• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.511-516
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• 2007

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of differently maturing corn hybrids on silage production and milk production per unit area in the northern part of Japan, where grain development occurs under decreasing ambient temperature. Both hybrids were harvested at the same time. The stages of maturity for the early-maturing hybrids (EH; 80 d relative maturity) and the mid-maturing hybrids (MH; 93 d relative day) were early dent and late dough stage, respectively. The plant yields for MH were higher than those for EH. The dry matter (DM) content of MH was lower than that for EH, and the effluent loss for MH silage was greater than that for EH silage. Therefore, the DM yields of prepared silage per area were similar for both treatments. Twelve multiparous mid-lactation Holstein cows ($58{\pm}13$ days in milk) were fed diets based on EH or MH silage in a crossover design with two 3-week periods. Cows were fed 3 kg of hay crop silage (DM basis) and either EH or MH silage ad libitum, and concentrates were supplied to meet NRC requirement for dairy cows. Silage DM intake for EH was found to be higher (p<0.05) than that for MH (10.0 vs. 9.1 kg/day). Milk production and milk composition for EH were similar to those for MH. Feed efficiency per total feed intake was similar in both treatments, although the feed efficiency per concentrate intake tended to be higher for the EH than that for the MH diet. These results indicate that differences in maturation in corn hybrids affect the effluent production of silage and the silage intake of dairy cows. It may be advantageous to plant early hybrid corn with a reduction in effluent production of silage as well as a reduction in purchased feed costs for dairy cows under the climatic conditions of the northern part of Japan.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.1063-1067
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• 2000

The effects of acremonium cellulase (AC) additive and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) inoculant on effluent production and aerobic stability of silage were investigated. Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum) was treated with AC at the rates of 0.05 ($AC_1$) and 0.1 g/kg $(AC_2)$ and/or with LAB at the rate of $1.0{\times}10^8cfu/kg$ fresh grass at ensiling. The treatments of LAB, $AC_1$, $AC_2$, $LAB+AC_1$ and $LAB+AC_2$ significantly (p<0.01) decreased pH and contents of volatile basic nitrogen and butyric acid, and significantly (p<0.01) increased lactic acid content compared with the control. All treated silages were well preserved with pH of lower than 4.2. There were no significant differences in fermentation quality between the application rates of AC ($AC_1$ and $AC_2$) and between the mixtures ($AC_1+LAB$ and $AC_2+LAB$). AC ($AC_1$ and $AC_2$) and AC plus LAB ($AC_1+LAB$ and $AC_2+LAB$) resulted in more silage effluent than the control and LAB inoculant alone. When the experimental silos were opened, the silages treated with AC and/or LAB were not as stable as the control silage, as shown by pH increase and lactic acid decomposition.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.519-527
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• 2009

The main nutritional problem of sorghum$\times$sudangrass hybrid silage is low quality and dry matter (DM) contents. This experiment was conducted to evaluate whether field pre-wilting treatment of sorghum$\times$sudangrass hybrid silage increases DM content and forage quality of the silage. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were consisted of five different wilting days: 0 day (direct cut silage), 0.5 day, 1 day, 2 days and 3 days. Sorghum$\times$sudangrass hybrid silage with pre-wilting showed low 4.00 pH values, however direct cut silage (control) showed a 4.30 value because of its high moisture content. The DM content of sorghum$\times$sudangrass hybrid silage with pre-wilting was high above 25.1% after 1 days, however that of direct cut silage had 17.6%. And the effluent of wilted silage was decreased with prolonged wilting period, but that of direct cut silage produced effluent of 183 mL/kg. Crude protein and ether extract with wilted silage were decreased, however crude ash was increased with prolonged wilting period. Silage with pre-wilting had higher acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents than control silages, while its non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC) showed the opposite results. Lactic acid and total organic acid were increased with prolonged wilting period. For the palatability of dairy goat, silage with 2 days wilting was highest among silages. The experiment results indicate that wilted sorghum$\times$sudangrass hybrid silage could be recommended as effective method for reducing effluent, increasing pH and forage quality more than direct cut silage. Optimum pre-wilting day of sorghum$\times$sudangrass hybrid silage may be 1 days.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.155-166
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• 2014

