Professor Kavita Waghray has completed her graduation and post - graduation in Foods and Nutrition from Maharaja Sayaji Rao University, Vadodara. She was awarded PhD from Andhra Pradesh Agriculture University, Hyderabad. Her post-Doctoral work was on Street Foods and was recipient of FAO fellowship done at the National Institute of Nutrition, ICMR, Hyderabad. After this she joined University College of Technology as Assistant professor and superannuated as Senior Professor in july2022. Dr Kavita Waghray &nbsp;has held various Academic and Administrative positions&nbsp; such as &nbsp;Dean Faculty of Pharmacy, Dean Faculty of Technology, Head&nbsp; Department of Pharmacy, Head Food Technology department, &nbsp;Chairperson - &nbsp;BOS in Pharm-D &amp;&nbsp; in Food Technology in Osmania University and has been on the board of other universities and has contributed to their growth. 
Prof. Waghray is recipient of various honours and awards for her research work. She has visited USA for training in extrusion technology in the Kansas State University and also travelled to Sweden for paper presentation. 
Under her guidance several students have been awarded M. Tech (15) and PhD degrees in Nutrition and Food Technology (15) and she continues to guide more students towards their degrees. She has published several (more than 60) research papers in National and International journals and authored one book besides contributing several chapters in other books (4). 
Dr Waghray is also the recipient of grants from&nbsp; &nbsp;UGC, AICTE and DST for her research work. She is being invited to deliver guest lecturers in various Universities besides giving lectures during seminars and training programs. 
Prof Kavita Waghray is a Member, Fellow and Executive Committee Member in Academic Bodies and Professional Societies; has also organized several cultural events, delivered radio talks and has been a guest faculty in other institutions. As a part of Social Responsibility she has contributed to the cause of under privileged in various organisations. Presently she is serving in Loyola Academy.

Dr. Kavita Waghray is joined as Esteemed reviewer

Prof J W Ng&rsquo;ambi is now employed as a Distinguished Professor at the University of South Africa, in South Africa. Previously, he worked at the University of Zambia (Zambia), National University of Lesotho (Lesotho) and University of Limpopo (South Africa). Prof Ng&rsquo;ambi holds a BSc (University of Zambia, Zambia), an MSc (University of Aberdeen, UK) and a PhD (University of London, UK). Prof Ng&rsquo;ambi is a C2&nbsp;National Research Foundation-Rated researcher (A South African Research Rating System). His specialization is in animal nutrition. The focus of his research is on improving non-ruminant and ruminant productivity through better nutrition and management practices. This involves, mainly, determination of dietary nutrient levels for optimal productivity of livestock. He is also involved in studies aimed at utilization of tanniniferous feeds to reduce production and emission of methane in ruminant animals. Prof Ng&rsquo;ambi is good at sourcing funds for research. Thus, over the years, his research has been supported by funding from many agencies, including Vlaamse Interuniversitaire Raad-Institutional University Cooperation programme (VLIR-IUC Programme) which is a partnership programme between Flemish Universities and University of Limpopo, European Community, National Research Foundation, Southern African Centre for Co-operation in Agricultural Research, African Technology Policy Studies Network, etc. Based on his expertise, he is a reviewer for several powerful and internationally recognised journals. Prof Ng&rsquo;ambi has published 150 articles in accredited journals with high impact factors. He has also published one book and three book chapters. Prof Ng&rsquo;ambi has so far supervised to completion 12 PhD and 58 MSc students.

Dr. Jones Wilfred Ng’ambi is joined as Esteemed reviewer

Dr. Khangembam Sangeeta Devi, a graduate from the College of Veterinary Science &amp; Animal Husbandry Mathura and completed M.V.Sc. in Veterinary Surgery and Radiology from Ranchi Veterinary College. Dr Sangeeta started her career as Teaching Associate in the Department of Veterinary Surgery &amp; Radiology, College of Veterinary Science &amp; Animal Husbandry, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (UP) in 2006 and continued up to 2013. Presently she is working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Veterinary Surgery &amp; Radiology, College of Veterinary Science &amp; Animal Husbandry, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (UP) since 2013. Dr Sangeeta published 03 textbooks, 23 book chapters in national and international books and 76 research/clinical articles in different peer reviewed international and national journals. She is the recipient of many prestigious awards like young scientist award, distinguished scientist award from reputed societies. She is working on the development of biomaterials from animal and plant origin. Dr. Devi coined the terms Muffloschisis and Muffloplasty, and developed a technique of Intravenous Regional Anethesia in large ruminants. She is the life member of U.P. Veterinary Council and Indian Society for Veterinary Surgery.

