Quality of re-ensiled sorghum silages after prolonged periods of environmental exposure

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of re-ensiling on the fermentability coefficient (FC), chemical composition and fermentation profile of untreated whole-crop sorghum silage after prolonged periods of environmental exposure. Treatments comprised eight times of exposure to the environment (0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h) and two procedures for conservation (conventional and re-ensiling) in a completely randomized design with two factors and three replicates. Experimental silos made of 12-L plastic buckets were used in trials. Silage nutritive value, fermentation profile, and dry mass (DM) losses were analyzed before and 90 days after re-ensiling. Regression analyses were performed, and ANOVA was used to compare means. The FC was higher than 45 even when the silage was exposed to air for 120 h before re-ensiling (59.2±2.54). Regression equations were fitted to the data with low accuracy (R2 < 0.47). Moreover, we observed that the main effect occurred between before and after re-ensiling, decreasing the contents of DM (42 to 37 %) and water-soluble carbohydrates (7.0 to 5.8 % DM), neutral detergent fiber (60.4 to 55.4 % DM), and acid detergent fiber (49.5 to 33.5 % DM), but increasing those of lactic acid (0.52 to 0.96 % DM) and ammoniacal nitrogen (1.58 to 2.51 % total N). The DM losses were linear with increasing times of air exposure; however, silage nutritive value and fermentation profile showed no disturbing changes for silage conservation and animal feeding.

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Agronomic Evaluation of the Results of Selection within Late-Maturing Dactylis glomerata Populations

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11071362 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1362

Author(s):

Joseph G. Robins ◽

B. Shaun Bushman ◽

Kevin B. Jensen

Keyword(s):

Nutritive Value ◽

Dactylis Glomerata ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

Fiber Digestibility ◽

Harvest Intervals ◽

Dactylis Glomerata L

Selection from novel orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) germplasm sources resulted in the development of a late-maturing orchardgrass population. This population comprises 58 families that were evaluated with 5 commercial cultivars under frequent and infrequent harvest intervals at two Cache County, UT, USA field locations during 2013 and 2014. The objective of this study was to characterize the performance of individual families when compared to check cultivars Intensive and Latar. Across locations and harvest intervals, individual families produced greater herbage dry mass and nutritive value than the check cultivars did, i.e., up to 12% greater herbage dry mass than that of the highest check, Intensive, and 1% (neutral-detergent-fiber digestibility) to 14% (water soluble carbohydrates) greater forage quality than that of the corresponding highest check cultivar. However, there were substantial genotype-by-environment interactions between families and locations, but not harvest intervals. Because of this, results were analyzed across harvest intervals but within locations. Within each location, there were families that possessed similar or greater maturity, herbage dry mass, in vitro true digestibility, and neutral-detergent-fiber digestibility at both locations. Overall, on the basis of the performance of its component families, this late-maturing orchardgrass population exhibited potential for developing improved cultivars.

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Ensilability and Nutritive Value of Sweet Sorghum and Sweet Pearl Millet Bagasse as Affected by Different Methods of Carbohydrate Extraction for Eventual Ethanol Production

Transactions of the ASABE ◽

10.13031/trans.14071 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 64 (2) ◽

pp. 401-411

Author(s):

Noura Saïed ◽

Mohamed Khelifi ◽

Annick Bertrand ◽

Gaëtan F. Tremblay ◽

Mohammed Aider

Keyword(s):

