The consequences of ensiling grass with absorbent materials

al-Rwidah, Mohammed Nassir (1987) The consequences of ensiling grass with absorbent materials. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The literature in the following areas is reviewed: a) Factors affecting animal performance from silage based diets: Silage fermentation, Silage voluntary intake. Silage nutritive value and supplementation of silage diets. b) Losses of nutrients in silage making c) The chemistry of silage effluent d) The control of silage effluent Ensilage experiments using 200 1 drum silos (experiments 1 and 2a) were carried out to compare the effluent-absorbing characteristics of a range of absorbent materials and to measure their effects on silage composition. The results showed that none of the absorbents tested markedly affected silage preservation. Chopped barley straw, Vitaferm (a dried distillery by-product) and molassed sugar beet shreds proved the most effective controllers of silage effluent. Experiment 2b (also using drum silos) investigated the relationship between effluent volume, grass dry matter content and the concentration of molassed sugar beet shreds ensiled with the grass. Molassed sugar beet shreds inclusion improved silage intake and animal performance but may not greatly reduce nutrient losses in effluent (and therefore pollution risk) unless used in sufficient quantity totally to prevent effluent loss. For grass of 180 gkg-1 dry matter content an -1 -1 inclusion rate of 80 kgt FW (or 250 kgt dry matter basis) is needed to prevent effluent loss. Chopped straw inclusion reduced silage intake and animal performance but proved the most reliable absorbent for effluent control as nutrient concentration in effluent was unaffected. The silo space required for a given weight of grass was increased by 22% and 79% respectively for molassed sugar beet shreds and chopped straw added at approximately 75 kgt-1 grass FW. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.).

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: Dr. N.W. Offer
• Keywords: Animal sciences.
• Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
• Supervisor's Name: Supervisor, not known
• Date of Award: 1987
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1987-73408
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• Last Modified: 14 Jun 2021 13:49
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/73408