Dr. Khangembam Sangeeta Devi is joined as Esteemed reviewer

Dr. Devina Seram&nbsp;is currently working as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Entomology, School of Agriculture, LPU. She completed her Ph.D. (Agricultural Entomology) from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore with DST-INSPIRE fellowship, post-graduation (M.Sc. in Agricultural Entomology) from College of Post Graduate Studies (Umiam), Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal, Manipur and graduated from Assam Agricultural University with distinction. She was a recipient of CAU Merit Scholarship and Gold Medallist in her master&rsquo;s degree. She has qualified ICAR-AIEEA-PG, ICAR-SRF-(PGS) and ICAR-ASRB-NET. She has also received several awards in her field of expertise including National Dedication Day Award, Excellence in Research Award, Young Scientist Award, Best Poster Presentation and few others. She is an active reviewer for scopus indexed journals like Journal of Stored Products Research, Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, Indian Journal of Entomology, PloS One, Trends in Sciences, etc. Her research specialization and interests include host plant resistance (at molecular level), insect resistance bioassay, storage entomology, molecular biology, insect nutrition and artificial diet. She has several research papers, review papers, book chapters and popular articles to her publication credit, attended several workshops, conferences and seminars. She has guided six masters&rsquo; students and currently guiding two students including one Ph.D. scholar.

Dr. Devina Seram is joined as Esteemed reviewer

It is really becoming a challenging task for the agriculturist regarding food security for burgeoning global population. Escalation of green house gases and amplified climate system fluctuation has resulted in upsurge of extreme weather related anomalies. As a consequence, &nbsp;there is a paradigm shift in weed flora, resistant, resurgence in pest panorama, disease infestation, pathogenicity, development of super weed etc.&nbsp; It is high time for planning concerted, judicious, prudent farming system management strategies alleviating climate anomalies and fostering global agricultural research perspective and soil and climate resilient agriculture for sustainable agricultural development. Structural equation modeling in diversified cropping system, conservation agriculture on the backdrop of shrinking resource base can ensure preserving bio-diversity, energetic in crop production. Robotics, drone technology, ICT based agricultural system is becoming very relevant and imminent for developing vision for future agriculture. 
 
 
 
Newly developed stress indices to evaluate the impact of stresses on crop and ecology and evolving mitigation strategies is of utmost importance. Heavy metal contamination in soil and agro-ecosystem that pose potential threat need to be addressed with recent advances in research of phytoremediation, microbial remediation, cation interaction, soil washing and other related relevant aspect. 
 
 
 
Crop improvement strategies encompassing researches on bio-technology, genomics, proteomics, biofortication is becoming indispensable for alleviating nutrition deficiencies and ensuring global food security. 
 
There should be special focus on research on plant protection sector under the perspective of global climate change to reduce crop production loss even post harvest losses for planning nextgen Agriculture. &nbsp;Crop simulation modeling for forecasting in crop production, precision agriculture, planning on farm production economics for crop budgeting , market led extension for food security must the future vision of agricultural research. Indian Journal Of Agricultural Research represent cutting edge researches on multi-disciplinary approaches on recent development of agricultural research that provide plethora of information to the academicians, scientists, agriculturist and other stake holder that help in future planning of agricultural research and even agricultural policy related issues. 
 