Pearl Millet ◽

Sweet Sorghum ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

List Type ◽

Sweet Pearl Millet ◽

Juice Extraction

HighlightsJuice extraction resulted in a decrease in the nutritive value of the bagasse as compared with the initial biomass.Silages made from the second pressing bagasse were well conserved.Sweet sorghum silage has a better nutritive value than sweet pearl millet.Abstract. Pressing the biomass of sweet sorghum and sweet pearl millet in-field is one of the suggested options for bioethanol production. The extracted juice can be delivered to an ethanol plant, and the bagasse (pressing residue) can be used for ruminant feeding. Efficient carbohydrate extraction is highly important for good ethanol yield. However, enough carbohydrates must remain in the bagasse for its adequate conservation as silage. In this study, the ensilability and the chemical composition of the second pressing bagasse of sweet sorghum and sweet pearl millet were investigated. The bagasse was obtained following a second pressing of the first pressing bagasse after its impregnation with water based on three water:bagasse ratios (0.5, 1, and 1.5). Results indicated that water:bagasse ratio did not affect water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) extraction for both crops. The second pressing bagasse of sweet sorghum and sweet pearl millet contained 80.5 ±4.6 and 60 ±4.6 g of WSC kg-1 dry matter (DM), respectively. The second pressing bagasse of both crops had reduced nutritive value compared to the initial biomass, i.e., higher neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) concentrations along with lower non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) concentration, in vitro true digestibility of DM (IVTD), and in vitro NDF digestibility (NDFd). The second pressing bagasses of both crops also showed good ensilability, but sweet sorghum bagasse silages were of better nutritive value than sweet pearl millet bagasse silages (ADF = 446.2 ±3.7 vs. 463.2 ±3.7 g kg-1 DM, IVTD = 813.8 ±3.4 vs. 708.8 ±6.8 g kg-1 DM, and NDFd = 741.8 ±4.8 vs. 596.2 ±8.5 g kg-1 NDF, respectively). The water:bagasse ratio used for bagasse impregnation before the second pressing only affected the NDF concentration of silages, as a higher NDF concentration was obtained with a water:bagasse ratio of 1.5. Sweet sorghum and sweet pearl millet can be considered dual-purpose crops; the extracted juice can be fermented into ethanol, and the second pressing bagasse can be used to make good-quality silage. Keywords: Bagasse impregnation, Nutritive value, Silage, Sweet pearl millet, Sweet sorghum, Water-soluble carbohydrates.

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Effects of dry-matter content on the nutritive value of individually wrapped round-bale timothy silage fed to sheep

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas93-036 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 73 (2) ◽

pp. 343-354 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

R. Beaulieu ◽

J. R. Seoane ◽

P. Savoie ◽

D. Tremblay ◽

R. Thériault ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dry Matter ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Matter Content ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

Dry Matter Content ◽

Chopped Grass

Thirty-two sheep (30.0 kg avg. BW) were used to study the effects of dry-matter (DM) content at harvest on the nutritive value of timothy grass silages conserved as round bales of high (52.1%, DM50), medium (39.9%, DM40) and low (23.1%, DM25) DM. Chopped grass of 24.4% DM conserved in a horizontal silo (HS) was used as a control. Gross energy, crude protein (CP) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) contents were similar for all silages (P > 0.05). Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents decreased as DM of the silages decreased (P < 0.05). Acid detergent lignin and ash contents were highest in HS and lowest in DM40 silages (P < 0.05). Silage pH and water-soluble carbohydrates decreased with decreasing DM of the silages (P < 0.05), while ammonia-N and lactate levels increased (P < 0.05). Acetate concentrations in round bales were lower than in HS silage (P < 0.05). Significant butyrate concentrations were detected only in DM25 silage. Round-bale silages were chopped before feeding and fed ad libitum. DM intake was 14.5% higher for DM50 and DM40 silages than for DM25 and HS silages (P < 0.001). Average daily gain and feed efficiency were higher for high-DM silages than for DM25 and HS silages (P < 0.01). Apparent digestibilities of NDF, cellulose and crude fiber of the silages were similar, but DM, organic matter, energy and hemicellulose digestibilities were higher for HS than for DM25 silage. Apparent digestibilities of ADF and CP were higher for high-DM silages than for DM25 and HS silages (P < 0.04). The results indicate that to obtain good-quality silage, the DM content of round bales should be 40–50%. The better performance obtained with high-DM silages was indicative of a more efficient utilization of metabolizable energy for gain. Key words: Round-bale silage, timothy, forage

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Changes in biomass, chemical composition and nutritive value of Spartina alterniflora due to organic pollution in the Itanhaém River Basin (SP, Brazil)

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/s1519-69842006000500003 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 66 (3) ◽

pp. 781-789 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

J. F. V. Biudes ◽

A. F. M. Camargo

Keyword(s):

