A study was conducted with the objectives of assessing the effect of ensiling three crop residues
(wheat , barley and oat ) with 3 application rates of extended effective microbes (EM1) solution
(EM2) (0, 1 and 1.5 liter/ kg DM straw) in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments on the
chemical composition and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) in trial one; and to
determine effect of feeding the best selected CR and rate of EM2 application supplemented with
different levels of concentrate mixture (CM; 67% wheat bran, 32% noug seed cake and 1% salt)
on milk yield and composition of F1 crossbred Boran x Holstein Fresian lactating cows in trial
two. Results of the trial one suggested that B straw treated with 1 liter/ kg DM EM2 was selected
as better one. Based on this, treatments in the feeding trial were EM2 treated Barley straw
supplemented with CM at 0.3 (T1), 0.5 (T2), and 0.7 kg/liter of milk (T3); and untreated B straw
+ CM at 0.5 kg/liter of milk (T4). Straw was fed ad libitum. The CP, IVOMD and metabolizable
energy (ME) content of the straws was in the order of Barley > Oat > Wheat, while the reverse
holds true for NDF and ADF content. The CP content increased with increasing level of EM (P
< 0.05). However, Barley was better responsive to EM followed by Oat, while Wheat CP content
was not increased in response to EM level. For Barley, the 1 and 1.5 liter/ kg EM levels did not
differ (P>0.05) in affecting chemical composition, ME and IVOMD. Thus, Barley with 1 liter/ kg
rate of EM application was selected as having better response. The CP content of Barley straw
increased from 2.3% for untreated to 4.95% when treated with 1 liter/kg EM2. The IVOMD and
ME of Barley straw also increased due to ensiling with EM2. Intake of treated Barley straw was
greater (6.54-6.68 kg/day) as compared to the untreated straw (4.86 kg/day). Intake of CP
(kg/day) was in the order of T3 (1.22) > T2 (0.94) > T1 (0.68) = T4 (0.68). ME intake ranged
57.8 – 104.8 MJ/day and was in the order of T3 > T2 > T1 > T4. Apparent digestibility of DM
was unaffected by treatment and that of CP was highest for T2 (55.9%) and T3 (63%),
intermediate for T1 (50%) and lowest for T4 (44%). Milk yield (kg/day) was in the order of T3
(7.1) > T1 (6.4) = T2 (6.5) > T4 (6.0). Milk fat and protein also vary among treatments, while
contents of milk lactose and total solids did not vary among treatments. In conclusion, effective
microbes (EM) improve the nutritive value, intake and digestibility of crop residues. However,
responses between crop residues for EM were defer and when Barley straw was treated with
one liter of EM2 solution responded well compared to other crop residues .Daily milk yield of
lactating cows was improved by feeding EM2 treated Barley straw supplemented with CM equal
to and/or above 0.3 kg/liter/day.