Abstract
Summary The chemical composition of baled silage frequently differs from that of comparable conventional silage. The extents of wilting, chopping, compaction and air infiltration potentially contribute to these differences in conservation characteristics. An experiment was organized in a 3 (0, 24 or 48‐h wilting to influence herbage dry‐matter content) × 2 (unchopped or chopped) × 2 (with or without compaction) × 2 (with or without air infiltration) factorial arrangement of treatments, to elucidate the relative effects of these factors on the conservation characteristics of ensiled grass. Dry‐matter content of herbage and infiltration of air had a greater effect on silage conservation characteristics than chopping and compaction. The main interactions were between wilting and air infiltration, wilting and compaction, and compaction and air infiltration. Air infiltration stimulated a secondary fermentation in the unwilted herbage, reflected in a large increase ( P < 0·001) in clostridial activity. As wilting progressed, air infiltration facilitated yeast respiration of water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and resulted in an increase ( P < 0·001) in in‐silo fresh‐weight losses. Compaction reduced ( P < 0·05) silage pore space and, as a result, the extent to which air could penetrate the silage mass. Compaction of the wilted herbage restricted respiration and was reflected in increased ( P < 0·05) concentrations of WSC and in a reduction ( P < 0·001) in fresh‐weight loss. The rapid achievement and maintenance of adequately anaerobic conditions is the primary requirement for baled silage. This study showed that failure to achieve this will lead to progressively greater losses, especially with drier herbage.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
Dry matter content of herbage and air infiltration had a greater effect on silage conservation than chopping and compaction.
Verbatim
e0“Dry‐matter content of herbage and infiltration of air had a greater effect on silage conservation characteristics than chopping and compaction”
t0“ensiled grass”
Claim · model-written summary
Air infiltration in unwilted herbage caused a large increase in clostridial activity.
Verbatim
e1“Air infiltration stimulated a secondary fermentation in the unwilted herbage, reflected in a large increase ( P < 0·001) in clostridial activity”
t0“ensiled grass”
Claim · model-written summary
As wilting progressed, air infiltration increased in-silo fresh-weight losses through yeast respiration.
Verbatim
e2“As wilting progressed, air infiltration facilitated yeast respiration of water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and resulted in an increase ( P < 0·001) in in‐silo fresh‐weight losses”
t0“ensiled grass”
Claim · model-written summary
Compaction reduced silage pore space.
Verbatim
e3“Compaction reduced ( P < 0·05) silage pore space and, as a result, the extent to which air could penetrate the silage mass”
t0“ensiled grass”
Claim · model-written summary
Compaction of wilted herbage increased WSC concentrations.
Verbatim
e4“Compaction of the wilted herbage restricted respiration and was reflected in increased ( P < 0·05) concentrations of WSC and in a reduction ( P < 0·001) in fresh‐weight loss”
t0“ensiled grass”
Claim · model-written summary
Compaction of wilted herbage reduced fresh-weight loss.
Verbatim
e4“Compaction of the wilted herbage restricted respiration and was reflected in increased ( P < 0·05) concentrations of WSC and in a reduction ( P < 0·001) in fresh‐weight loss”
t0“ensiled grass”
Claim · model-written summary
Compaction of wilted herbage restricted respiration.
Verbatim
e4“Compaction of the wilted herbage restricted respiration and was reflected in increased ( P < 0·05) concentrations of WSC and in a reduction ( P < 0·001) in fresh‐weight loss”
t0“ensiled grass”
Claim · model-written summary
The main interactions were between wilting and air infiltration, wilting and compaction, and compaction and air infiltration.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e5“The main interactions were between wilting and air infiltration, wilting and compaction, and compaction and air infiltration”
t0“ensiled grass”
Claim · model-written summary
Rapid achievement and maintenance of adequately anaerobic conditions is the primary requirement for baled silage.
Verbatim
e6“The rapid achievement and maintenance of adequately anaerobic conditions is the primary requirement for baled silage”
t0“ensiled grass”
Claim · model-written summary
Failure to achieve anaerobic conditions leads to progressively greater silage losses, especially with drier herbage.
Verbatim
e7“This study showed that failure to achieve this will lead to progressively greater losses, especially with drier herbage”
t0“ensiled grass”