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The effect of sugar beet pulp and rolled barley as absorbents on effluent production, silage fermentation and animal performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2017

P N Johnson*
Affiliation:
ADAS, Drayton EHF, Alcester Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 9RQ
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Extract

Silage effluent represents a potential pollutant and a loss of ensiled nutrients. An absorbent provides the possibility of absorbing effluent, aiding fermentation and increasing the feeding value of the silage. Sugar beet pulp (SBP) nuts and rolled barley (RB) were evaluated as absorbents with direct cut grass silage.

Perennial ryegrass swards of 222 g/kg average dry matter were direct cut between 10 and 12 July 1989. Grass was ensiled with the following rates of absorbent per tonne of fresh material:

  1. 1. 20 kg SBP (S20).

  2. 2. 40 kg SBP (S40).

  3. 3. 40 kg RB (B40).

  4. 4. Untreated (U).

Production of silage effluent was measured with a tippler mechanism attached to an electronic logger and recorded daily until 22 September. The silages were individually fed through Calan Broadbent doors to 48 x 12 month old Friesian steers between 24 October and 19 December.

Type
Forage Utilisation
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1991

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