• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.471-478
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• 2012

The role of moisture absorptive capacity of pre-silage material and its relationship with silage effluent in high moisture by-product feedstuffs (HMBF) is assessed. The term water retention capacity which is sometimes used in explaining the rate of effluent control in ensilage may be inadequate, since it accounts exclusively for the capacity of an absorbent incorporated into a pre-silage material prior to ensiling, without consideration to how much the pre-silage material can release. A new terminology, 'potential water retention capacity' (PWRC), which attempts to address this shortcoming, is proposed. Data were pooled from a series of experiments conducted separately over a period of five years using laboratory silos with four categories of agro by-products (n = 27) with differing moisture contents (highest 96.9%, lowest 78.1% in fresh matter, respectively), and their silages (n = 81). These were from a vegetable source (Daikon, Raphanus sativus), a root tuber source (potato pulp), a fruit source (apple pomace) and a cereal source (brewer's grain), respectively. The pre-silage materials were adjusted with dry in-silo absorbents consisting wheat straw, wheat or rice bran, beet pulp and bean stalks. The pooled mean for the moisture contents of all pre-silage materials was 78.3% (${\pm}10.3$). Silage effluent decreased (p<0.01), with increase in PWRC of pre-silage material. The theoretical moisture content and PWRC of pre-silage material necessary to stem effluent flow completely in HMBF silage was 69.1% and 82.9 g/100 g in fresh matter, respectively. The high correlation (r = 0.76) between PWRC of ensiled material and silage effluent indicated that the latter is an important factor in silage-effluent relationship.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 1996

Spring sown oat crops were grown during early March to late June in 1993~1994. The crops were harvested at different stage of maturity to determine the yield performance, chemical components and net energy value of the plants for silage utilization. The pattern of dry matter accumulation, absolute growth rate(Abs. GR), leaf weight ratio(LWR), stalk diameter(SD) and other growth parameters were analysed to evaluate the suitability of the plant materials for ensiling. The effect5 of wilting treatment and formic acid addition on the quality of silage was also disscused during the experiments. Spring sown oat crops was evaluated as a suitable materials for whole plant silage making. The best qualitative oat silage was obtained at the stage of soti dough to hard dough, when the plant reached 32.2~35.7% in dry matter concentration. Spring sown oat produced 9.43 ton in DM basis, 5.79 ton in TDN and 57.550 MJ-NEL/ha in net energy lactation. Early harvesting of the oat corps needed wilting treatment of the material before ensiling. Under pre-witing treatment (1/2 day) and formic acid addition(0.3%) silage quality point of oat crops harvested at the bloom stage was improved from 58 to 84 point.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.92-99
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• 1983

Experiment were conducted to study effect of pre-wilting on the quality of silage. Herbage samples were taken on November 11, 1981. Italian ryegrass and rye plant at grazing stage were taken and wilted to adjust their dry matter contents to the range of 15.8 to 53.2% and ensiled in order to evaluate the effect of pre-wilting on the chemical composition and nutrient loss of silage. Both prewilted and unwilted grass material were ensiled in small polyetylene film bag and stored under room temperature. 1. The formation of total acid decreased by increasing DM content, however, lactic acid content of the total organic acid increased. 2. In the silage, the loss of DM declined as DM content increased. 3. The quality of silage estimated by organic acid constituent was improved as DM content in the herbage increased. 4. The production of $NH_3-N$ decreased by increasing degree of prewilting. 5. In vitro dry matter digestibility was not affected by prewilting.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1429-1436
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• 2006

