Gamma radiation in the preparation of maize silage for studies on the aerobic deterioration process

1983 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 711-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Woolford

SUMMARYMaize silage was exposed to doses of y radiation varying from 0 to 6 Mrad inclusive and the effects of this treatment on the microflora and possible changes it might impose on the chemical composition were monitored. The highest dose was required to reduce the native population of micro-organisms to an insignificant level and only minor losses of lactic acid and ethanol were sustained. In addition, the irradiated silage was inoculated with representatives of groups of micro-organisms implicated in the aerobic deterioration of silage and the subsequent changes upon exposure to air observed. The inoculum proliferated and induced losses of fermentation acids, water-soluble carbohydrates, dry matter and, to a minor degree, neutral detergent fibre, and resulted in an increase in temperature and total nitrogen, the factors most likely to change during aerobic deterioration. Only the 6 Mrad dose yielded material suitable for investigations into the identification of those organisms primarily responsible for aerobic deterioration.

1984 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Woolford ◽  
Ann C. Wilkie

SummaryTwo experiments were undertaken with maize silage, which had been sterilized by subjecting it to a 6 Mrad dose of γ radiation, inoculated with micro-organisms implicated in the aerobic deterioration of silage and subsequently exposed to air. The inocula employed comprised mixed strains of yeasts, bacilli and lactic acid bacteria and combinations of these. The changes which accompanied aerobic deterioration were observed. The major losses of fermentation acids, ethanol, ammonia and dry matter, and increases in total nitrogen and temperature were associated with inocula in which yeasts were represented. Similar changes of a lower magnitude were also observed in silage treated with inocula containing bacteria only, although these were not always accompanied by the growth of these organisms or loss of dry matter. However, when employed in mixed inocula with yeasts, the bacteria proliferated and tended in some instances to increase losses further, suggesting an association between the groups of micro-organisms in the aerobic deterioration process. Losses were also sustained in sterile silage which received no inoculum and the possible reasons for this are discussed.


1966 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Ellis Davies ◽  
G. ap Griffith ◽  
A. Ellington

The primary growth of eight varieties of three species–white clover (3), red clover (4) and lucerne (1)–was sampled at fortnightly intervals and the percentage dry matter, in vitro digestibility, crude protein, water soluble carbohydrates, P, Ca, K, Na and Mg were determined.Differences between species were nearly always significant and the general order of merit was white clover, red clover and lucerne. The exceptions were for dry-matter percentage where this order was reversed, and red clover had the lowest Na and highest Mg content.


2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 306-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Tyrolová ◽  
L. Bartoň ◽  
R. Loučka

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of bacterial and chemical additives on the number of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and on fermentation indicators in whole maize silage at 1, 3, 5, 10, and 90 days of fermentation. Maize forage was harvested at approximately 34% dry matter (DM) and treated with (1) no additive (control; C); (2) bacterial inoculant (2 g/t of forage; B) containing the homofermentative LAB Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei, and Pediococcus pentosaceus (1.5 × 10<sup>11</sup> cfu/g of inoculant); and (3) chemical additive (4 l/t of forage; CH) containing formic acid, propionic acid, ammonium formate, and benzoic acid. Both treatments decreased pH of silage at day 1 of ensiling (P &lt; 0.05), and the lowest value of 4.34 was observed in the CH-treated silage. All silages were well fermented and had pH &lt; 4.0 by day 10 of fermentation. The concentration of lactic acid and the lactic acid : acetic acid ratio increased over time in all treatment groups, and the highest values were 87.5 and 3.62 g/kg of DM, respectively, observed for group B at day 90 (P &lt; 0.05). The concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates were higher (P &lt; 0.05) for CH compared to C and B at days 3, 5, 10, and 90 of fermentation. The CH silage had fewer LAB (P &lt; 0.05) than did either C or B silages regardless of the days of fermentation. Both additives used in the present study improved fermentation dynamics of the whole crop maize silage.


