Effects of different additions to Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) on silage quality

Abstract

This research was carried out to determine the effects of different additions (urea and molasses) used with Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) silage on fermentation, in vitro gas production, microbiological properties, in vitro digestibility parameters, and relative fodder quality (RFQ) in silages made under laboratory conditions. The Italian grass (Lolium multiflorum L.) used in the study was chopped to an approximate size of 2–3.0 cm. Amounts of 0, 2, and 4% molasses and 0, 0.5, and 1% urea were added to the fresh material as a percentage of dry matter. Because of the urea, crude protein (CP) of Italian ryegrass silage increased, but the content of neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL) decreased. While the addition of urea decreased the acetic acid and butyric acid concentrations of the silage, it increased the pH, lactic acid, and ammonia (NH3) content. Molasses addition increased in vitro gas production and organic matter digestibility (OMD); urea increased metabolic energy (ME) and the net energy lactation (NEL) values of silages. Urea and molasses both increased in vitro digestibility parameters, microbial protein production and synthesis, and relative fodder quality of the silage. As a result of the research, it was determined that urea and molasses could be used at contents of 1.5% and 4%, respectively, in Italian ryegrass silage.

Silage Quality, Nutrient Content and Relative Feed Value of Urea and Molasses Added Sweet Maize [Zea mays (L.) saccharata Sturt.] Silage

“…Among these values, pH values were higher, LA, AA and BA values were similar and NH 3 -N values were lower compared to those obtained in this study. These differences may have originated from the differences in the silage materials that were used and the differences in the ratios of molasses addition (Gürsoy et al, 2022). In a study that was performed by Demirel and Yıldız, (2001) on barley silages, silages with 5% and 10% molasses addition and 1% urea addition were made.…”