Nutritional additives in high moisture corn silage

Abstract

Because of the high total digestible nutrient and dry matter (DM) digestibility contents , high moisture silage may be an alternative to maximize animal performance. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition, ruminal degradability and aerobic stability of high moisture corn silage (pure corn grain silage and soybean-, sunflower-or urea-enriched silages). Plastic barrels with capacity of 200 kg were used as experimental silos, which remained closed for nine months. The experimental design was completely randomized with four replications. After opening the silos, the chemical-bromatological composition and the quality of silages were determined. The addition of soybean or sunflower increased the crude protein content (CP) in 48.2% on average, and the neutral detergent fiber content in 60%, but decreased the starch content when compared to pure high moisture corn silage. Moreover, additions decreased the effective DM and CP degradability. Addition of urea decreased by 30% DM losses and improved the chemical composition and aerobic stability of the silage. In general, additives improved the chemical composition without affecting the silage conservation quality.

Ruminal degradability of high moisture triticale (X. Triticosecale Wittmack) silage with chemical and biological additives

“…The high moisture triticale silage with urea presented highest value for the soluble fraction (a) of the dry matter, corroborating with the findings of Calixto, Jobim, Osmari and Tres (2017). According to same authors, the addition of urea in high moisture silages increases the crude protein content, favoring the ruminal microbial development and improving the utilization of fibrous fraction.…”

“…Liu, Mckinnon, Thacker and Yu (2012) described effective degradability of 82.7%, assuming a rate of passage of 6% h -1 . The values of effective degradability of dry matter are superior to those described by Jobim et al (2008) and similar to those found by Calixto et al (2017) for high moisture corn, which demonstrates the nutritional potential for use of triticale grains for ruminants.…”

“…The inclusion of urea showed an improvement in rate of passage of 2%, h -1 , with no differences in rates of 5 and 8% h -1 when compared to control silage. Calixto et al (2017) observed no difference in the effective dry matter degradability of high moisture corn silage pure or with urea added at the same passage rates. The authors of the present study are not aware of similar trials investigating high moisture triticale silage.…”

“…Due to high solubility of urea, the silage added with this additive presented the highest soluble fraction of the crude protein (76.42%; Table 3). Jobim et al (2008) and Calixto et al (2017) also described high solubility of crude protein in high moisture corn silage with urea, but did not observe differences with the control silage. Table 3 Bayesian estimates for kinetic parameters of in situ degradation of crude protein from high moisture triticale silage…”

Evaluation of rehydrated corn grain silage with okara or soybean inclusion in the performance of lactating cows

“…However, its use must be strategic, depending on each case. Soybean grain with a 20% inclusion in the corn grain silage has shown positive results in terms of nutritional quality, fermentation in the silo, and animal response (Calixto, Jobim, Osmari, & Tres, 2017).…”