Effects of Ensiling Method on Nutritive Values and Quality of Sorghum × Sorghum Hybrid (SSH) Silage in Different Locations of SSH Silage

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of three different locations of Sorghum × sorghum hybrid (SSH) silage on nutritive values and qualities of SSH square bale silage (SSBS) and gunny bag silage (GBS). SSH "SS405" was sown at early May, harvested at heading stage and ensiled. Samples of SSH silage used in this study were collected in three different locations (outer, middle and inner). The content of crude protein (CP) in GBS showed a slightly decreased trend, as compared to SSBS. However, the contents of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was significantly different between SSBS and SBS (p<0.05). However, The contents of CP, NDF, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and total digestible nutrient (TDN), and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) were not different between the parts of SSH silage. Nutritive values of SSBS and SBS were not influenced by inoculation of lactic bacteria. The content of lactic acid in SSBS was decreased as compared to SBS, but there was no significant difference between SSBS and SBS. The content of acetic acid in SSBS was significantly decreased (p<0.05), as compared to SBS. In addition, the contents of lactic acid, acetic acid and butyric acid were not different between the parts of SSH silage. Therefore we suggest that nutritive values and quality of SSBS and SBS were not influenced by parts of sampling collected from these silages.