Banner
Current IssueEditorial BoardOnline First ArticlesArchive
Current IssueEditorial BoardOnline First ArticlesArchive

volume 48 issue 6 (december 2014) : 421-428,   Doi: 10.5958/0976-058X.2014.01325.0

ASSESSMENT OF ENSILABILITY AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CANOLA AND ALFALFA FORAGES WITH OR WITHOUT MICROBIAL INOCULATION

D
D. J.I. Sánchez
C
C.J.S. Serrato1
S
S.D.G. Reta
M
M.E. Ochoa
G
G.A. Reyes
1Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP). Blvd. José Santos Valdez 1200. Col. Centro. 27440, Cd. Matamoros, Coahuila, México
Cite article:- Sánchez J.I. D., Serrato1 C.J.S., Reta S.D.G., Ochoa M.E., Reyes G.A. (2025). ASSESSMENT OF ENSILABILITY AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CANOLA AND ALFALFA FORAGES WITH OR WITHOUT MICROBIAL INOCULATION. Indian Journal of Agricultural Research. 48(6): 421-428. doi: 10.5958/0976-058X.2014.01325.0.

ABSTRACT

Canola (Brassica napus L) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) can produce nutritious silage.  An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of microbial inoculation on fermentation products and silage quality of canola and alfalfa. The trial was conducted in 2011 in Matamoros, Coahuila, Mexico. Silages were made in mini-silos with a density of 736 kg/m3 of fresh forage. A 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design with four replications per treatment was used. Interaction between forage crop and microbial inoculation for fermentative characteristics were observed, whereas for chemical composition only main effects were significant. Microbial inoculation did not affect canola silage fermentation products. Microbial inoculation improved alfalfa silage quality by decreasing pH and increasing concentrations of lactic acid, as well as energy content. Crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and net energy of lactation (NEL) content in canola silage were 259 g/kg DM, 234 g/kg DM, and 6.2 MJ/kg DM, respectively. As compared to alfalfa silage, canola silage had slightly lower concentrations of fiber, CP (4.8%), and energy (0.9-5.3%). The results indicated that the ensiling process of canola forage produced a well-preserved material however nutrient content and fermentation products were lower than in alfalfa silage.

