The effect of harvest date and inoculation on the yield, fermentation characteristics and feeding value of forage pea and field bean silages

Two experiments describe the ensiling potential of whole‐crop forage peas (Pisum sativum) and field beans (Vicia faba). In Experiment 1, forage peas (cv. Magnus) and field beans (cv. Mayo) were harvested at 10, 12 and 14 weeks after sowing, and ensiled in 10 kg mini‐silos either untreated or treated with an inoculant (Lactobacillus plantarum). In terms of yield and ensiling potential, the optimum growth stage for harvesting forage peas occurred at 12 weeks of growth. In contrast, delaying the harvest of field beans until 14 weeks gave the highest yields of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP). Changes in crop maturity had little effect on the chemical composition of the fresh forages, but between‐harvest date differences were observed in the DM, ammonia‐N, CP, water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC), acid‐detergent fibre (ADF), neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF), lactic acid and volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations and pH of the corresponding silages. Fermentation was improved by applying an inoculant. In Experiment 2, forage peas and field beans were harvested at 14 weeks after sowing and ensiled as round‐bale silage, either untreated or treated with an inoculant. The yields of the crops were similar, and the only difference in the chemical composition of the wilted forages was a higher CP concentration in the field beans. However, after the ensiling process was complete, the forage pea silages were found to have significantly higher DM, WSC, starch and butyric acid concentrations compared with the field bean silages, and lower ammonia‐N, CP, ADF, acetic acid and lactic acid concentrations. Inoculation was found to increase the lactic acid concentration and reduce the pH and ammonia‐N and acetic acid concentrations of the silages. Each of the silages produced in Experiment 2 was offered to six Suffolk crossbred wether lambs, aged 10 months. Voluntary DM intakes were similar on all treatments, despite the apparent digestibility of the forage pea silages being significantly higher than that of the field bean silages. Nitrogen retention was higher for lambs offered forage pea silage. Application of an inoculant was found to have a negative effect on the amount of N retained, indicating the necessity for more detailed investigations into proteolytic activity within these crops during the fermentation process.     

A study of the efficacy of a bacterial inoculant and formic acid as additives for grass silage in terms of milk production

In a two-year experiment, three silages were prepared from herbage treated either with an inoculant at 1·25 × 10⁵ organisms (g fresh material (FM))⁻¹. formic acid (850 g kg⁻¹) at 4 1 (t FM)⁻¹, or no additive (untreated). In Experiment 1, unwilted and in Experiment 2, wilted silages were investigated and had mean dry matter (DM) and water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentrations at ensiling of 171 g kg⁻¹ and 17·6 g (kg FM)⁻¹ and 263 g kg⁻¹ and 25·1 g (kg FM)⁻¹, respectively. In Experiment 1, 45 and in Experiment 2, 54 individually fed cows were used to evaluate the silages in three-treatment, randomized-block design experiments. During weeks 4-12 of lactation the cows were offered silages ad libitum and during weeks 15-26 a constant amount of silage was fed. There were few major differences in chemical composition of the resulting silages. Formic acid had no effect on silage digestibility. Inoculant treatment increased digestibility when the grass had been wilted. The use of formic acid resulted in increased silage DM intake of 9% during weeks 4-12 of lactation in Experiment 1 but not in Experiment 2. The inoculant gave no increase in silage DM intake over the control in Experiment 1 but increased silage DM intake by 7% in Experiment 2. There was no significant response in milk yield to formic acid. In Experiment 2 the response in milk yield to inoculant treatment was significant both in weeks 4-12 of lactation (4%) and in weeks 15-26 of lactation (5%). It is concluded that the response in milk yield to the use of a specific inoculant appears to be mediated through increased intake of metabolizable energy (ME).     