 
 
 
 
Executive Editorial Board Member&nbsp; 
(Indian Journal of Agricultural Research) 
Dr Ashim Midya
<div>Director</div>

<div>Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal, INDIA</div>

Reflecting Thoughts on the Importance of Agricultural Research, Vision for the Future in Present Scenario

The great progress in agriculture is due to rapid increase in the utilization of science and the results of scientific research as a source of information and guidance in improving crop husbandary.&nbsp;Research is necessary to solve the problems in different crops.&nbsp;Research results from agricultural research and dessimination of the technologies may help in linking farmers to science and modern agriculture&nbsp;.&nbsp;Research in agriculture resulted in remarkable increase in productivity in different crops.The benefits of research will not only useful to the grower but also to all the stakeholders including the consumer.Scientific interventions and technological advances improve the crop yields and national economy. To ensure continued efficiency and high returns in agricultural &nbsp;research requires close linkages between science-oriented research and technology-oriented research is essential. Research in new technologies&nbsp; like transgenics, molecular breeding, nano technology, drone technology, new methods in post harvest technology, Precision farming technologies, Artificial intelligence etc. have tremendous&nbsp; benefits. The new discoveries and continuous introduction of new methods would place research in higher plane.

&nbsp;

Editorial Board Member 
(Indian Journal of Agricultural Research) 
Dr T. Susila 
Senior Scientist 
Banana Research Station Dr YSR Horticultural University Pulivendula

Thoughts on Agricultural Research

The agriculture of the future is seen as an integrated system that combines biotechnology, agroecology, sustainability and advanced automation to optimize food production in an environmentally responsible manner. Biotechnology will allow the development of crops that are more resistant to pests and diseases, as well as improving their nutritional value. Agroecology will promote production systems that respect natural cycles and biodiversity. Sustainability will ensure efficient use of natural resources, such as water and soil, minimizing environmental impact. Finally, advanced automation, through the use of robotics, artificial intelligence and data analysis, will optimize agricultural work, increasing productivity and reducing the need for labor 
&nbsp;
<h2>Executive Editorial Board Member 
(Indian Journal of Agricultural Research) 
 
Dr.&nbsp;Jorge Eric Ruiz Nieto 
Profesor 
Ex Hacienda El Copal. Km. 9 Carretera Irapuato - Silao, MEXICO</h2>

Future of Agriculture

As an agricultural scientist, I am excited to share insights into the remarkable advancements shaping the future of agriculture for the special issue of the Indian Journal of Agricultural Research. The innovative research across diverse fields, including plant breeding, soil science, and agricultural economics, all of which are crucial for addressing global challenges such as food security and climate resilience.

Agricultural research plays a pivotal role in enhancing productivity and sustainability. Advances in genetics and biotechnology are paving the way for resilient crop varieties that can withstand pests and climate variability. Additionally, innovative agronomic practices are being developed to optimize resource use, minimizing environmental impact while maximizing yield.

Looking ahead, we must foster interdisciplinary collaboration and harness emerging technologies, such as precision agriculture and data analytics. These tools can drive informed decision-making and empower farmers worldwide.

I encourage our readers to engage with the innovative studies present in this Journal, as it lays the foundation for a sustainable agricultural future. By collaborating, we can enhance our understanding and implement practices that serve the well-being of both the environment and humanity. 
 
Executive Editorial Board Member 
(Indian Journal of Agricultural Research)

Dr. P. D. Abeytilakarathna 
Deputy Director (Research) 
Agricultural Research Station, Department of Agriculture 
Seetha Eliya, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Shaping The Future of Agriculture

<div>Agriculture now stands at the threshold of groundbreaking discoveries and new technologies to ensure higher productivity to the farmers and healthy nutritious diets to the consumers. And in this movement India is not lagging behind, rather it is strongly marching ahead to meet the requirements of its teeming millions with quality food, feed, fuel, fibre following self sufficiency in the food grain production. This has become possible only because of systematic research and in-depth studies on different facets of agriculture like food and food safety, nutrition, climate change, sustainable use of natural resources, farming systems, start ups, agricultural education and workforce development to mention a few resulting in the optimization of agricultural production and resource management. This in turn has promised to usher in an era of sustainability and resilience in our farming sector. Use of drones, robotics, satellite data and AI (Artificial Intelligence) have further strengthened these efforts. However, since it is a continuous process, a lot more is further required to be done to keep pace with the progress in order to face the challenge of sustaining this development.</div>

