The present study compared pre-treatment effect of exogenous fibrolytic enzyme (EFE) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) inoculants on the quality of sugarcane tops silage (SCT). Sugarcane tops (301 g DM/kg fresh matter) were chopped into 2.5–3.0 cm lengths and sub-sampled in 33 (11 × 3; treatments × replications) batches. A total of eleven treatments, including two controls, i.e. C1 (without additives) and C2 (with common additives: 0.5% NaCl, 0.5% urea and 2% molasses as such) and nine treatments were prepared in factorial arrangements of (3 × 3) exogenous fibrolytic enzyme (C cellulose, X xylanase and C + X) with LAB inoculants (LF Lactobacillus fermentum, PA Pediococcous acidilactici and LF + PA). After 30 days of ensiling samples were analysed; pH, lignocelluloses, butyric acid, oxalate, yeast and mould count were reduced (p < 0.05) in all treatments, whereas, the lactic acid (LA), acetic acid (AA) and metabolisable energy (ME) content were increased (p < 0.05) in all treatments than controls, C1 and C2 SCT silage. DM loss and NH3–N (% total nitrogen) was found higher (p < 0.05) in C2 and all treatments as compared to the C1 silage. The effect of EFE and LAB interaction was found significant (p < 0.01) for LA:AA, Fleig point and butyric acid content of SCT silage. The efficacy of EFE and LAB inoculant was higher (p < 0.05) when used in combinations, cellulase + xylanase and LF + PA as compared to either type. Silage Fleig point value was found highest (p < 0.05) in LF + PA + X and LF + PA + C + X treatments. Overall comparative effectiveness suggested that xylanase with Lactobacillus fermentum plus Pediococcous acidilactici were the most promising combinations to improve sugarcane tops silage quality.