REFERENCES

  1. AOAC. (1990). Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC international. 15 th. Ed. Arlington, Virginia. 1298 pp.
  2. Balakhial, A., Naserian. A.A., Heravi Moussavi. A., Eftekhar Shahrodi. F., and Vali-Zadeh. R. (2008). Changes in chemical composition and in vitro DM digestibility of urea and molasses treated whole crop canola silage. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances. 7 (9): 1042-1044.
  3. Bolsen, K.K., Ashbell G., and Weinberg. Z.G. (1996). Silage fermentation and silage additives. Asian Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences. 9(5):483-493.
  4. Boyles, M., Peeper. T., and Stamm. M. (2009). Great Plains canola production handbook. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station. Kansas State University. 29 pp.
  5. Broderick, G.A., Koegel. R.G., Walgenbach. R.P., and Kraus T.J.. (2002). Ryegrass or alfalfa silage as the dietary forage for lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science. 85(7):1894-1901.
  6. Colombari, G., Borreani, G., and Crovetto G.M.. (2001). Effect of ensiling alfalfa at low and high dry matter on production of milk used to make grana cheese. Journal of Dairy Science. 84(11):2494-2502.
  7. Contreras-Govea, F., & R. Muck. 2006. Inoculantes microbiales para ensilaje. Focus on Forage. 8(4):4.
  8. Dansby, A., C. Pierson., J. Bushong., B. Caldbeck., J. Damicone., C. Godsey., M. Stamm., D. Thorenson., & F. Young. 2011. U. S. Canola digest. An official publication of the U. S. Canola Association. 3 (1) 10:26.
  9. Filya, I., Muck. R.E., and Contreras-Govea. F.E. (2007). Inoculant effects on alfalfa silage: fermentation products and nutritive values. Journal of Dairy Science. 90(11):5108-5114.
  10. Francois, L.E. (1994). Growth, seed yield, and oil content of canola grow under saline
  11. conditions. Agronomy Journal. 86(2):233-237.
  12. Galyean, M.L. (1980). Laboratory procedures in animal nutrition research. Department of Animal and Food Science. Texas Tech University, Lubbock. 189 pp.
  13. Geoering, H.K., and Van-Soest. P.J. (1970). Forage fiber analysis. Apparatus, reagents, procedure and some applications. Agric. Handbook 379.ARS. USDA. Washington DC. 24 pp.
  14. Hall, M.H., and Jung J.. (2008). Use of brassica crops to extend the grazing season. Pennsylvania State University Agricultural Cooperative Extension. Agronomy Fact 33. Available at http:// pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/uc100.pdf (accessed July 2012).
  15. Jasaitis, D.K., Wohlt. J.E., & Evans J.L.. (1987). Influence of feed ion content on buffering capacity of ruminant feedstuffs in vitro. Journal of Dairy Science. (70):1391-1403.
  16. Kristensen, N.B., Sloth. K.H., Højberg. O., Spliid. N.H., Jensen. C., and Thøgersen. R. (2010). Effects of microbial inoculants on corn silage fermentation, microbial contents, aerobic stability, and milk production under field conditions. Journal of Dairy Science. 93(8):3764-74.
  17. Kung, L.Jr, Satter. L.D., Jones. B.A., Genin. K.W., Sudoma. A.L., Jr. Enders. G.L., and Kim. H.S. (1987). Microbial inoculation of low moisture alfalfa silage. Journal of Dairy. 70:2069-2077.
  18. Kung, L., & Shaver. R. (2001). Interpretation and use of silage fermentation analysis report. Focus on Forage. 3: (13) :1-5.
  19. Luchini, N.D., Broderick. G.A., Muck. R.E., Makoni. N.F., and Vetter R.L.. (1997). Effect of storage system and dry matter content on the composition of alfalfa silage. Journal of Dairy Science. 80:1827-1832.
  20. McAllister, T.A., Feniuk. R., Mir. Z., Mir. P., Seling. L.B., and Cheng K.J.. (1998). Inoculants of alfalfa silage: Effects on aerobic stability, digestibility and the growth performance of feedlot steers. Livestock Production Science. 53(2):171-181.
  21. McDonald, P., Henderson A.R., and Heron S.J.E.. (1991). The Biochemistry of Silage. 2nd ed. Cambrian Printers Ltd. Aberystwyth. 184-236 pp.
  22. Muck, R.E. (1987). Dry matter level effects on alfalfa silage quality: I. Nitrogen
  23. transformations. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. 30 (1): 0007-0014. 
  24. Muck, R.E. (1997). Forage handling, preservation and storage. Research Summaries. US Dairy Forage Research Center. Linden Drive West Madison. 18:19.
  25. Muck, R.E., Mertens. D.R., and Walgenbach. R.P. (1996). Proteolysis in different forage silages. U. S. Dairy Forage Research Center. Research summaries. 50-51.
  26. National Research Council (NRC). (2001). Nutrient Requirement of Dairy Cattle. Seventh Revised Edition. National Research Council. National Academy Press. . Washington, D. C. p. 381.
  27. Neely, C., Brown. J., Hunt. C., and Davis J.. (2009). Increasing the value of winter canola crops by developing ensiling systems (Canolage) to produce cattle feed. In: Idaho Alfalfa and Forage conference, 3-4 February 2009. pp: 27-31.Pahlow, G., Muck. R. E., Driehuis. F., Oude Elferink. S. J. W. H., and Spoelstra S. F.. (2003). Microbiology of ensiling. Pages 31–93 in Silage Science and Technology. (D. R. Buxton, R. E. Muck, and J. H. Harrison, ed.) Agronomy monograph no 42. American Society of Agronomy., Crop Science Society of America., and Soil Science Society of America. Madison, WI.
  28. Parker, P. (2006). Managing failed canola crops. NSW Department of Primary Industries. P. 3.
  29. Playne, J.M. (1985). Determination of ethanol, volatile fatty acids, lactic and succinic acids in fermentation liquids by gas chromatography. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 36:638-644.
  30. Reta, S.D.G., Figueroa. U.V., Sánchez. D.J.I., Ochoa. M.E., Quiroga. G.H.M., and M.A. Gaytán. (2011). Patrones de cultivo forrajeros alternativos para una mayor eficiencia de producción y aprovechamiento de los nutrientes reciclados en las excretas del ganado lechero. Folleto Técnico núm 18. p. 52.
  31. Reta, S.D.G., Figueroa-Viramontes. U., Faz-Contreras. R., Núñez-Hernández. G., Gaytán–Mascorro. A., Serrato-Corona. J.S., and Payán-García. J.A. (2010). Sistemas de producción de forraje para incrementar la productividad del agua. Revista Fitotecnia México. 33 (Num. Especial 4): 83 -87, 2010.
  32. SAS Institute, (1985). SAS User’s Guide. Statistics, version 5.0. 5th Ed. SAS Inst., Cary, NC.
  33. Williams, A.G., Lowe. J.F., and Rees D.V.H. (1994). The permeability and porosity of grass silage as affected by dry matter content in grass silage. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research. 59:133-140.
  34. Yahaya, M.S., Kimura. A., Harai. M., Kawai. M., Takahashi. J., and Matsuoka. S. (2000). The breakdown of structural carbohydrates of Lucerne and Orchardgrass during different length of ensiling and its effects on nutritive value of the silage. Asian Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences. 13(Suppl. July 2000 B):153.
  35. Yahaya, M.S., Kimura, A., Harai, M., Kawai, M., Takahashi, J., and Matsuoka, S. (2001). Effects of length of ensiling on silo degradation and digestibility of structural carbohydrates of Lucerne and Orchardgrass. Animal Feed Science and Technology. 92(3):141-148.
Published In
Indian Journal of Agricultural Research
Article Metrics
Metrics Icon
0
Views
0
Citations
Reviewed By
Share Article
Download Article
In this Article
    Contact us
    Follow us

    volume 48 issue 6 (december 2014) : 421-428,   Doi: 10.5958/0976-058X.2014.01325.0

    ASSESSMENT OF ENSILABILITY AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CANOLA AND ALFALFA FORAGES WITH OR WITHOUT MICROBIAL INOCULATION

    D
    D. J.I. Sánchez
    C
    C.J.S. Serrato1
    S
    S.D.G. Reta
    M
    M.E. Ochoa
    G
    G.A. Reyes
    1Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP). Blvd. José Santos Valdez 1200. Col. Centro. 27440, Cd. Matamoros, Coahuila, México
    Cite article:- Sánchez J.I. D., Serrato1 C.J.S., Reta S.D.G., Ochoa M.E., Reyes G.A. (2025). ASSESSMENT OF ENSILABILITY AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CANOLA AND ALFALFA FORAGES WITH OR WITHOUT MICROBIAL INOCULATION. Indian Journal of Agricultural Research. 48(6): 421-428. doi: 10.5958/0976-058X.2014.01325.0.

    ABSTRACT

    Canola (Brassica napus L) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) can produce nutritious silage.  An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of microbial inoculation on fermentation products and silage quality of canola and alfalfa. The trial was conducted in 2011 in Matamoros, Coahuila, