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Changes in chemical composition and in vitro DM digestibility of urea and molasses treated whole crop canola silage

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2017

A. Balakhial*
Affiliation:
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
A.A. Naserian
Affiliation:
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
A. Heravi Moussavi
Affiliation:
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
F. Eftekhar Shahrodi
Affiliation:
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
R. Valizadeh
Affiliation:
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
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Extract

Forage quality is a key factor in dairy cattle nutrition. High moisture forages are so susceptible to loss their nutrients during ensiling. Canola is one of the oilseed plants that belong to Brassica species. Canola forage has high level of moisture in its tissues and must be wilted to 60 -65% moisture before ensiling. On the other hand, molasses and urea as two silage additives can be effective in improvement and preservation of canola forage quality. Molasses is commonly used to provide readily available energy for lactic acid fermentation. Addition of molasses can increase dry matter content of silage that related to relatively high dry matter content of molasses (Baytok and Aksu, 2005). Meanwhile, silage protein content can be increased and proteolysis decreased with the addition of urea. Application of urea to harvested forage before ensiling can restrict the fermentation processes and release ammonia to potentially enhance nutritive value of the ensiled crop and reduce deterioration during storage. The main objective of this study was to evaluate effects of different levels of urea and molasses on chemical composition and in vitro DM digestibility of whole crop canola silage.

Type
Poster Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2007

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References

Baytok, E. and Aksu, T. 2005. The Effects of Formic Acid, Molasses and Inoculant as Silage Additives on Corn Silage Composition and Ruminal Fermentation Characteristics in Sheep. Turkish Journal of Veterinary Animal Science 29: 469–474.Google Scholar
Tilley, J. M.A., and Terry, R. A. 1963. A two-stage technique for the in vitro digestion of forage crops. Journal British Grassland Society. 18: 104 – 109.Google Scholar