Theme 09: Forage Quality
Description
This study determined the effect of surface spoilage in the diet on feed intake and nutrient digestibilities using growing steers fed whole-plant maize silage-based diets. A bunker silo, 0.9 m in depth, and a 2.7 m diameter AgBag were filled with alternating loads of chopped forage. After 90 days, the bunker was sealed with a sheet of polyethylene, and this silage was designated “spoiled”. The silage in the AgBag was designated “normal”. The four diets contained 90% silage and 10% supplement (dry matter basis), and the proportions of silage in the diets were A) 100% normal, B) 75% normal: 25% spoiled; C) 50% normal: 50% spoiled; and D) 25% normal: 75% spoiled. Feed intake decreased linearly as the proportion of spoiled silage increased from 0 to 75%. Steers consuming the normal silage diet had the highest nutrient digestibilities. Spoiled silage also had negative associative effects on nutrient digestibilities, and the integrity of the forage mat in the rumen was partially destroyed.
Included in
Effect of Level of Surface Spoilage on the Nutritive Value of Maize Silage Diets
This study determined the effect of surface spoilage in the diet on feed intake and nutrient digestibilities using growing steers fed whole-plant maize silage-based diets. A bunker silo, 0.9 m in depth, and a 2.7 m diameter AgBag were filled with alternating loads of chopped forage. After 90 days, the bunker was sealed with a sheet of polyethylene, and this silage was designated “spoiled”. The silage in the AgBag was designated “normal”. The four diets contained 90% silage and 10% supplement (dry matter basis), and the proportions of silage in the diets were A) 100% normal, B) 75% normal: 25% spoiled; C) 50% normal: 50% spoiled; and D) 25% normal: 75% spoiled. Feed intake decreased linearly as the proportion of spoiled silage increased from 0 to 75%. Steers consuming the normal silage diet had the highest nutrient digestibilities. Spoiled silage also had negative associative effects on nutrient digestibilities, and the integrity of the forage mat in the rumen was partially destroyed.