Chemical Composition ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Aquatic Macrophyte ◽

Organic Pollution ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Domestic Sewage ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

P Availability ◽

Total N ◽

Total P

We compared the values of the biomass, chemical composition and nutritive value of the emergent aquatic macrophyte S. alterniflora in a river affected by the discharge of domestic sewage (Guaú River) and in an unpolluted river (Itanhaém River). S. alterniflora, water and sediment samples were obtained in the two rivers in November, 2001. The Guaú River presented the highest levels of Total-N and Total-P in the water (415 and 674 µg.L-1, respectively) and in the sediment (0.25 e 0.20% of the Dry Mass, respectively), when compared to the water (TN = 105 µg.L-1; TP = 20 µg.L-1) and the sediment (NT = 0.12% DM; PT = 0.05% DM) of the Itanhaém River. Aerial (316 g DM.m-2) and subterraneous (425 g DM.m-2) biomass of S. alterniflora were significantly higher in the Guaú River than in the Itanhaém River (146 and 115 g DM.m-2, respectively). In addition, the values of TN, protein, TP, lipids and soluble carbohydrates were significantly higher in S. alterniflora biomass from the Guaú River. On the other hand, the values of the polyphenols and the cell wall fraction were significantly higher in the biomass of S. alterniflora from the Itanhaém River. We concluded that domestic sewage discharge in water bodies may increase the biomass and change the chemical composition of S. alterniflora. The high N and P availability in the water of the Guaú River is probably the cause of the higher biomass, TN, TP, protein, lipids and soluble carbohydrates measured in S. alterniflora in this river.

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The Impact of Tedding on Alfalfa Nutritive Value in a Silage Production System

Applied Engineering in Agriculture ◽

10.13031/aea.14723 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 37 (6) ◽

pp. 1115-1118

Author(s):

Lindsey M. Hartfield ◽

Matthew Francis Digman

Keyword(s):

Crude Protein ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Ash Content ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

List Type ◽

Water Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

Silage Production ◽

The Impact

HighlightsTedding alfalfa reduced moisture content by 108 g kg-1 on a wet basis over a 24 h period.Tedding increased water soluble carbohydrates in harvested alfalfa which could improve silage nutritive value.Tedded alfalfa had similar or lower ash content compared to non-tedded alfalfa.Tedding did not have an observable impact on total digestible nutrients.Abstract. Two treatments, tedded and untedded, were applied to an alfalfa field to determine their impact on the nutritive value of the resulting harvested forage. The tedded treatment area was tedded immediately after the cutting, and the untedded treatment was left in its original 1.5 m width windrow. The tedded alfalfa dried faster (p = 0.001) than the untedded in all cuttings. When results were averaged across the three cuttings, crude protein (p = 0.006), water soluble carbohydrates (p = 0.05), and ash content (p < 0.001) were also observed to be different. The tedded treatment had a 6 g kg-1 lower crude protein content, a 9 g kg-1 higher water soluble carbohydrate content and an 8 g kg-1 lower ash content than the untedded treatment. A difference was not observed between the treatments for neutral detergent fiber (p = 0.49) or total digestible nutrients (p = 0.89). Producers can rely on a tedding intervention to hasten alfalfa drying for silage production while having a minimal impact on forage nutritive value. Keywords: Alfalfa, Forage nutritive value, Medicago sativa, Tedder

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Agronomic Evaluation of the Results of Selection within Early Maturing Dactylis glomerata Germplasm

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11081505 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 1505

Author(s):

Joseph G. Robins ◽

B. Shaun Bushman ◽

Kevin B. Jensen

Keyword(s):

Nutritive Value ◽

Dactylis Glomerata ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Soluble Carbohydrate ◽