<div> 
<div>
<div>Board Member 
(Indian Journal of Agricultural Research) 
Dr.&nbsp;Avijit Sen 
Professor 
&nbsp;Institute of Agriculture Science, BHU, Varanasi, (U.P.) INDIA</div>
</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>
</div>

Agriculture Now Stands at the Threshold of Groundbreaking Discoveries and New Technologies

INTRODUCTION 
Due to urbanization, cultural shifts, and societal modification, India&#39;s eating habits and culinary techniques have drastically changed in the previous several years. Owing to the demands of a busy lifestyle, consumers favored quick cooking and simple, low-time cooking techniques. In India, the already-prepared food items marketplace was estimated to be worth 260 million in 2018 and is projected to reach 648 million by twenty-three with a compound annual growth rate of more than 16%.&nbsp; Because there are so many fast foods on the market and because people are drawn to fresh, simple-to-prepare products, the way that contemporary individuals live and behave has changed in relation to prepared for consumption foods (Alvarez et al., 2020). 
 
After the research in our labs, I have found out that the food products in the market are not so healthy and nutritious as they are marketed to be. Ready to eat food products lose the nutritional content while processing. This is one aspect that inspired me to develop food products which require minimal processing and are ready to eat. This can save time, and people can get the nutrition as their body requires. 
 
RESEARCH JOURNEY AND BACKGROUND 
When we started the development of food products eight years back, the need to register patents and copyrights was felt. But I was discouraged to know that food products were not considered under patenting. The novel food products that we develop require protection in terms of Intellectual Property Rights. Then, after a lot of struggles I was able to convince our legal team that patents and copyrights are possible in Food and Nutrition. 
 
I will share the story of my first food product that was developed, and the patent was granted later. We had prepared Noodles which were nutritious and healthy. The present invention provides nutritional noodles developed from Sweet Potato (Ipomoes batatas), Rice flakes (Oryzae sativa) and Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) flour with sensory evaluation. All these flours are of high nutritive value i.e.&nbsp; good source of Proteins, Iron, Calcium and Folic acid. Sweet potatoes are good source of pro vitamin A and C. Rice flakes are rich sources of carbohydrates, proteins and Iron. The third ingredient Chickpea is a good source of vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, folate and the vitamin A precursor, &beta;-carotene. The process involved blanching, drying, pressing, soaking, grinding, sieving and extruding. 
 
The ratio of sweet potato flour: Rice flakes flour: Chickpea flour, 20:40:40 , 30:35:35 , 40:30:30, 50:25:25 and 60:20:20 is used for getting the best product made out the available combinations. 
&nbsp;
@table1 
 
@table2&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
@table3 
 
One more step is added in figure no.1 i.e. blanching&nbsp;Oxalates and Trypsin Inhibitor activity which are anti nutritional factors are reduced to bare minimum while making of the noodles. The noodles were of high nutritive value i.e. good sources of Proteins, Iron, Calcium and Folic acid. The food testing was carried out by following AOAC 2005 methods. 
Ready to Eat snacks have been the main draw for consumers in the fastest-growing food category over the past five years. These food products attracted more attention from consumers because of their appealing qualities, affordable pricing, flavor, texture, appearance, etc (Patel et al., 2020). 
 
Conclusion and take aways 
 
In the past ten years, we have developed many food products and got them patented and registered copyrights. So, food researchers can get the patents for their novel food products which are industry ready. This is an excellent example of Industry and Academia collaboration. Furthermore, highlighting my research, we have filed / published/ granted eighteen patents and Six copyrights are registered so far. The food products developed by me and my team at Amity University Haryana include noodles, chips, nachos, ready to eat soups, ready to eat pancakes, pickles, muffins and many more 
 
@figure1 
@figure2 
@figure3 
@figure4

<h1>References </h1>

&Aacute;lvarez-Pato, V.M.; S&aacute;nchez, C.N.; Dom&iacute;nguez-Soberanes, J.; M&eacute;ndoza-P&eacute;rez, D.E.; Vel&aacute;zquez, R. A Multisensor Data Fusion Approach for Predicting Consumer Acceptance of Food Products.&nbsp;Foods&nbsp;2020,&nbsp;9, 774. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9060774 
 
Ashok R Patel, Reed A Nicholson, Alejandro G Marangoni, Applications of fat mimetics for the replacement of saturated and hydrogenated fat in food products, Current Opinion in Food Science. Volume 33, 2020, Pages 61-68,ISSN 2214-7993, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cofs.2019.12.008. 
 
