EFFECTS OF MOLASSES, BARLEY, OAK TANNINS EXTRACTS AND PREVIOUSLY FERMENTED JUICE ADDITION ON SILAGE CHARACTERISTICS, IN VITRO ORGANIC MATTER DIGESTIBILITY AND METABOLISABLE ENERGY CONTENT OF GRASS SILAGE

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate molasses (M), barley (B), oak tannins extracts (OTE) or previously fermented juice (PFJ) addition as silage additives on nutrient contents, fermentation characteristics, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), metabolisable energy (ME), methane (CH4) and ammonia N (NH3-N) production of grass silage. The M, B, OTE added 25 or 50 mg/kg, and PFJ 7.5 or 15 ml/kg to silage for compare to nothing added Control silage. Organic matter content was higher in Control silage than 50 g/kg M added silage. Addition of 25 and 50 g/kg OTE, or 15 ml/kg PFJ to silages decreased crude protein contents as compared to Control silage. Addition of 25 and 50 g/kg M or B, and 50 g/kg OTE decreased pH of silages as compared to 25 g/kg OTE and, 7.5 and 15 ml/kg PFJ added silages. Addition of 25 and 50 M or B, and 50 g/kg OTE increased lactic acid concentration as compared to other silages. Addition of 25 and 50 g/kg M increased IVOMD, CH4 and ME of silages as compared to other silages (except for GS + 50 g/kg B for ME). Generally, OTE or PFJ addition induced a decrease IVOMD, ME and CH4 production. Addition of 25 or 50 mg/kg OTE and 25 g/kg M increased NH3-N concentration as compared to 25 g/kg B added silage. In conclusion, the study showed that adding of M improved fermentative quality, OMD, and ME values of pasture grass silage, and the second most effective silage additive was B, but addition of OTE and PFJ have little effect on improving the silage quality as compared to Control silage.