Microflora of Newly Cut Grass after Addition of Liquid Manure

Proteolysis during ensilage of forages varying in soluble sugar content

The effect of contrasting concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates of herbage on silage fermentation and composition was examined using grass with high [250 g/kg of dry matter (DM)] concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates and grass and clover with low (66 g/kg of DM) concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates. Herbages were ensiled untreated, after inoculation with lactic acid bacteria, or after treatment with formic acid. Good quality silages were produced from herbage with high concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates, regardless of treatment, and all pH values were below 3.7 after 90 d of ensilage. However, the silage formed from inoculated herbage had a significantly lower concentration of ammonia N and a significantly higher proportion of residual ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase compared with the other two silages. Fast protein liquid chromatography (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden) was used to measure ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, and measurement of true plant protein fractions in herbage and silage showed benefits over traditional measurements such as the measurement of N and ammonia N. Herbages with low concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates produced inferior quality silages that had lower ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase contents and higher ammonia N contents, regardless of treatment; few significant differences were observed among treatments. Under good ensiling conditions, when available water-soluble carbohydrate is adequate, the use of inoculants can improve fermentation characteristics and increase the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase content of silages. However, when the herbage has low concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates, even in inoculated herbages, lactic acid bacteria may follow a heterofermentative pathway instead of a homofermentative pathway, which can result in a decrease in silage quality and a reduction in intact ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase.

Fermentation and utilization of grass silage

The decision to utilize particular forages in support of dairy production should be based on a number of key factors, such as available land base, type of manure management, soil type and topography, climate, and availability of purchased forages and feeds. Because of the complexity and environmental concerns existing in the dairy industry today, decisions about forage and manure management should include whole farm analysis with the aid of computer software. The chemical composition and digestibility of grass are affected more by stage of maturity than by other management factors, such as species, DM, or type of harvest system. The decline in digestibility of nutrients in first growth forage is approximately .55 to .68%/d and is dependent on the method of estimation. The decline in digestible DMI in first growth is .3 to .5%/d. The use of silage additives has become an integral part of forage management, and improvements in DMI and milk production are documented. Particle size and type of harvest equipment significantly affect eating behavior and efficiency of milk production. Wilting of silage results in an increase in DMI and efficiency of microbial protein production.