 
Dr. Luxita&nbsp;Sharma , Ph.D. 
Associate Professor &amp; Head 
Amity Medical School and&nbsp; 
Dept. of Dietetics and Applied Nutrition 
Amity University, Gurgaon, Haryana 
&nbsp;
 
&nbsp;

 Figure 1 : Nutritional composition and sensory evaluation 
of noodles developed from ipomoea batatas,
 oryza sativa and cicer arietinum flour


Figure 2 : A Method for Preparing Apple Sugar

Figure 3 :Probiotic bread spread and its method thereof

Figure 4 : A method of preparation of Natural Antacid from Musa balbisiana and Citrus limetta 

Nutritious Food Product Development – A Journey towards Patenting

Table 2 . Cooking Properties of Noodles  

Table no.3 : Oxalate and Phytic acid content of Sample D 

Throughout my relatively short research career, the majority of my work has been centred on agricultural studies involving farm animals, primarily focusing on improving animal growth performance, reproductive performance, disease resistance, meat quality, and offspring quality by developing novel alternatives to antibiotics feed additives. I am deeply grateful for the guidance and support of Desheng Li and In Ho Kim professors during this time. However, after completing my Ph.D., I made the decision to shift away from agriculture-focused research and pursue a career in medical research. This transition was motivated by a variety of factors, but most notably by a growing sense that the sacrifices made by animals in agricultural research often lacked broader significance or impact. 
 
 
Pigs, as one of the most widely used research objectives in agriculture, are primarily studied due to the global demand for pork. This demand drives researchers to explore all possible methods to enhance those performances. However, agricultural studies often neglect a critical aspect: pigs&rsquo; physiological and anatomical similarities to humans. This oversight represents a missed opportunity for leveraging agricultural research to inform medical studies, as pigs could serve as superior models to traditional laboratory animals such as mice and rats. 
 
 
To illustrate, consider the research on herbal feed additives as the alternatives to antibiotics commonly conducted in agricultural research. These studies are typically designed to evaluate the additives&rsquo; effects on pig health, growth, or reproduction, with little regard for their potential implications for human health. Yet, such experiments could easily incorporate toxicity studies or assessments of bioactive compounds that are directly relevant to medical research. The data generated from these studies could not only enhance the scientific value of agricultural research but also contribute significantly to the development of human medicine. For example, certain herbal additives shown to improve immune function or reduce inflammation in pigs could be explored as potential nutraceuticals or pharmaceuticals for humans. 
 
 
From an experimental standpoint, pigs offer unparalleled advantages over rodents for translational research. Their cardiovascular system, metabolic processes, and even skin characteristics are closer to humans than those of mice or rats. By integrating agricultural and medical research efforts, it is possible to reduce redundancy, optimize the use of experimental animals, and generate more meaningful data that benefits multiple fields. This approach aligns with the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) in animal research ethics, promoting better welfare outcomes while enhancing scientific output. 
 
 
Despite these advantages, significant challenges persist. In private discussions with medical researchers, I have learned that they often encounter barriers when attempting to conduct experiments involving pigs. These challenges include limited access to pigs, financial constraints due to the higher costs associated with using pigs compared to rodents, and logistical issues such as the need for larger spaces and stricter environmental controls to accommodate pigs. These issues underscore the need for more structured collaboration between agricultural and medical researchers. Agricultural research institutions often have the infrastructure and expertise, while medical research labs bring valuable perspectives on human health and disease. By pooling resources and expertise, these two fields could overcome existing obstacles and foster a mutually beneficial partnership. 
Interdisciplinary collaboration offers significant advantages not only from the perspective of scientific research but also in terms of professional development for researchers. For agricultural scientists, aligning their studies with medical research goals can broaden the scope and impact of their work, opening up new funding opportunities and career paths. For medical researchers, collaboration with agricultural experts can provide access to animal models and data that enhance the translational relevance of their findings. 
 
