Manure in grass silage production. Effects on silage fermentation and its hygienic quality
1996
Rammer, C. (SLU, Uppsala (Sweden). Inst. foer Husdjurens Utfodring och Vaard)
The main objective of this thesis was to study the role of cattle manure in grass silage production, emphasizing its influence on silage fermentation and the hygienic quality of the silage obtained. The influcene of different types of cattle manure on silage quality was studied, and compared with the quality of silage made from mineral-fertilized crops (I, II, III). Differences in chemical composition between silages from slurry-treated and mineral-fertilized crops were small. The number om clostridial spores tended to be higher in silage made from slurry-dressed crops. The use of solid manures resulted in silage of very poor quality. The influence of different spreading methods was small. Irrigation after spreading reduced ammonia emissions but had no positive effect on herbage yield or silage quality. Repeated applications of moderate amounts of slurry did not increase the occurrence of detrimental organisms in soil or on the crops at harvest. Large numbers of Bacillus resulted from direct contamination by manure particles picked up at harvest. The degree of contamination of herbage was similar in both cuts. Harvest methods that only reduce the particle length should be avoided. Wilting to 30% DM improved silage quality from a chemical point of view, but did not affect the number of clostridial spores. To ensure high quality silage from manured crops, both wilting and the use of silage additives was advocated. A large number of clostridial spores was not the main reason for poor quality silage CIV, V). Manure particles probably created spots with conditions favouring growth of undesirable organisms. Neither the particulate material, nor the Bacillus, were probably responsible for the poor silage.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences