Determining Effect of Straw and Inoculant Addition on Silage Quality of Sugar Beet Leaves Silage

RABIA ALHAN; ABDULLAH CAN
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Harran University, 63300 Sanliufa, Turkey

Abstract

Alhan, R. and A. Can, 2017. Determining effect of straw and inoculant addition on silage quality of sugar beet leaves silage. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 23 (4): 639–643

Aim of this study was to investigate addition of wheat straw (WS) and inoculant to sugar beet leaves silage nutrient composition, silage quality and silage acids. Experimental groups consisted of control (sugar beet leaves. SBL), SBL+ 2 mL or 4 mL/inoculant kg silage material, 90% SBL + 10% WS+ 2 mL or 4 mL inoculant kg of silage material. While addition of inoculant did not have effect on DM, ash, ADF and CP content of silages, it increased NDF content of silages in general (P<0.05). Addition of WS increased DM, ADF and NDF content however it decreased CP content (P<0.05). Addition of WS and inoculant decreased pH value of silages and increased Fleig score (P<0.05). Physical and sensory scores of silages were not affected from WS and inoculant addition except 2 mL inoculant containing group. Inclusion of WS and inoculant decreased ammonia N level of silages (P<0.05). In vitro DM digestibility was not affected from inoculant addition but it was decreased with addition of WS (P<0.05). Inoculant inclusion did not affect lactic acid content however WS decreased lactic acid content of silages. In this study, propionic and butyric acids were not detected in any silage. As a conclusion, inclusion of inoculant did not have a desired improvement on SBL silages. However, WS addition increased silage quality via increasing DM content and Fleig scores of SBL silages.

Key words: sugar beet leaves silage; inoculant; straw; silage quality; in vitro digestibility

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