 
Furthermore, such collaborations could lead to the development of dual-purpose research projects that simultaneously address agricultural challenges and medical questions. For example, studies on optimizing pig gut health could explore microbiome interventions that are relevant to both animal productivity and human conditions like inflammatory bowel disease. Similarly, research on improving disease resistance in pigs could inform vaccine development strategies applicable to both veterinary and human medicine. 
 
 
In conclusion, leveraging agricultural research on monogastric mammals, particularly pigs, to advance medical studies represents a promising pathway for interdisciplinary collaboration. By designing experiments that address both agricultural and medical objectives, researchers can maximize the value of their work while contributing to broader scientific and societal goals. I encourage researchers in both fields to actively seek opportunities for collaboration, fostering a more integrated approach to scientific inquiry that benefits not only agriculture and medicine but also the welfare of the animals involved. 
 
De Xin Dang 
Department of Endocrinology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang 441021, China 
The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510120, China 
&nbsp;

Leveraging Agricultural Research on Monogastric Mammals to Advance Medical Studies A Path to Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Abstract:

<div>The field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of doom palm and cane sugar molasses on physical and chemical qualities of ensiled Napier grass. A total of fifteen (15) polyehene bags were used for the silage making. The bags were allocated to treatments at five bags per treatment and each bag serves as replicate. T1 as control (ensiled Napier grass without molasses), T2 (ensiled Napier grass with cane sugar molasses) and T3 (ensiled Napier grass with doum palm molasses). Both molasses (doum palm and cane sugar) was diluted with at one liter per four liters of water while the poultry litter was diluted at fifteen-kilogram (15kg) per thirty (30) litres of water which was used at 5% for both types of molasses (doum palm and cane sugar) were diluted while the poultry litter at 15% inclusion level. The Napier grass was harvested and chopped into 2-3 inches and the molasses, and the poultry litter was sprinkled on the ensiled material and compressed into polythene bags and allowed to stand for 21 days. Exactly at 21 days, the polythene bags were opened and physical parameters such as pH, odour, texture, colour and temperature were recorded. A sample was equally collected from each treatment for proximate analysis. The result obtained revealed that the physical qualities of doum palm treated ensiled Napier grass is comparable with that of cane sugar molasses treated ensiled Napier grass and superior to control treatment. The result further reveals that the CP and NFE (9.54% and 47.54%) of doum palm molasses treated Napier grass were better than cane sugar molasses (8.92% and 46.42%) and control (8.57% and 43.07%). However, the CP values were above the minimum maintenance requirement of 7.5% CP for ruminants. In conclusion, the inclusion of doum palm molasses improved the physical characteristics and chemical composition of the ensiled Napier grass and can replace cane sugar molasses as additive in ensiled Napier grass. 
 
Introduction 
Feed resources for ruminant livestock production in the developing countries such as Nigeria normally are natural grass or forage crops, natural pastures and natural feeding has increased rapidly due to its high yielding properties, relatively high energy content, palatability and easy incorporation in total ration (TMR) or total mixed block (TMB) (1,2).&nbsp; 
The concept of adding a doom palm molasses is to improve the soluble carbohydrate content of the Napier grass to provide optimum energy requirement of both the animal and rumen microbes for better microbial digestion in rumen and when fed to ruminant livestock improve performance such as meat and milk production (3).&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) can yield more crude protein to meet above maintenance requirement. This grass requires lower inputs and easier to establish than corn and can be a good alternative, especially in production situations that require consistent nutrition on a daily basis. It is for this reason that two silage additives will be tested to find out the effectiveness of preserving the quality of Napier Grass and its effects on growth of sheep (2). 
&nbsp; 
Molasses is one of the feed additives that enhance utilization of unpalatable crop residues and also serves as a good source of soluble carbohydrate. Nowadays, due to competition between the livestock farmers and brewery industry it has now become unaffordable to livestock farmers. Hence, there is a need for developing cane sugar molasses substitute (3,4).&nbsp; 
Objective 
The main objective of this study is to produce doom palm treated Napier grass silage that can replace the popular cane sugar molasses Napier grass silage. The specific objectives are to:
<ol>
	<li style="text-align:justify">Produce doum palm and cane sugar-based Napier grass silages.</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">Determine the physical characteristics of&nbsp;doum palm and cane sugar molasses treated Napier grass silage.</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">Assess the proximate composition and pH of the silage produced.</li>
</ol>
Materials and Method 
1 Experimental Site 
The Livestock Unit of the Department of farming system research, Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria, was the location of the experiment. The semi-arid region lies in West Africa&#39;s Sahel zone, which is renowned for its extreme weather and seasonal variations. The area is characterized by a lengthy dry season that lasts from October to May, and a brief wet season that typically lasts from June to September. The warmest months of the year are March, April, and May while the temperature drops significantly during the harmattan months, which takes place between October and February. Extreme temperatures of 43&deg;C and 20&deg;C have been seen in June. August has a relative humidity of roughly 45%, while the drier months of December and January have a relative humidity of roughly 5% (5). 
 
