Cultivar and Harvest Stage Effects on Nutritive Value of Whole Crop Oat (Avena sativa L.) Silages

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of feed value and dry matter (DM) on rumen degradability properties of silages of oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivars (Kahraman and Kırklar) at different harvest stages (pre-flowering, flowering, milk, soft dough). Field and digestibility trials were carried out in randomized blocks, in a 2x4 factorial trial design during the 2016-2017 vegetation period. For the rumen digestibility of silages, three heads of Karayaka rams with rumen cannulated, average 50±3 kg body weight and 3 years old were used. As a result of the experiment, It was observed that the crude protein (CP) level of Kahraman cultivar was higher than that of Kırklar cultivar, and the CP content of cultivars decreased from the pre-flowering period to the soft dough period. In addition, with the progress of the growing period, the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content of the varieties increased. Also, the net energy lactation (NEL) level of Kırklar cultivar was higher than Kahraman cultivar. However, the NEL levels of the cultivars decreased with the progression of the growing period. The water solubility of DM and CP of Kahraman cultivar was higher than that of Kırklar cultivar. In addition, effective dry matter degradability (EDMD) decreased with growth period in both cultivars. It was observed that the effective crude protein degradability (ECPD) rate of Kahraman cultivar was higher than that of Kırklar cultivar and ECPD rate of cultivars decreased with the progress of the growing period. As a result, Kahraman cultivar may be preferred more than Kırklar cultivar, since it has higher EDMD and ECPD in the rumen and also has higher RFV value.