Effects of harvest date of timothy (Phleum pratense) on its nutritive value, and on the voluntary silage intake and liveweight gain of lambs

The effects of harvest date of timothy on the chemical composition of herbage and silage, and on the voluntary intake, liveweight gain and feed conversion efficiency by finishing lambs, were evaluated. The herbage was harvested and ensiled on three dates: 16 June (before heading), 20 June and 26 June. The silages were analysed for chemical composition and degradation characteristics by an in vitro gas production (GP) technique with end-point measurements (72 h) of degradability of organic matter (OM) and neutral-detergent fibre (NDF). There were clear effects of later dates of harvest increasing the concentration of NDF, and reducing the degradability of OM and NDF, and the rate of GP, of silages made from this herbage. The silages were fed ad libitum to lambs in a feeding experiment using a Latin square design. Later harvest dates decreased the voluntary intake of silage, liveweight gain and feed conversion efficiency. Lambs fed the early-cut silage had a liveweight gain of 152 g d⁻¹ and those fed the silage harvested 10 d later had a liveweight gain of 76 g d⁻¹. Changes in the chemical composition of herbage and silage and in in vitro degradation characteristics of silages with later harvests were associated, to a large extent, with the reduction in voluntary intake and liveweight gain of lambs.     

Forage quality of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) × Caucasian clover (T. ambiguum M. Bieb.) hybrids and their grass companion when grown over three harvest years

Interspecific hybrids between white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and Caucasian clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.) have been developed to introgress the rhizomatous growth habit into white clover, to increase persistence and drought tolerance. The forage quality of T. repens, T. ambiguum and the backcross 1 (BC1) and backcross 2 (BC2) hybrids and companion grass, when grown in mixtures with an intermediate perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) under a cutting‐only management, was measured. In vitro dry‐matter digestibility (DMD), water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and crude protein (CP) concentrations of the legume and grass fractions were measured throughout the growing season over three harvest years. Trifolium repens had a lower WSC but a higher CP concentration than the perennial ryegrass companion in all harvest years and at all cuts. The legume fractions from the BC1 and BC2 hybrid plots had a higher WSC and a lower CP concentration but an in vitro DMD value comparable with white clover throughout the growing season and in each harvest year. The grass fractions from the mixtures with the backcross hybrids had a higher WSC and a lower CP concentration than the grass fraction from the T. repens plots, in all harvest years and throughout the growing season. No difference in in vitro DMD between parental species and backcross hybrids was observed. The implications of these results for the development of these hybrids and animal performance are discussed.     

Effect of three forages and two forage allowances offered to pregnant dry dairy cows in winter on periparturient performance and milk yield in early lactation

Sixty multiparous, Holstein–Friesian pregnant dry dairy cows were allocated to three forage treatments ( n  = 20; fodder beet, kale or grass silage) at two feeding allowances ( n  = 30; high and low) for 70 (s.e. of mean, 16) d before parturition. Cows offered the high feeding allowance were offered 9 kg of dry matter (DM) of kale or fodder beet grazed in situ plus 5 kg DM of baled grass silage daily or clamp grass silage ad libitum offered indoors. Cows offered the low feeding allowance were offered 6 kg DM of kale or fodder beet grazed in situ plus 3·5 kg DM baled grass silage daily, or 9·5 kg DM of clamp grass silage daily offered indoors. After calving, all cows received a daily allowance of 14 kg DM perennial ryegrass herbage at pasture plus 4 kg concentrate cow⁻¹ for the first 35 d of lactation. Cows offered grass silage had a greater increase in body condition score pre-partum compared to those offered kale or fodder beet. Cows offered fodder beet pre-partum had a greater milk solid and solids-corrected milk yield in the first 35 d of lactation than those offered kale and grass silage pre-partum. Offering fodder beet and kale pre-partum increased plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentrations pre-partum relative to offering grass silage. Offering kale pre-partum resulted in higher insulin-like growth factor-1 concentration post-partum but lower plasma copper concentration pre-partum and at calving than kale or grass silage. Offering the higher forage allowance pre-partum resulted in a higher plasma calcium concentration at calving and higher plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentration post-partum.     

The effects of defoliating grass in winter or spring on herbage yields and ensilage characteristics

Under Irish conditions, the digestibility in May of grass managed for silage production is sometimes lower than expected. In each of two successive years, replicate field plots were established to examine the effects of three defoliation heights (uncut or cut to a stubble height of 10 or 5 cm) applied in winter and/or spring on herbage yields harvested in May and again in July, and on chemical composition and conservation characteristics associated with first‐cut silage. Swards that were not defoliated in December or March had a dry‐matter (DM) yield and in vitro DM digestibility (DMD) in mid‐May of 6597 kg ha^?1 and 736 g kg^?1, respectively, in Year 1, and corresponding values of 7338 kg ha^?1 and 771 g kg^?1 in Year 2. Defoliating swards to 5 cm in December reduced (P < 0·001) May DM yields compared to swards that were not defoliated in both December and March, while herbage DMD in May increased (P < 0·001) when defoliated in December or March. There were no clear effects of defoliation height or its timing on herbage ensilability or resultant conservation efficiency characteristics. The effects of defoliation on July yield were the reverse of those observed for May, while the total yield of the December and March defoliations plus the two silage harvests increased as defoliation height was lowered in Year 2 only. It is concluded that defoliation in winter and/or spring can increase herbage digestibility but will likely reduce DM yields in May.     

Effects of feeding ensiled kale (Brassica oleracea) on the performance of finishing lambs

The use of forage brassicas, such as kale, in diets of ruminants is typically constrained by the presence of anti-metabolites that break down in the rumen to cause detrimental effects after absorption including haemolytic anaemia and tissue damage. Ensilage of kale before feeding may provide conditions that favour the degradation of potentially toxic anti-metabolites, thereby improving the nutritive value of the feed. An experiment was conducted with eighty Scottish Blackface housed lambs, in which four levels of kale silage were used to replace grass silage and in which the forage component comprised around 60% of the finishing diet. Productivity of lambs was not affected other than to increase the killing-out percentage of the lambs. Glucosinolate concentrations in kale were markedly reduced by the ensiling process. Haematological parameters, such as packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and the presence of Heinz−Ehrlich bodies, were not significantly affected by replacing grass silage with kale silage. Similarly, there were no significant effects arising from the dietary treatments on the blood plasma components, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, blood urea nitrogen, tri-iodothyroxine and thyroxine, which are conventional measures of glucosinolate toxicity.
The results indicated that the ensilage of kale reduces its toxicity and hence removes constraints on the maximum inclusion levels in the diet. Also, it was possible to reduce the potential contamination of carcasses with soil by lambs not grazing the crop and thus keeping fleeces clean.     

STUDIES OF RESPONSE TO FERTILIZER NITROGEN

The effect of applying 62.8 or 125.6 kg/ha fertilizer N, 4 or 18 days before, 4 days after or immediately after harvesting primary growth at the hay stage on yield of DM, yield of digestible OM (DOM), uptake of N, % CP and % digestibility of OM (OMD) of the primary growth and regrowth from S24 perennial ryegrass were compared with harvesting the primary growth 4 or 18 days earlier. Pre–harvest application of N had no effect on yield of DM or DOM or on % OMD, but significantly increased uptake of N and % CP on a DM basis in the primary growth. The regrowth response was less than from equivalent amounts of N applied after harvest in proportion to the amount of N removed with primary growth. 20–40% N was taken up in the primary growth, even when applied 4 days before harvest. The proportion taken up was not influenced by the interval between application and harvest, but tbere was a marked increase in uptake wben rate of application rose to 125.6 kg N/ha. Harvesting 4 days earlier resulted in slight loss of bulk in the hay which was fully compensated by its extra quality, by improved regrowth and its more effective response to fertilizer N. The low yield of the primary growth harvested 18 days earlier was not compensated by the mass of the regrowth but it produced tbe highest quality primary growdi and top yield of regrowth.     

Effect of stage of maturity and chop length on the chemical composition and utilization of formic acid-treated ryegrass and formic acid silage by sheep

