Chemical composition and voluntary intake of effluent as affected by silage additive and time of flow following ensiling.
1996
Randby Aa.T.
The feeding of silage effluent to livestock minimizes ensiling losses and increases total feed resources from grasslands. The voluntary intake of effluent, however, may depend on its chemical composition, which varies considerably. The influence of nine commercial silage additives on the composition of effluent tapped from the silages at various stages of fermentation was investigated in this study. In an effluent feeding experiment, dairy cows were fed effluent from silage treated with either an inoculant (Natuferm) or a formic-acid-based additive (Maxgrass). Although all silages were well fermented, considerable variation was observed in the chemical composition of resulting effluents. Effluents from silage treated with inoculants or Howden, as well as those from untreated silages, exhibited the highest lactic acid concentrations, whereas silages treated with-formic-acid based additives yielded effluents with the highest sugar content. Sugar and ash content decreased with time following ensiling, while the content of dry matter, crude protein, organic acids, and ethanol increased. The daily intake for cows fed effluent from Natuferm-treated silage was determined to be 43.6 kg, compared to 57.4 kg for cows fed effluent from Maxgrass-treated silage. Effluent intake decreased rapidly with time following ensiling. A significant positive correlation was observed between effluent sugar content and intake.
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