Harvest Management ◽

Early Maturing ◽

Harvest Intervals

Selection from novel orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) germplasm sources resulted in the development of an early maturing orchardgrass population. Fifty-eight families comprise this population and were evaluated under frequent and infrequent harvest intervals at Lewiston and Millville, UT, field locations during 2013 and 2014. The objective of this study was to characterize the performance of the individual families when compared with the check cultivars ‘Icon’, ‘Paiute’, and ‘Potomac’. Across the locations and harvest intervals, individual families produced greater herbage dry mass and nutritive value than the check cultivars. Only for maturity (cv. Paiute) did one of the included commercial checks possess a trait value among the statistically greatest for all families. Twenty-two half-sib families were among the families with the statistically earliest maturity, and between three and eight families were among the families with the statistically greatest trait values for herbage dry mass, crude protein, in vitro true digestibility, neutral detergent fiber, and water soluble carbohydrate concentration. Overall, based on the performance of its component families, this early maturing orchardgrass population exhibited potential for developing improved cultivars for both frequent and infrequent harvest management.

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Rapid evaluation of pasture quality for a critically endangered mammal, the northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii)

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr00050 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 91 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Andrew P. Woolnough ◽

William J. Foley

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Nitrogen Concentration ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

Dry Matter Digestibility ◽

Acid Detergent Fibre

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to predict the nutritive value of forage species available to the critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii). Nutritive attributes of the forage successfully estimated included total nitrogen concentration, fibre (including neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and acid lignin), organic matter, water soluble carbohydrates and in vitro dry matter digestibility. The reported results demonstrate the seasonal variability of the forage resource available to L. krefftii in its tropical savanna habitat. Multivariate modelling of the spectra enabled the nutritive value of forage samples to be estimated with coefficients of determination (r2) of 0.770–0.995 and standard errors of the cross-validation of 0.070–2.850 using a modified partial least-squares analysis technique. The standard error of the laboratory was 0.02–1.42. This study demonstrates that broad-based NIRS predictive equations can be used to predict the nutritive value of a number of plant types available to a herbivore over time. By using NIRS the analyst can rapidly analyse large numbers of samples with limited reduction of precision, thereby enabling large-scale ecological applications that may have previously been impeded by time and costs.

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The preservation of a Nandi Setaria silage and its feeding value for dairy cows

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea9780016 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 18 (90) ◽

pp. 16 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

RI Hamilton ◽

VR Catchpole ◽

LJ Lambourne ◽

JD Korr

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Production ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

Protein Supplement ◽

Total N ◽

Structural Rigidity ◽

Energy Plus ◽

Feeding Value ◽

Sorghum Grain

The process of vacuum ensilage of Setaria Sphacelata (cv. Nandi) (33 per cent DM ; 7 per cent soluble carbohydrates; 1.36 per cent M) was studied, and the resultant silage was evaluated chemically, in milk production trials with dairy cows and in digestion trials with dry cows. The silage was well preserved in a chemical sense (pH 4.5; lactic acid 1.7 per cent, volatile acids 1.2 per cent DM ; volatile bases 9.8 per cent total N) but, because of the structural rigidity of the harvested grass, air could not be completely excluded even from the polythene-covered vacuum stack. The temperature reached 43�C in the first week of storage and considerable surface wastage occurred. The silage (DM digestibility 42 per cent, voluntary DM intake 81 g/kg0.75) was of poorer quality than the grass harvested (DM digestibility 54 per cent, voluntary DM intake 84 g/kg0.75) and, even by feeding concentrates, only a low level of milk production could be sustained in (mainly Jersey) cows in the 5th-9th months of lactation. In silage-fed cows given a protein supplement (cottonseed meal) milk production was lower (3.8 kg day-1) but fat content higher (5.4 per cent) than in those given an energy supplement (sorghum grain) or energy plus protein (4.7 kg day-1 and 4.9 per cent fat). When fed lucerne hay and given the same energy plus protein supplement, cows gave significantly more milk (5.7 kg day-1 and 4.6 per cent fat). The poor nutritive value of the silage is attributed to the nature and composition of the material ensiled rather than to any defect in the ensilage process itself, and may be a feature of most silage made from tropical grasses.

