• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.381-390
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• 2008

Two experiments were conducted to investigate effects of molasses addition to silage materials in ensiling Socheongryongtang meal on the nutritive quality of silage, palatability and various ruminal parameters in Korean native goats. In Experiment 1, Socheongryongtang meal silage was produced by the addition of 0, 0.5, or 1.0% molasses and stored for 40 days at room temperature. There were three replicates per treatment. Lactic acid contents of Socheongryongtang meal silage containing molasses(0.5 and 1.0%) were significantly(p<0.05) higher than that of the control(0%). However, the pH and butyric acid contents of Socheongryongtang meal silage containing molasses(0.5 and 1.0%) were lower than those of the control(0%). In addition, molasses(0.5 and 1.0%) increased the number of lactobacillus, but decreased the number of fungi in Socheongryongtang meal silage. In vitro dry matter disappearance tended to increase by molasses addition. In Experiment 2, three 1.5-yr-old Korean native female goats were employed in cross-over design to measure the palatability and various ruminal parameters of Socheongryongtang meal silage. Feed intake of Socheongryongtang meal silage containing molasses(0.5 and 1.0%) for 30 min significantly higher than that of control(0%). Silmilar trend was found when the feed intake was measured for 6 hr. In various ruminal parameters, molasses addition to silage materials increased propionic acid(P) and total volatile fatty acid contents, but decreased pH, acetic acid (A), and butyric acid. The A/P ratio was the lowest in 1.0% molasses treatment group. It is concluded that molasses addition in ensiling Socheongryongtang meal could enhance its nutritional quality and lengthen storage period. Also the palatability of silage was improved by the addition of molasses.