Two areas of an early-heading perennial ryegrass cv. Cropper were harvested by either a precision-chop or a flail harvester at around 50% ear emergence (15 May 1978) and 14d later (29 May). Formic acid (85%) was applied at the rate of 2·2 litres t^-1. Mature crossbred wethers were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design to determine the effect of stage of maturity and method of harvesting (chop length) on the in vivo digestibilities of formic acid-treated grass in experiment 1 and formic acid silage in experiment 2. Apparent digestibility coefficients were determined at a fixed level of feeding for both grass and silage and at ad libitum access to feed for silage only. There were no significant differences in the concentrations of crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), acid-detergent fibre (ADF) or acid-detergent lignin (ADL) in grass or silages of differing chop lengths but the later cut forages had significantly higher ADF and ADL concentrations and lower CP concentrations than the early-cut forages. The ADF and ADL concentrations were also higher in the silages than in the corresponding grasses. In general, the fermentation characteristics of precision-chopped silage were better than for the corresponding flail-cut silage but date of harvest was a more important determinant of quality and the late, flail-cut silage had the highest butyrate and ammonia N concentrations and the highest pH (411) of any treatment. There was a significantly higher intake of precision-chopped as compared with flail-cut silage with both the early-and the late-cut silage but there were no significant differences attributable to stage of maturity (i.e. date of harvest) or significant interaction between chop length and maturity. The slightly increased intake of early harvested, precision-chopped silage as compared with late precision-chopped silage was not significant. Dry matter digestibility (DMD) of the grass decreased at a rate of 0004 units d^-1 post 50% ear emergence. The results of experiment 2 indicated a decrease of 0·207 units d^-1 in silage fed at a similar level. The late-cut silage (DMD 0·292, mean of both harvesting treatments) thus had a significantly lower digestibility than the corresponding grass (mean DMD 0·247). Chop length had a variable influence on the DMD of both grass and silage fed at a fixed level but treatment differences were non-significant. However, a trend towards higher digestibility of flail-cut as compared with precision-chopped silage was apparent and this became statistically significant when the animals were allowed ad libitum access to feed. This may be a response to the generally lower intake of flail-cut silage.     

Forage quality of Trifolium repens L. × T. nigrescens Viv. hybrids

Interspecific hybridization with the close relative Trifolium nigrescens Viv. (Ball clover) is a possible strategy to increase the seed yield potential of white clover (T. repens L.). Fertile F₁ plants have been used as the basis for several generations of backcrossing using T. repens as the recurrent parent. Forage quality of the parental species and backcross hybrids when grown in mixtures with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was compared in field plots over three harvest years. The dry‐matter digestibility (DMD) and crude protein (CP) concentration of the legume fraction was greater than that of perennial ryegrass, but the water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentration of the legume components was lower than that of perennial ryegrass. Differences in forage quality between T. repens and the backcross hybrids were relatively small. The WSC concentration of the backcrosses was less than T. repens but the CP concentration was greater. Significant differences in the forage quality of the companion grass were observed when grown with the parental species and the hybrids; however, these differences were attributed to the plots with T. nigrescens and the F₁ plants, where the clover content was low. Few differences in the forage quality of the grass were measured when grown with T. repens and the backcross hybrids. The impact of these results on the use of these hybrids in cultivar development programmes is discussed.     

Fresh and ensiled forage plants—total composition,silage losses and the prediction of silage composition from the crop

Twenty ley and whole‐crop samples were analysed before and after ensiling to determine the proportion of dry matter (DM) that could be accounted for by the sum of 12 chemical assays for ash, ash‐excluded‐amylase‐treated neutral detergent fibre (aNDFom), starch, water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC), pectin, crude protein (CP), CP in aNDFom (CPndf), ammonia, crude fat, phenolics, plant organic acids and liquid fermentation products (acids and alcohols). Crop components, utilized during silage fermentation and the possibility of predicting silage composition from that of the crop, were also investigated. Samples consisted of timothy and red and white clover, harvested at early and late maturities in two cuts per maturity and of whole‐crop barley, wheat and maize, harvested at early, intermediate and late stages of maturity. Ley crops were wilted to reach a DM content of approximately 400 g/kg, whereas whole crops (WC) were not wilted (151–757 g DM/kg) before ensiling. The average sum of analytes was 1022 and 981 g/kg DM for crops and silages respectively. An overall closeness to complete recovery indicates that no major plant components were missing from the analyses. Relative proportions of pectin, plant organic acids and phenolics, which are rarely analysed, were approximately 60:40:2 (w/w). Ash, aNDFom, crude fat and CP were almost completely recovered after ensiling, whereas partial metabolism reduced recoveries of starch (81%), CPndf (62%), plant organic acids (65%), pectin (64%) and WSC (29%). Only the four analytes with high silage recoveries could be reasonably well predicted from parent crop levels with mean prediction error from 0.065 for aNDFom to 0.167 for crude fat.     

