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The non-protein nitrogen composition of grass silage:III. The composition of spoilt silages

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

A. D. Hughes
A. D. Hughes
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, Scotland
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Summary

The nitrogenous composition of the water soluble, non-protein nitrogen fractions of three samples of high-pH-spoilt silage and one sample of overheated silage were examined in detail. The amino acid nitrogen content of the high-pH-spoilt silages declined with increasing extent of spoilage, due to a selective degradation of the amino acids. Losses of amino acids were associated with proportionate increases in the amount of volatile basic nitrogen. Lower aliphatic amines were not present and it was therefore concluded that the ultimate end product of nitrogen metabolism in high-pH-spoilt silages was ammonia. Only low concentrations of putrefaction products, such as putroscine, cadaverine and histamine were present.

The composition of the non-protein nitrogen fraction of the overheated silage was unusual in that the ammonia nitrogen content was high and associated with the complete destruction of certain amino acids. The free amino acid nitrogen content was low but this was partially compensated for by a very high ‘peptide’ nitrogen content. There was no evidence of putrefaction products in this silage.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 76 , Issue 3 , June 1971 , pp. 329 - 336
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1971

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