Fermentation characteristics, nutrient retention and aerobic stability of barley silages prepared using 6 commercial inoculants were evaluated using 126 mini-silos (3-L) in a completely randomized design. Whole barley forage was chopped, wilted to 39% DM and treated with water (control, S) or one of six inoculants: A (containing Lactobacillus plantarum); B (L. plantarum and Enterococcus faecium); C (L. plantarum and Pediococcus cerevisiae); D (L. plantarum, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Propionibacterium freudenreichii, plus hydrolytic enzymes); E (Lactobacillus buchneri plus hydrolytic enzymes); F (L. buchneri and P. pentosaceus plus hydrolytic enzymes). Samples of treated forage were collected for analysis at the time of ensiling, and then 18 silos of each treatment were filled, capped and weighed. Triplicate silos were weighed and opened after 1, 3, 5, 7, 33, and 61 d. On d 61, $400{\pm}5g$ of material from each silo was placed in 1-L styrofoam containers, covered with cheesecloth and held at room temperature. Silage temperature was recorded hourly for 14 d via implanted thermocouple probes. Chemical composition of the forage at ensiling was consistent with previously reported values. At d 61, pH was lowest (p<0.01) in silage S. Ammonia-N was lower (p<0.05) in silage A than in silages S, B, E, or F. Compared to pre-ensiling values, water soluble carbohydrate concentrations were elevated in silages S, A, B, C and D, and decreased in E and F. Lactic acid concentrations were similar (p>0.10) across treatments. Acetic acid levels were highest (p<0.01) in silage E and lowest (p<0.01) in silage D. Recovery of DM was lower (p<0.01) in silage F than in silages S, A, B, C, or D. On d 61, yeasts were most numerous (p<0.01) in silage D, which was the only silage in which temperature rose more than $2^{\circ}C$ above ambient during aerobic exposure. Silage D also had the highest (p<0.01) pH and ADIN content after aerobic exposure. Lactic acid and WSC content of silage D decreased dramatically during the 14-d aerobic exposure period. Yeast counts (at d 14 of exposure) were lowest (p<0.01) in silages E and F. In general, the commercial inoculants did not appear to enhance the fermentation of barley silage to any appreciable extent in laboratory silos.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.18-28
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• 1978

To study about the effect of harvested stage and physical treatment such as wilting or chopping of plant material on the quality of silage, Italian ryegrass(Lolium multiflorum) harvested at pre-headed or heading stage and Seombadi(Dystaenia takesimana Nakai) harvested at pre-flowering stage, were used for the purpose. The materials were treated in four different ways which were a) non-treated, b) one day-wilted, c) chopped with 1 to 2cm length and d) wilted and chopped, and those were ensiled in plastic containers and stored at room temperature for three months. After three months of storage, it was investigated and obtained the following results. 1) Having 6.31 of NFE/CP ratio and low content of crude fiber, Seombadi contained more suitable constituents for silage than Italian ryegrass. 2) Under the non-treated or chopped condition, the loss of NFE was higher, and lower with wilted material. 3) Wilting or chopping improved DM digestibility. 4) Compared with Italian ryegrass harvested at pre-headed stage, the storage amount per unit volume of heading stage-Italian ryegrass and Seombadi were higher 8% and 69% respectively, and wilting and/or chopping increased the storage amount 41 to 134%. 5) The majority of weight loss during storage was observed at 1st week after ensiling, it continued slightly until 4th week. The highest loss in 8th week were 3.76% of nontreated material. 6) One day wilting increased DM content of silage 23 to 131%. Wilting and chopping increased pH and lactic acid improved the quality considerably. 7) The correlation between $NH_3$ and butyric acid, and between lactic acid and DM were r=0.782**, r=0.634** respectively. The regression equation were y=12.853X+4.908 (X=butyric acid), y=0.016X+1.309(X=DM content), respectively. 8. The above results indicate that it is necessary to wilt or chop material to make good quality silage from Italian ryegrass, and such treatment can improve the quality of silage with Seombadi also.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.116-123
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• 2003

Forages are the most important feed resource for ruminants worldwide, whether fed as pastures, forage crops or conserved hay, silage or haylage. There is large variability in the quality of forages so measurement and prediction of feeding value and nutritive value are essential for high levels of production. Within a commercial animal production system, methods of prediction must be inexpensive and rapid. At least 50% of the variation in feeding value of forages is due to variation in voluntary feed intake. Identification of the factors that constrain voluntary feed intake allows these differences to be managed and exploited in forage selection. Constraints to intake have been predicted using combinations of metabolic and physical factors within the animal while simple measurements such as the energy required to shear the plant material are related to constraints to intake with some plant material. Animals respond to both pre- and post-ingestive feedback signals from forages. Pre-ingestive signals may play a role in intake with signals including taste, odour and texture together with learned aversions to nutrients or toxins (post-ingestive feedback signals). The challenge to forage evaluation is identification of the factors which are most important contributors to these feedback signals. Empirical models incorporating chemical composition are also widely used. The models tend to be useful within the ranges of the datasets used in their development but none can claim to have universal application. Mechanistic models are becoming increasingly complex and sophisticated and incorporate both feed characteristics and use of biochemical pathways within the animal. Improvement in utilisation through the deliberate selection of pasture plants for high feeding value appears to have potential and has been poorly exploited. Use of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy is a simple method that offers significant potential for the preliminary screening of plants with genetic differences in feeding value. Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy will only be as reliable as the calibration sets from which the equations are generated.