Fermentation Quality of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and Bromegrass (Bromus inermis leyss) Mixed Silage

Abstract:

To assess the fermentation quality of mixed silage with alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and bromegrass (Bromus inermis leyss), they were mixed and ensiled in different proportions (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100 respectively). 15 bag silos were prepared for each treatment and three bag silos per treatment were randomly opened after 3, 7, 14, 28 and 56 days of ensiling and the contents were processed for quality assessment and laboratory analysis. Results indicated as follows, (1) compared with alfalfa silage (0:100), all treatments improved fermentation quality and attained lower pH. The 100:0 treatment had the lowest (P10 cfu/g fresh material) varied from 7.8 to 9.2., while that of the 100:0 and 75:25 treatments kept the highest (P<0.05) level during almost all ensiling periods. No yeast was detected in all silages after 14 days of post-ensiling and mold was below detected level at all ensiling periods. All the results indicated that the 100:0 and 75:25 treatments tended to have the best fermentation quality in this study. Overall, increasing proportions of bromegrass in the mixed silage could improve the fermentation quality.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 524-527)
• Pages: 2242-2245
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.524-527.2242
• Online since: May 2012
• Authors: Hui Li Wang, Ting Ting Ning, Wei Hao, Tan Wang, Heng Lei, Chun Cheng Xu
• Keywords: Bromus inermis Leyss, Fermentation Quality, Medicago sativa, Mixed Silage

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