Organic forage production system is one of the most important aspects in organic livestock production. Animals in the organic farming system are also essential for manure to be used for organic forage production. Both organic forage and animals are essential to maintain the cycle of organic agriculture system. In this paper we introduce the organic forage production system in Korea. Summer and winter crops are getting popular in Korea because of their high forage yield and cultivation in double cropping systems. Common cropping system for forage production in Korea is the double cropping system with legume and grass mixture. Forage sorghum and sudangrass are the most popular ones of annual summer forage corps because of their high production with low cost in the double cropping systems. In the mixture of forage crops, inter cropping is more suitable in the corn and sorghum cropping system because of high lodging resistance and forage yield, and low weed population. Forage sorghum and sudangrass are difficult to preserve as direct-cut silage due to the fact that its high moisture content causes excessive fermentation during ensiling. Corn grain addition to sorghum silage could be recommended as the most effective treatment for increasing quality and reducing production cost. It is recommended that corn grain could be added up to 10% of total amount of silage. And agriculture by-products also can be added at the time of ensiling to minimize losses of effluent and have the additional advantage of increasing quality. Agriculture by-products as silage supplements increased DM content and quality, and decreased the production cost of sorghum silage. Field pre-wilting treatment of forage crops also increased DM content and quality of the silage. Wilting sorghum${\times}$sudangrass hybrid before ensiling was the effective method for reducing effluent and increasing pH and forage quality more than direct cut silage. Optimum prewilting period of sudangrass silage was 1 or 2 days. In organic forage, the most important factor is the enhancement of organic forage sufficiency in relation to the environmental-friendly and organic livestock. Consequently, there are many possibilities for animal production and organic forage production in Korea. No forages no cattle concept should be emphasized in organic farming system.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.591-596
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• 1994

Chemical composition and nutritive values of napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) silages subjected to two cutting intervals were studies; 1st harvest in July (A), and 2nd (B) and 1st (C) harvests in November. Each forage was ensiled with 4% molasses in plastic bags and stored for 5 or 9 months. A feeding experiment with castrated goats was conducted from April to June of the following year. Dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) content of the harvests varied from 9.5 to 22.8% and 6.6 to 13.6% of DM, respectively. The dry matter content of the silages fed to the goats were 13.0 to 24.4%, because some effluent was removed from each silage before the feeding trial. The pH values of the silages were between 4.03 and 4.29. Goats were given sufficient silage to meet maintenance nitrogen requirements from napier grass silage. Silage C was not completely consumed, and the silage had low digestibilities of DM, CP, hemicellulose and cellulose. Nitrogen balance was slightly positive for goats consuming silage B and was negative for goats consuming silages A and C. Nitrogen utilization was discussed in terms of ruminal $NH_3-N$ and volatile fatty acid concentration in the rumen fluids. It is concluded that goats could not maintain N-equilibrium not only when a younger forage was consumed at a level of N requirement by a restricted feeding, but also when an older forage could not be consumed enough for N requirement because of feed intake limitation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.187-198
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• 1997

This experiment was conducted to evaluate effects of wilting and additives on fermetation characteristics, quality and aerobic stability of silage of rye(Seca1e cereale L.) harvested at the early heading stage. Harvested rye was wilted or mixed with beet pulp and then treated with formic acid or lactic acid bacteria(LAB) inoculant. Treatments were consisted of direct cut(DC), wilted(WT), beet pulp added(BP), direct cut and formate applied(DF), wilted and formate applied(WF), beet pulp and formate applied(BF), direct cut and LAB inoculated(DL), beet pulp added and LAB inoculated(BL), and wilted and LAB inoculated(WL) silages. Afler 70 days of ensiling period, the silages were opened and exposed to air for 7 days, and the silages of opening day(0 day) were compared with the silages exposed to air for 7 days(7 day). 1. LAB inoculated rye silages(DL, WL, BL) lowered pH values effectively eom the third day of ensiling and showed most stable pattern of pH changes during the initial fermentation process. Direct cut and formate applied(DF), beet pulp and formate applied(BF) and beet pulp added(BP) silages were also effective in lowering pH from the seventh day thai direct cut treatment(DC). 2. pH was low below 3.7 in all treatments of 0 day. After 7-day period of aerobic exposure, DL and WL showed considerable increases in pH from 3.5 and 3.4 to 8.3 and 6.4, respectively. 3. Direct cut rye silages(DF, DC, DL) and beet pulp and formate treatment(BF) produced effluent of 121.2, 85.9, 80.3 and 34.2 mlkg, respectively and these were greater than others(P<0.01). Beet pulp retained 1.61 I/kg of effluent at the application rate of 50 kg/t in comparing BP with DC, and formate application increased the amount of effluent in comparing DF and BF with DC and BP, respectively(P<0.01). 4. Beet pulp and LAB treatment(B1) was highest in content of lactate as 3.1% and formate treated silages(DF, WF, BF) showed lower content of lactate and total acid than others. LAB inoculated(D1, WL, BL) and wilted (WT) silages were graded to be good quality as a second group by the Flieg's score. Formate applied silages (DF, WF, BF) were graded as a foum group lower than DC by one. 5. Residual content of WSC of rye silage was higher in BP, BF, DL and BL than direct cut treatment(M3) (P< 0.01). Formate application had a tendency to increase the content of residual content of WSC. 6. For the ratio of NH3-N to Total N, wilted and LAB inoculated(W1) and direct cut and LAB inoculated(D1) silages were lowest on 0 day as 8.9 and 9.3% respectively. But after 7-day period of aerobic exposure, WL and DL showed largest increase of the ratio of $NH_3-N$ to Total N from 0 day(P<0.01). 7. On 0 day wilted(WT), beet pulp and formate treatment(BF), and beet pulp and LAB treatment(B1) were lower than direct cut treatment(DC) for NDF and ADF concentrations consistently. Formate applied silages (DF, WF, BF) made little change in ADF and NDF concentrations during 7 day period of aerobic exposure. DL and WL showed a large increase in ADF and NDF concentrations under aerobic condition(P<0.01). 8. IVDMD values of wilted(WT), beet pulp added(BP), wilted and LAB inoculated(W1) and beet pulp added and LAB inoculated(B1) silages were higher than direct-cut treatmentPC) as 84.7, 84.7, 84.4 and 83.0%, respectively on 0 day. But during 7-day period of aerobic exposure, a great decreae in IVDMD of WL was showed(P<0.01). The experimental results indicate that wilted silage(WT) could be recommended as the most effective treatment for reducing efluent and increasing quality and feed value of rye silage without deteriorating aerobic stability more than direct cut treatment(DC). Additionally, under unfavorable weather condition beet pulp added and LAB inoculated treatment(T3L) might be the possible alternative for successful ensiling of forage rye.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.436-445
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• 2020