The management of Brassica for winter forage in the sub-tropics

In subtropical latitudes temperate crops can be grown during the cool months but the growing season is restricted by the termination and beginning of hot weather. Postponing sowing date in south Florida from October to November to January resulted in 150, 130 and 110-d growing seasons respectively. Dry matter (DM) yields of turnip, swede, rape and kale were lowered by each later sowing date and shorter growing season, and crude protein (CP) concentration was the same as for, or was increased by late sowing. In vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) of turnip, swede and rape leaves was not affected by sowing date, but roots of turnip and swede from the earlier sowings and longer growing seasons were more digestible. Yield of the four species depended on harvest management as well as date of sowing and length of growing season. Total yield of turnip and swede were unaffected by harvest management but multiple cutting resulted in greater leaf yields and smaller root yields, whereas stockpiling resulted in smaller leaf yields and larger root yields. Kale produced more DM when harvested once at the end of the winter growing season but rape produced the greatest DM yield when sown in October and harvested     

Effect of harvest time on yield and pre-harvest quality of semi-leafless grain peas (Pisum sativum L.) as whole-crop forage

The aim of the work was to study changes in the yield and nutritional characteristics of whole crop semi-leafless field pea over two growing seasons in the Po plain, Italy. Samples of two cultivars (Baccara and Sidney) were collected from flowering to grain maturity. The developmental stage, yield, dry matter (DM) content, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), starch, water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), gross energy (GE), organic matter digestibility (OMD) and the net energy for lactation (NE_L) were determined at each harvest. The forage characteristics were regressed on the growing degree days (GDD) with 4.4 °C as the base temperature. The DM yield increased with advancing maturity from 0.5 to 8.91 Mg ha⁻¹, while the CP decreased from 261 to 159 g kg⁻¹ DM. During the whole growth cycle the GE, OMD, NE_L and milk forage units (milk FU) were almost steady. No differences were observed between the cultivars for any of the measured parameters. At grain maturity, the crop produced over 4.0 Mg ha⁻¹ DM of grain. The CP, starch and WSC of the grain did not show any differences between the cultivars or years. The data showed that the nutritive quality of the forage of the semi-leafless grain pea harvested as a whole crop for ensiling purposes did not diminish with maturity and could help improve the self-sufficiency of dairy farms, in terms of home-grown protein forages.     

Intercropped wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and bean (Vicia faba L.) as a whole-crop forage: effect of harvest time on forage yield and quality

Abstract Sole crops and intercrops of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and bean (Vicia faba L.), at three harvest dates, representing successive growth stages, were evaluated for biomass production of whole‐crop forage and quality characteristics of crude protein (CP), neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF), acid‐detergent fibre (ADF), water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentrations and ash content. These tests were carried out for two field experiments, respectively, drilled during the spring of 1997 and autumn of 1997 on Imperial College Farm, Wye, UK. Results indicated that optimum forage yield and quality were obtained from the second to third harvest dates for the spring‐drilled experiment and the second harvest for the autumn‐drilled experiment. Wheat and bean intercrops were higher in total forage dry matter (DM) yield than either wheat or bean grown as sole crops. Field bean intercropped with wheat led to increased forage quality (CP and NDF concentrations) compared with sole wheat, and higher WSC concentrations compared with sole bean. Intercrops also enhanced weed suppression compared with sole bean. It is suggested that winter wheat–bean intercrops may have considerable potential as a moderate‐yielding, relatively high‐quality, low‐input and environmentally benign forage crop with considerable potential with regard to yield and quality and warrant further study.     