2 Experimental Design 
The experiment consists of three (3) treatments laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and each treatment allotted with 5 bags serves as replicate making fifteen (15) bags. 
 
3 Doum palm molasses and poultry litter preparation 
The doum palm molasses was prepared by 1kg doum palm pulp covered in a 3 litter water and put to boiling for 30 minutes and allowed to cool for about an two hours sieving with sieve size of about 50u and 150 x 100mm size was used. The sieved doom palm molasses was reboiled to attained similar viscosity with cane sugar molasses while sugarcane molasses was obtained from Numan Savana sugar industry, Adamawa state which served as control. 
Poultry dropping was source from Maiduguri poultry production unit (PPU). The litter was properly sundried, ground and sieved to remove the bedding material from the poultry litter. Poultry litter was dissolved in water at the rate of 15kg per 30 liters of water. 
 
4 Silage Making 
Napier grass was cut at the Lake Chad Research Institute Maiduguri, pasture farm. Doum palm was sourced from Baga market, Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria. The Napier grass was wilted for 24 hours and chopped to 3 &ndash; 5 cm. The chopped Napier grass and doom palm molasses were mixed at the rates of 1 liter per 5 liters of water while the molasses of same dilution rate to come up with three treatments plus control (Table 1), compressed and poured into polythene bags and allowed to stand for 21 days. At 21 days ensiling, the polythene bags were opened and physical parameters such as pH, temperature, texture, odour and appearance were observed as described by (6). Table 1 displays the proportions in percentage terms. 
@table1 
 
Results and Discussion 
 
Physical characteristics of the silages 
The physical characteristics of Napier grass silage is presented in Table 1. There was a difference in odour, temperature, and pH among the treatments. The silage from T2 and T3 had the same olive-green appearance and was characterized with a very pleasant odour and firm texture. The green olive appearance and firm texture of the silage observed in T2 and T3 is an indication of good quality silage which could be attributed to application of doum palm and cane sugar molasses as a source of soluble carbohydrate. Temperature observed across the treatments in this study was within the ranged (26.1 to 29.1ᶱc). Temperature of silage above 30ᶱc could be result to silage with dark appearance because of caramelization of soluble carbohydrates in the ensiled material. The pH values ranged (3.40 to 5.20) are within the recommended pH value of (3.50 to 5.50) for superior quality silage (3). The physical characteristics of Napier grass silage observed in this study agreed with the physical characteristics of different varieties of Napier grass silage reported by (7). The physical quality of Napier grass silage observed in this work agrees with the result reported by (3) on quality of ensiled forage.&nbsp; 
@table2 
 
Proximate composition of Napier grass silage 
The proximate composition of Napier grass silage is presented in Table 1. The &nbsp; result shows that Dry matter content of all the treatments were high, indicating better storage of nutrients in the feeds (8). The results also reveal that doom palm Napier grass molasses silage with the higher (9.54%) crude protein value while cane sugar molasses Napier grass silage had the similar (8.92%) crude protein with control constituted (8.57%) crude protein above maintenance requirement of ruminant animals. The crude protein values obtained in this study were above the critical level of 7.5% requirement for minimum performance of ruminants (9), thus doom palm molasses Napier grass silage could be served as a good supplement to augment the available nutrient. The result further indicates that doom palm molasses had the highest (47.54%) while control had the least NFE. This could be attributed to the addition of doom palm in the silage making. The crude value for doom palm molasses-based silage recorded in this study is higher that the crude protein value reported by (10) for Napier grass silage was 8.55% crude protein.&nbsp;The crude protein obtained in this work was also lower than the crude protein reported by (2) for Napier grass silage. 
@table3 
 