2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 945 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Jacobs ◽  
G. N. Ward ◽  
A. M. McDowell ◽  
G. Kearney

Effect of cultivation practice and sowing time on soil moisture retention at sowing, growth rates, dry matter yield, water use efficiency and nutritive characteristics (metabolisable energy, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, water-soluble carbohydrates and starch) of turnip, pasja and rape was determined on 2 soil types (site A and B) over 2 years. Cultivation treatments were: optimum full inversion, an optimum non-inversion cultivation and over cultivated. At each site, cultivation treatments were imposed at 2 different times (early and late).Results showed few differences in soil moisture at sowing between the 3 cultivation systems. Where seedbeds were prepared earlier rather than later, soil moisture at sowing was higher. Given that there was relatively little difference in soil moisture between cultivation treatments within a sowing time, it is likely that rainfall events may have confounded cultivation effects.Apart from year 2 at site A, the water use efficiency of turnip was higher than for pasja and rape. It is proposed that the lower value in year 2 may be due to root development being retarded by low moisture availability, particularly at the later sowing date, thus leading to a lower dry matter yield.Despite no cultivation effects on soil moisture at sowing, there appeared to be clear advantages for the full inversion technique in terms of subsequent weed germination. Generally, weed numbers post germination were lower for this cultivation method compared with both non-inversion techniques. In conclusion, the cultivation techniques used had little effect on soil moisture at sowing and subsequent dry matter yields, provided the resultant seedbed was well-prepared, fine, firm and weed free. Full inversion cultivation techniques in areas where broad-leaved weeds are a problem may substantially reduce subsequent weed burdens. Early sowing where possible may reduce the likelihood of crop failure through the provision of adequate soil moisture at sowing and increase the incidence of rain during the growing period. Timing of sowing will vary according to paddock requirements during early spring (e.g. grazing or forage conservation), soil type, and trafficability for cultivation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-25
Author(s):  
N.W. Ndleleni ◽  
I.M.M. Malebana ◽  
C.J.L. Du Toit ◽  
K.A. Nephawe ◽  
R Meeske ◽  
...  

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of two silage sealing films on whole crop maize (WCM) fermentation, aerobic stability and nutrient digestion by rams. Prior to ensiling (day 0), triplicate samples of the WCM were collected to determine dry matter, pH, water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), lactic acid (LA) bacterial counts and nutrient concentration. A single bunker silo was divided into eight sections that were ensiled using either a standard polyethylene film (PE) or an orange oxygen barrier (OB) Silostop film for 180 days. After 180 days of ensiling, six silage samples were collected from each replicate. Three samples were used for nutrient analysis and the other three to determine aerobic stability. Sixteen four-year-old Damara rams with an average live weight of ± 54 kg were housed individually in wooden pens (2.2 m2) to determine digestibility of nutrient in the silage. The digestibility study was conducted as a switchover design with four feeding phases. The silage was supplemented daily with 1% urea and fed to the rams ad libitum. Nutritional value of the silage was not (P >0.05) affected by the ensiling films. The OB-ensiled maize had higher (P <0.05) LA, lower pH, CO2 production and yeast and mould populations, and lower WSC compared with the PE-ensiled maize. Dry matter intake, nutrient digestion and nitrogen balance of rams fed the silage were not affected (P >0.05) by treatments. The OB film improved the fermentation and aerobic stability of WCM silage but did not influence its nutrient utilization by rams. Keywords: cereals, digestibility, forage, rams, nitrogen, supplementation


2014 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-75
Author(s):  
Soleiman Mohammadi ◽  
Reza Kas Nazani ◽  
Ayda Hosseinzadeh Mahootchi ◽  
Keiwan Ftohi