Effects of Lactobacillus buchneri as a silage inoculant or probiotic on in vitro organic matter digestibility,gas production and volatile fatty acids of low dry‐matter whole‐crop maize silage

Our objective was to investigate Lactobacillus buchneri as a silage inoculant or probiotic on in vitro ruminal measurements of low dry‐matter whole‐crop maize silage. In vitro gas production was conducted using untreated (without inoculant) and inoculated (treated with L. buchneri CNCM I‐4323 at 1 × 10⁵ cfu g^?1 of fresh forage) maize silages (wet‐ground) incubated with three different ruminal inocula, in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. Ruminal fluids were collected from wethers consuming (i) untreated maize silage (RF‐U); (ii) inoculated maize silage (RF‐I); and (iii) untreated maize silage with a daily dose of L. buchneri CNCM I‐4323 administered directly into the rumen (1 × 10⁷ cfu g^?1 of supplied silage [LB‐probiotic]). Gas production was consistently higher when inoculated silage was used as the substrate of fermentation, compared to the untreated silage. When untreated silage was used as substrate, the total volatile fatty acid concentration was higher using RF‐I and LB‐probiotic inocula, compared to the RF‐U inoculum, at 9 hr and at 48 hr of fermentation. It is concluded that L. buchneri should be used as a silage inoculant rather than as a probiotic because it alters fermentation within the silo thereby improving silage quality and enabling some benefits for ruminal fermentation.     

Silage quality and preservation of Urtica cannabina ensiled alone and with additive treatment

Urtica cannabina (U. cannabina), a member of the Urticaceae family, is widely distributed throughout the temperate regions of the world and can be used as a nutritious feed for animals through the winter period. To provide high‐quality forage all year‐round, we treated freshly harvested U. cannabina without additives (control), but with corn flour (CF) (5:1 w/w), molasses (2, 4, and 8% fresh weight), or LalsiL Dry (LD) inoculant (5, 10 and 20 mg kg^?1 of fresh weight). We then assessed the chemical composition, in vitro digestibility and fermentative parameters of the products after 0, 3, 5, 15, 20 and 60 d of ensiling. The results showed that: (i) U. cannabina had large quantities of protein and some essential minerals, including calcium, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper and manganese, and was particularly rich in magnesium and iron. (ii) U. cannabina can be preserved as a highly nutritious silage. No additive treatment or the LD inoculant treatments produced badly preserved silages. The 2% molasses treatment produced badly preserved silage, but 4–8% molasses produced well‐preserved silages. The CF treatment also produced well‐preserved silage. We recommend the application rates of molasses at 4–8% of fresh weight or 5:1 CF to improve U. cannabina silage.     

Effect of commercial inoculant and formic acid± formalin silage additives on silage fermentation and intake and on liveweight change of young cattle

Data from six experiments conducted at two Agricultural Development and Advisory Service Experimental Husbandry Farms during 1980–83 were used to compare low dry matter (DM, 160 g kg^-1), low water soluble carbohydrate (WSC, 15 g kg^-1), non-additive treated silage with silage treated with commercial inoculants or formic acid with or without added formalin (formic acid ± formalin). Formic acid ± formalin significantly decreased silage pH and ammonia-N and significantly increased silage residual WSC compared with inoculant or untreated silage. Formic acid ± formalin significantly increased oven DM and significantly reduced DM loss during ensiling compared with untreated silage. Formic acid ± formalin treatment significantly increased both silage DM and total DM intake compared with untreated silage. Daily liveweight gains of cattle offered formic acid ± formalin were significantly higher than those given inoculant or untreated silage.
It is suggested from the results that formic acid ± formalin additives can be used successfully to prevent a clostridial fermentation developing when crops contain 15 g WSC kg^-1.     

The effect of addition of sugar and inoculation with two commercial inoculants on the fermentation of lucerne silage in laboratory silos

Lucerne (DM 236 g kg^-1, WSC 49 g (kg DM)^-1) was ensiled in test-tube silos with or without either glucose or fructose and with or without one of two commercial inoculants. The WSC content of the forage as ensiled was too low to obtain a well preserved untreated silage. By day 4 the pH values of the silages with added sugar or inoculant were significantly lower (P< 0·001) than the control silage. A satisfactory fermentation was attained only in the silages to which sugar and an inoculant had been added. These silages had a lower pH, more protein-N (P< 0·001), less ammonia-N (P<0·001), a faster increase in counts of lactic acid bacteria, and decrease in counts of coliforms than the other silages. Homo-fermentative lactic acid bacteria dominated the fermentation in the inoculated silages while leuconostocs dominated the early stages of fermentation in the control silages. The results indicate that if there is insufficient sugar in the original crop, then the bacteria in an inoculant will not be able to produce enough lactic acid to lower the pH to an acceptable level. This has important implications for the ensilage of lucerne and other highly buffered low sugar crops.     

