Several methodologies have been tested to evaluate silage density, with direct methods most popular, whereas indirect methods that can be used under field conditions are still in development and improvement stages. This study aimed to establish relationships between estimates of maize silage density determined using a direct and an indirect method, in an endeavor to provide an alternative to direct measurement for use in the field. Measurements were performed on maize silage in 14 silos. The direct method involved the use of a metal cylinder with a saw-tooth cutting edge attached to a chainsaw to extract a core of silage. Density of the silage was determined taking into consideration the cylinder volume and dry matter weight of silage removed at 5 points on the silage face. With the indirect method, a digital penetrometer was used to estimate silage density by measuring the penetration resistance at 2 points adjacent to the spots where the silage cores were taken, i.e. 10 readings per silo. Values of penetration resistance (measured in MPa) were correlated with the values of silage mass (kg/m 3 ) obtained by direct measurement through polynomial regression analysis. A positive quadratic relationship was observed between penetration resistance and silage density for both natural matter and dry matter (R² = 0.57 and R² = 0.80, respectively), showing that the penetrometer was a reasonably reliable and simple indirect method to determine the density of dry matter in maize silage. Further testing of the machine on other silos is needed to verify these results.Keywords: Ensiled matter, penetrometer, resistance, silos evaluation. ResumenPara determinar la densidad de ensilado, los métodos más usados son los directos mientras métodos indirectos, que se puedan usar a nivel de finca, están aún siendo desarrollados y mejorados. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la correlación entre las densidades de ensilado de maíz determinadas con un método directo, y las determinadas con un método indirecto. Las mediciones se hicieron en 14 silos de maíz de fincas lecheras en 5 municipios del estado de Paraná, Brasil. El método directo consistió en el uso de un cilindro metálico con un filo cortante de dientes serrados unido a una motosierra para extraer una muestra del ensilado; la densidad se determinó con base en el volumen del cilindro y el promedio del peso de las muestras extraídas en 5 puntos. El método indirecto consistió en el uso de un penetrómetro digital para medir la resistencia a la penetración en 2 puntos adyacentes a los sitios donde se tomaron las muestras del método directo (10 lecturas por silo). Los datos se sometieron a un análisis de regresión polinomial que mostró una relación cuadrática positiva entre la resistencia a la penetración (medida en MPa) y la densidad del ensilaje con base en los valores de la masa del ensilado (kg/m 3 ) tanto para la materia natural como la materia seca (R² = 0.57 y R² = 0.80, respectivamente). Se concluye que el penetrómetro fue un método indirecto razonablemente con...
Considering the hypothesis that density and dry matter (DM) concentration may be used as indicators of silage nutritional quality, the aim of the present study was to determine density and maturation stage (i.e. DM concentration) of corn silages under farm conditions in Brazil, establishing relationships between density and physical and chemical characteristics. In a completely randomized design, 20 bunkers of corn silage, each from a different farm, were used for data collection. Using a coring machine, 5 samples of silage were extracted from an exposed face of each silo and samples were analyzed for density of compaction, plus concentrations of DM, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), total digestible nutrients (TDN), total carbohydrate (TC), non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC) and starch (STA), as well as electrical conductivity. There was significant variation in many of the parameters measured with the greatest variation in density on a natural matter basis. Negative correlations were observed between percentages of DM, NDF and ADF in the silage and silage density on a natural matter basis (P<0.05). On the other hand, DM% was positively correlated with concentrations of STA, TDN and TC (P<0.05). Density on a DM basis showed positive correlation with STA but was negatively correlated with NDF and ADF (P<0.05) indicating that the more fibrous material is harder to compact. A technology transfer program seems warranted to inform Brazilian farmers of these findings and the importance of harvesting forage at a stage of growth when quality would be better to increase the probability of achieving adequate compaction of the ensiled material and hence better quality of material at feeding out.
RESUMOO objetivo foi avaliar as características agronômicas e químico-bromatológicas de dois híbridos de milho Bt (30F35H e CD397YH) ensilados com inoculante enzimobacteriano. Os teores de FDN foram semelhantes para todas as frações de planta, já o teor de FDA diferiu quanto à planta inteira e colmo, enquanto a lignina diferiu em relação à planta inteira, colmo e sabugo. A DIVMS não apresentou diferença entre os híbridos em nenhuma das frações. As silagens foram produzidas em silos experimentais (aproximadamente 200kg). As concentrações de MS, EE, FDN, NDT e DIVMS não mostraram diferença entre as silagens dos híbridos avaliados. Já os teores de MM, PB, FDA e lignina diferiram. Não houve diferença entre as silagens dos híbridos para os valores de NDT estimado e para a DIVMS. Também não foi observado efeito do inoculante sobre os valores de CHT, CNF, FDN e DIVMS. Conclui-se que o híbrido Pioneer foi superior ao Coodetec em produtividade de MV ha -1 , porém a composição nutricional das silagens não diferiu na concentração de NDT e digestibilidade avaliadas em ovinos. Não houve efeito do uso de inoculante na digestibilidade da matéria seca e da fração fibra em detergente neutro das silagens.Palavras-chave: aditivo, composição nutricional, digestibilidade, forragem conservada ABSTRACT The aim was to evaluate the agronomic characteristics and chemical composition of the two corn hybrids (30F35H and CD397YH) ensiled with enzymatic bacterial inoculants. NDF were similar for all plant fractions, since the ADF content differed as to the whole plant and stem, lignin differed in relation to the whole plant, stem and cob. IVDMD did not differ among treatments in any of the fractions. The silages were produced in experimental silos (approximately 200kg). The concentrations of MS, EE, NDF, IVDMD and TDN showed no difference between the silages of hybrids. Since the levels of MM, CP, ADF and lignin differed; there was no difference between hybrids for silage TDN and IVDMD. There was also no effect of the use of inoculants on the values of CHT, NFC, NDF and IVDMD. It is concluded that Pioneer was superior to Coodetec productivity of MV-1 ha. The nutritional composition of silages did not differ in the concentration
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