This study was conducted to investigate the effects of bacterial inoculation (Lactobacillus plantarum) and cutting height on the chemical composition, fermentation characteristics and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) in whole crop barley silage. Barley forage (Youngyang hybrid) was harvested at about 27% of dry matter (DM) level at two different cutting height (5 vs. 15 cm). And it was chopped to 5 cm length and treated with or without L. plantarum. Four replicates of each treatment were ensiled into 10 L mini silo (3 kg) for 100 days. After 100 days, bacterial inoculation decreased (p=0.001) DM content, while increased cutting height increased (p=0.002) DM in uninoculated silage. Crude protein (CP) concentration was decreased by increasing height in uninoculated silage (8.84 vs. 8.16) but increased in inoculated silage (8.19 vs. 8.99). Both neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (p<0.011) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (p<0.004) were decreased by increasing cutting height of forage at harvest. The IVDMD and ammonia-N was increased (p=0.001) by increasing cutting height and inoculation, respectively. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was increased (p=0.002) in inoculated silage, but yeast count was decreased (p=0.026) in uninoculated silages. It is concluded that increased cutting height of forage at harvest could be useful to make a fibrous portion with increase of dry matter digestibility of silages.
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