Amount and quality of grass harvested for first-cut silage for differing spring-grazing frequencies of two mixtures of perennial ryegrass cultivars with contrasting heading date

There are potential advantages and disadvantages associated with grazing spring perennial ryegrass swards designated for first‐cut silage. These may differ for intermediate‐heading (0·50 ear emergence in the second half of May) and late‐heading (0·50 ear emergence in the first half of June) cultivars. The interactions between cultivar type, spring‐grazing frequency, silage‐harvest date and year were examined in an experiment with a randomized complete block (n = 4) design with a factorial arrangement of treatments, conducted in Ireland. The factors were (i) two perennial ryegrass mixtures: intermediate‐ vs. late‐heading cultivars, (ii) three spring‐grazing regimes: no grazing, grazing in mid‐March or grazing in both mid‐March and mid‐April, (iii) four first‐cut silage‐harvest dates that were at c. 10‐d intervals from 19 May and (iv) 2 years (1998 and 1999). The effects of cultivar mixture on herbage mass of the swards in spring were small and not statistically significant. The late‐heading cultivars provided lower amounts of herbage dry matter for harvesting for first‐cut silage but herbage with higher in vitro organic digestibility values compared with intermediate‐heading cultivars. To achieve the same amount of herbage for silage, the late‐heading cultivars needed to be harvested 8 d later than the intermediate‐heading cultivars. Even with this delay in harvest date, the late‐heading cultivars had higher in vitro organic digestibility values than the intermediate‐heading cultivars. The late‐heading cultivars could be harvested up to 30 d later and produce a higher amount of herbage for first‐cut silage with similar digestibility values compared with the intermediate‐heading cultivars.     

Grass silage as a basic feed for store lambs. 1. Effect of wilting, chop length and stage of maturity of grass silage on intake and performance of store lambs

Two experiments were carried out with grass silages cut at a leafy (Experiment 1) and a more mature (Experiment 2) stage of growth to evaluate the effect of wilting and chop length on silage intake and performance of store lambs. In each experiment, the herbage was cut with a rotary mower and was either ensiled within 24 h as unwilled silage (U) or wilted for 1–3 d (W). Each silage type was harvested with either a double-chop harvester (D) or a precision-chop harvester (P). All silages were treated with formic acid at 3 1 t^?1 and were well preserved. The silages were fed ad libitum to Suffolk crossbred store lambs (twenty-four lambs per treatment) without any supplement over a period of 8 or 9 weeks. Wilting of the silages had little effect on silage intake (797 vs. 809g dry matter (DM) d^?1) or on lamb performance in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, wilting of the D silage increased silage DM intake (589 vs. 534 g DM d^?1; +10%) and reduced the extent of liveweight losses. Wilting of the P silage reduced silage intake (770 vs. 791g DM d^?1; -3%) and reduced liveweight gains. In Experiment 1 intakes of the D silages were 650–667g DM d^?1 and just maintained lamb live weights. Intakes of the P silages were 39–49% higher than the D silages (927–968 g DM d^?1) and increased liveweight gains. In Experiment 2 intakes of the D silages were 534–589 g DM d^?1 and resulted in a loss in lamb live weight. Precision-chopping increased silage intakes by 31–48% (770–791 DM d^?1)in Experiment 2 and improved lamb liveweight gains. Lamb performance was higher on the UP silage than on the WP silage. The rumen retention lime (RRT), estimated from the rumen contents of the lambs at slaughter and their silage intake before slaughter, was much shorter for the lambs fed on the P silages (12.6–20.6 h) than those fed on the D silages (21.4–29.3 h) in each experiment. Silage intake and liveweight gain were positively related to silage in vivo DM digestibility (DMD), whereas RRT was negatively related to DMD. However, there were distinct differences between the P and D silages in the elevation and, to a lesser extent, in the slope of the regression lines, indicating that intake of D silage was limited by factors other than the digestibility of the silage The results of this study show that the chop length of grass silage had a far greater effect on intake and on lamb performance than silage digestibility, whereas wilting had little or no effect.