Effect of ensiling method on the quality of red clover and Lucerne silage
R. Fychan, M.D. Fraser and Raymond Jones
Livestock Systems and Integrated Land Use, IGER, Aberystwyth, Wales |
Legumes are perceived as difficult crops to ensile due to their low sugar content and high buffering capacity. Red clover and lucerne crops were harvested as round bales or ensiled as precision chopped and stored in clamps. Nutritive value of the silages was assessed by feeding to lambs.
Materials and Method
Two legumes - red clover (cv. Merviot) and lucerne (cv. Vertus) were:
- mown and left undisturbed for 48 hours
- forage was inoculated and ensiled in clamps or round bales
Chemical composition of silages was assessed after 90 days ensiling period.
Silage was fed to lambs to evaluate DMI and in vivo digestibility.
Results and Discussion
Pre-ensiled lucerne had a higher DM and CP (crude protein), and lower WSC (water soluble carbohydrates) than the red clover.
The DM of the forage-harvested forage was higher than that of the baled forage.
Table 1 - Chemical analysis of the wilted forage (g/kg DM unless otherwise stated)
| Chemical composition |
Red clover |
Lucerne |
Significance |
| Clamp |
Bale |
Clamp |
Bale |
Sed |
Crop |
Treat |
CxT |
| DM (g/kg) |
382
|
353 |
406 |
401 |
7.8 |
*** |
* |
NS |
| Ash |
87.8 |
91.7 |
76.0 |
77.5 |
2.85 |
*** |
NS |
NS |
| CP |
187 |
199 |
221 |
211 |
3.2 |
*** |
NS |
** |
| WSP |
79.6 |
79.8 |
53.4 |
61.5 |
3.43 |
*** |
NS |
NS |
| NDF |
457 |
438 |
481 |
484 |
32.2 |
NS |
NS |
NS |
CP = Crude Protein
WSC = Water Soluble Carbohydrates
NDF = Neutral Detergent Fiber
Ensiling in bales rather than clamps resulted in higher pH, higher WSC, and lower lactate, indicating a more restricted fermentation.
Differences in fermentation did not influence voluntary intake or in vivo digestibility.
Table 2 - Effect of ensiling method on the chemical composition of red clover and lucerne silages, and the voluntary intake and in vivo digestibility by lambs offered these forages (g/kg DM unless otherwise stated)
| Chemical composition |
Red clover |
Lucerne |
Significance |
| Clamp |
Bale |
Clamp |
Bale |
Sed |
Crop |
Treat |
CxT |
| DM (g/kg) |
356
|
354 |
391 |
398 |
12.7 |
** |
NS |
NS |
| pH |
3.88 |
4.02 |
4.36 |
4.43 |
0.019 |
*** |
*** |
* |
| NH3-N (g/kg N) |
37.4 |
42.1 |
60.8 |
56.9 |
7.52 |
* |
NS |
NS |
| CP |
205 |
207 |
234 |
234 |
7.5 |
** |
NS |
NS |
| WSC |
12.7 |
20.4 |
3.5 |
8.1 |
2.08 |
*** |
** |
NS |
| Lactate |
66.2 |
55.3 |
50.0 |
36.1 |
4.53 |
*** |
** |
NS |
| Acetate |
7.3 |
7.9 |
16.7 |
10.5 |
2.21 |
** |
NS |
NS |
| Propionate |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.9 |
0.5 |
0.14 |
* |
NS |
* |
|
Butyrate
|
0.01 |
0.12 |
0.11 |
0.08 |
0.121 |
NS |
NS |
NS |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| DMI (g/d) |
1205 |
1193 |
1146 |
1053 |
88.6 |
NS |
NS |
NS |
| In vivo DMD (g/kg) |
596 |
616 |
585 |
568 |
21.6 |
NS |
NS |
NS |
Conclusions
The method of conservation had a significant effect on the fermentation of the silages.
All silages were well preserved. Both baling and precision chop harvesting are suitable methods for ensiling red clover and lucerne.
This work was funded by DEFRA and the MDC.
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