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

ABSTRACT 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.