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Intake, digestibility and aerobic stability of barley silage inoculated with mixtures of Lactobacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas95-062 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 75 (3) ◽

pp. 425-432 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

T. A. McAllister ◽

L. B. Selinger ◽

L. R. McMahon ◽

H. D. Bae ◽

T. J. Lysyk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Lactobacillus Plantarum ◽

Enterococcus Faecium ◽

Volatile Fatty Acids ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

Aerobic Stability ◽

Barley Silage

The effect of ensiling barley treated with two bacterial inoculants containing mixtures of Lactobacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium (1.0 × 105 cfu g−1 as fed silage) on the nutritional value and aerobic stability of barley silage was examined. Inoculants differed in the strains they contained and were originally selected by Pioneer Hi-Bred International for use with corn or alfalfa silage, SILA-BAC® (1174), or with grass silage (X2637). Concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates were higher (P < 0.05) in inoculated than in control silages. Although inoculants appeared to increase the numbers of lactic acid producing bacteria (LAB) at ensiling, post-ensiling numbers (cfu g−1) of yeasts and molds were lower (P < 0.05) in inoculated than in control silages. Lactic acid concentrations and pH were similar among the silages and variations m the growth of yeast and mold populations could not be explained by differences in the production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) among silages. Inoculation of barley silage with either inoculant increased (P < 0.01) the average daily gain of lambs. A digestibility experiment with 12 growing ram lambs showed that inoculants did not alter (P > 0.05) DM intake, feed efficiency or the digestion of DM, organic matter, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Nitrogen intake and retention were greater (P < 0.05) in lambs fed silage inoculated with 1174 as compared with control silage. Yeast populations were increased (P < 0.05) in control and 1174 after 2 d of exposure to air but it required 13 d for a similar yeast population to be established in X2637 silage. Increases in the mold populations within the silages were noted after 2, 5 and 13 d of exposure to air for control, 1174 and X2637, respectively. The temperature of control silage increased (P < 0.05) 2 d after exposure to air, whereas increases in temperature were delayed for 4 d in 1174 and 8 d in X2637. Temperatures rose as high as 30 °C in control silage, but did not exceed 24 °C in inoculated silages during the 13 d period. Key words: Barley silage, inoculant, digestion, aerobic stability, sheep, gain

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EFFECTS OF SULFUR DIOXIDE ON THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF SILAGE FOR STEERS

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas84-047 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 64 (2) ◽

pp. 411-425 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

G. W. MATHISON ◽

L. P. MILLIGAN ◽

J. WOHLLEBE ◽

R. M. ELOFSON

Keyword(s):

Sulfur Dioxide ◽

No Value ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

Grass Silage ◽

Time Treatment ◽

Time Of Feeding ◽

Silage Inoculant

Four experiments are described in which the effectiveness of SO2 as a forage treatment before ensiling was evaluated in terms of its influence on silage composition and nutritive value. Retention of added S to the time of feeding was 40% in one experiment and ranged from 17 to 32% in another experiment where SO2 was either applied in the field or at the silo. In general, more water-soluble carbohydrates were preserved in SO2-treated silage. Across all experiments the acetate concentration was reduced (P < 0.05) from 1.7 to 0.9% in the treated silage dry matter (DM). SO2 had no consistent effect on concentrations of other end products of microbial fermentation. In five experiments with legume or alfalfa-grsss silages the apparent digestibility of energy was increased (P < 0.05) by an average 2.6 percentage units whereas DM digestibility was not influenced (P > 0.05) by SO2 treatment. In contrast, energy (P < 0.05) and DM digestibilities were decreased when two cereal silages were treated with SO2. Cattle fed legume or legume-grass silage grew an average of 12.9% faster (P < 0.05) and exhibited a 12.7% improvement (P < 0.05) in DM conversion to liveweight gain in eight comparisons which have been made with SO2-treated forage to date. In contrast SO2 had no influence (P > 0.05) on the performance of steers in one 42-day trial with cereal silage. Further, SO2 was successfully applied in the field as well as at the silo and addition of a silage inoculant to SO2-treated forage was of no value. The use of SO2 as a preservative for legume and alfalfa-grass silage would be economically feasible under some circumstances but at this time treatment of cereal silages with the chemical cannot be recommended. Key words: Sulfur dioxide, silage, silage preservative, steers, nutritive value

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