM (g/kg FM)

242^B

282^A

WSC (g/kg DM)

64.5^B

40.1^A

BC (mEq/kg DM)

61.2^A

51.8^B

NDF (g/kg DM)

656^B

691^A

ADF (g/kg DM)

376^B

418^A

CP (g/kg DM)

46.8^A

31.9^B

LAB (Log₁₀ CFU/g FM)

5.11^B

3.92^A

Aerobic bacteria (Log₁₀ CFU/g FM)

6.22^B

9.58^A

Yeasts (Log₁₀ CFU/g FM)

3.77^B

4.41^A

Molds (Log₁₀ CFU/g FM)

3.53

4.06

Enterobacteria (Log₁₀ CFU/g FM)

8.31^A

6.31^B