ABSTRACT In order to evaluate promising lines in terms of grain yield and water-soluble carbohydrates remobiliza-tion, an experiment with fifteen promising lines and two checks was carried out under full irrigation and terminal water stress conditions at Miyandoab Agricultural Research and Natural Resources Station. Mobilized dry matter content and remobilization percentage from shoot to grain under water deficit (177mg)(11.2%) were greater than those under well watering condition. The lowest (110 mg) and the highest (260mg) mobilized dry matter to grain were obtained for C-79-18 and C-83-15lines, respectively. Water deficit reduced grain yield of barley genotypes by 200-1600 kg/ha, and mean grain yield reduction was 800 kg/ha. Line 14 with 5.880and 5.300t/ha grain yield in favorable and water stress conditions was superior to the other lines. Under water deficit condition, line 14 had greater grain yieldby20% and 38% than the Bahman and Makouee cultivars, respectively. The results showed that greater grain yield in tolerant lines under water deficit was due to remobilization of unstructured carbohydrates from shoot to grain. Thus, it seems that selection of lines with higher translocated dry matter and contribution of pre-anthesis assimilate in grain filling under water stress, the suitable way for achieving genotypes with high grain yield under water stress condition.


1996 ◽  
Vol 127 (4) ◽  
pp. 517-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. H. Aagnes ◽  
A. S. Blix ◽  
S. D. Mathiesen

SUMMARYReindeer calves(Rangifer tarandus tarandus) were used in parallel feeding trials with two different qualities of round-bale timothy silage in September 1992 (summer) and April 1993 (winter) in northern Norway, to determine the effect of season on their food intake and ability to utilize silage of different fibre contents. The silages were prepared from first-cut (FC) and regrowth (RG) timothy. The FC silage contained (on a dry matter (DM) basis) 12·3% crude protein, 30·4% cellulose and 6·2% water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), whereas the RG silage contained 14·3% crude protein, 18·7% cellulose and 30·0% WSC. For each trial, six male calves were taken directly from a natural range and divided into two groups of three animals. One group was offered FC silage and one RG silagead libitum, for 46 days. Mean daily DM food intake (g/kg liveweight) was not significantly different in summer compared to winter(P> 0·05), but significantly higher in the animals fed RG silage compared to the animals fed FC silage (P< 0·0001). The apparent digestibility coefficient of DM was high for both silages both in summer and winter, ranging from 74·4 to 86·6%. However, the digestibility in winter was significantly higher than in summer(P< 0·002) and the digestibility of RG silage was higher than that of the FC silage (P< 0·009). The ruminal VFA concentration was significantly higher in winter than in summer (P< 0·03) and in the animals fed RG silage (range 55·3–104·9 mM) compared to the animals fed FC silage (range 35·2–61·7 mM) (P< 0·002). In spite of the high digestibility of both the FC and RG silages, the nitrogen balance was significantly higher in the animals in winter compared to summer(P< 0·0001) and in the animals fed RG silage compared to the animals fed FC silage(P< 0·0001). Thus, utilization of grass silage in reindeer appears to be influenced both by season and by plant quality.


1976 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Hinks ◽  
I. E. Edwards ◽  
A. R. Henderson

SUMMARY1. Herbage was ensiled, fresh at 17% DM or wilted to 32% DM, with and without the addition of formic acid (19·2 kg/tonne DM). The silages were fed individually ad libitum to 36 fifteen-month-old British Friesian steers of about 280 kg initial live weight (nine animals per treatment).2. Wilting and the application of formic acid both inhibited fermentation, resulting in silages with higher levels of water-soluble carbohydrates, lower concentrations of volatile nitrogen and lower organic acid contents.3. There were no significant dry matter × formic acid interactions in dry-matter intake or daily live-weight gain.4. Treatment with formic acid did not enhance significantly either dry-matter intake or daily live-weight gain. Furthermore, it had little effect on digestibility, nitrogen retention or metabolizable energy (ME) concentration.5. Wilting before ensiling increased dry-matter intake from 5·0 to 8·3 kg/head per day with consequent marked increases in ME intake, nitrogen retention and live-weight gain. Wilting, however, had little effect on digestibility, ME concentration, or the efficiency with which dietary nitrogen intake was retained.


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