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Influence of carboxylic salts on silage conservation, and voluntary intake and growth of steers given lucerne silage

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2016

E. Charmley ,
R. E. McQueen  and
D. M. Veira
E. Charmley*
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Station, PO Box 20280, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 4Z7, Canada
R. E. McQueen
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Station, PO Box 20280, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 4Z7, Canada
D. M. Veira
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Centre for Food and Animal Research, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0C6, Canada
*
† Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Present address: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Experimental Farm, Nappan, Nova Scotia, B0L 1C0, Canada.
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Abstract

Three wilted silages (dry matter concentration of approximately 300 g/kg) were prepared from early-bloom lucerne which received no additive (MG-0), or was treated with a mixture of carboxylic salts (Maxgrass) at either 4 (MG-4) or 8 (MG-8) l/t fresh crop. Silages were stored in tower silos. Resulting silages were offered ad libitum to growing Holstein steers without supplementation. Untreated silage (MG-0) exhibited an extensive, predominantly lactic acid fermentation. The nitrogen (N) fraction was highly soluble, relative to the crop at ensiling. Silage fermentation and protein solublization were restricted by Maxgrass application. Maxgrass application reduced aerobic stability of silage removed from the upper third of silos but not of silage from the lower portion of silos. Apparent digestibility showed a quadratic response to level of Maxgrass application (P < 0·05). Voluntary intake was not affected by Maxgrass addition (P > 0·005) but intake of all silages was high (30 g/kg live weight (LW)). There was a positive linear response (P < 0·05) in LW gain to Maxgrass application with gains of 0·74, 0·86 and 0·87 kg/day being achieved in steers given MG-0, MG-4 and MG-8 silages, respectively. Degradability of silage N determined in nylon bags in situ was unaffected by Maxgrass application. However, the immediately degradable N fraction was reduced by Maxgrass application (linear effect, P < 0·001; quadratic effect, P < 0·05). Benefits in animal performance due to Maxgrass application were attributed to improved N composition while restricted carbohydrate fermentation during ensiling was considered to be of secondary importance.

Keywords

carboxylic saltsgrowthlucernesilage additivesteers.
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 58 , Issue 2 , April 1994 , pp. 221 - 229
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1994

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