Conclusion 
In conclusion, inclusion of doum palm molasses improved the physical characteristics and chemical composition of the ensiled Napier grass. Therefore, doum palm molasses can successfully replace cane sugar molasses as source of soluble carbohydrate. 
 
References 
Punzalan, J.K.M. and Rosentrater, K.A. (2024). Copra Meal: A Review of Its Production, Properties, and Prospects. Animals (Basel).14(11):1689. doi: 10.3390/ani14111689. PMID: 38891735; PMCID: PMC11171203. 
&nbsp; 
Bureenok, S., Yuangklang, C., Vasupen, K., Schonewille, J.T. and Kawamoto, Y. (2012). The effects of additives in napier grass silages on chemical composition, feed intake, nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation. Asian-Australian Journal of Animal Science; 25(9):1248-54 
&nbsp; 
Lamidi, A. A., and Mbah, C.J. (2022). &quot;Nutritional assessment of ensiled fresh maize stover with different proportions of cassava foliage for sustainable ruminant production.&quot;&nbsp;Nigerian Journal of Animal Science and Technology 5(1): 53-63. 
&nbsp; 
Mordenti, A.L., Giaretta, E., Campidonico, L., Parazza, P, and Formigoni, A.A. (2021). Review Regarding the Use of Molasses in Animal Nutrition. Animals (Basel).11(1):115. doi: 10.3390/ani11010115. PMID: 33430515; PMCID: PMC7827330. 
&nbsp; 
Adamu, B., Surayya A., Dapellum, A.U., Furo, Y.A., and Muhammed, U.A. (2024). Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Histological Indices of White Fulani (Bunaji) Bull Yearling Calves Fed Graded Levels of Urea and Molasses Ensiled Rice Straw Supplemented with Maize Offal&nbsp;&nbsp; and&nbsp;&nbsp; Cowpea&nbsp;&nbsp; Husk. European&nbsp;&nbsp; Journal&nbsp;&nbsp; of&nbsp;&nbsp; Ecology, Biology&nbsp;&nbsp; and&nbsp;&nbsp; Agriculture, 1(2), 49-62.&nbsp;&nbsp; DOI:&nbsp;&nbsp; 10.59324/ejeba.2024.1 (2). 04 
&nbsp; 
LCRI (2015). Lake Chad Research Institute Annual Report page 3-4 
&nbsp; 
Rambau, M.D., Fushai, F., Callaway, T.R. and Baloyi, J.J. (2022). Dry matter and crude protein degradability of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) silage is affected by fertilization with cow-dung bio-digester slurry and fermentable carbohydrate additives at ensiling. Transl Anim Sci. 23; 6(2): txac075. doi: 10.1093/tas/txac075. PMID: 35769454; PMCID: PMC9225817. 
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Umami, N. (2023). Silage Quality Based on the Physical and Chemical of Several Napier grass Varieties (Pennisetum purpureum) supplied with different levels of pollard: The 4th International Conference on Agriculture and Bio-industry (ICAGRI-2022), IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1183 012015 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1183/1/012015 
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Akakpo, D.B. (2020). Evaluating the Effects of Storage Condition on Dry Matter Loss and Nutritional Quality of Grain Legume Fodder in West Africa. International School Research Network 
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Omotoso, O.B., Olatuji, O.A., Obameso, O.O., Odufoye, A., Fejemisin, A.A. and Alokan, A.J. (2020). Nutritional Value and acceptability of some selected forages in the derived savanna zone of Nigeria as Ruminant Feed. Journal of Range and Science, 10(4): 426-433 
 
Mohammed Mustapha 
​Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria 
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Table 1. Gross composition of Napier grass silage

Table 2. Physical characteristics of the Napier silages

Table 3. Proximate composition Napier grass silage

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