Objective: Ensiling is a simple and effective method for long-term preservation; however, less information exists about the ensilability characteristics of garlic stalk (GS). Therefore, the objectives were to examine the ensiling feasibility of GS. Methods: The GS was ensiled alone or inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum KU5 in the presence or absence of 5% molasses and ensiled for 7, 14, and 28 d. As an alternative storage method, GS was co-ensiled with wet citrus pulp (CP) at different proportions (GS:CP: 70:30, 60:40, 50:50, and 40:60). Analysis was made on physicochemical, fermentative, and nutritional parameters. Results: The GS was found to be a biomass which is difficult to ensile. A combination of microbial inoculant and molasses was successful in the improvement of the silage fermentation quality of GS. Co-ensiling of GS with wet CP at the mixing ratio of 50:50 provided the most desirable silage fermentation parameters, including the substantial lactic acid formation, low final pH, minor effluent loss, and the more favorable organoleptic properties. Conclusion: Co-ensiling GS with CP appears to be a simple and viable method of conservation, enabling the more efficient utilization of these by-product resources over a prolonged period.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.843-851
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• 2003

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of pre-wilting Bana grass (Pennisetum purpureum x P. americanum) herbage under sunny conditions for 0, 6, 18, 24, 32 and 48 h and ensiling it with maize meal. Four levels of maize meal(viz., 0, 5, 10 and 15% on fresh weight (Fw) basis) were tested. The experiment had a split-plot design. Wilting increased the concentration of water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) significantly (p<0.001) on a Fw basis, although there were no significant changes on DM basis. Unwilted grass contained $36.1g{\cdot}WSC{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}Fw$ ($127.6g{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}DM$) and this increased to $64.1g{\cdot}WSC{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}Fw$ ($116.7g{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}DM$) after 48 h of pre-wilting. Wilting also increased the DM content of herbage significantly (p>0.001) from 250 to $620g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, between 0 and 48 h respectively. The concentration of fermentation end-products decreased (except butyric acid) and pH increased when the period of wilting increased, indicating that fermentation was restricted. In particular, lactic acid content declined from 50.8 to $26.2g{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}DM$ (p<0.01) and the residual WSC contents of silage increased from 2.7 with fresh herbage to $18.1g{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}DM$ with 48 h of wilting (p<0.001). Rapid wilting for 24 h, to a DM of $450g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ was optimum since important increases in pH, residual WSC and DMD occurred at this level of wilting. Acetic acid, butyric acid and ammoniacal-N contents were lowest with 24 h of wilting. There were no significant interactions between length of wilting and the incorporation of maize meal. Wilting had a greater influence on fermentation than the incorporation of maize meal. Addition of maize meal facilitated fermentation by increasing forage DM content and reducing effluent production. In addition, the maize meal increased DMD. It was concluded that maize meal should generally be incorporated at a level of 5% on fresh weight basis.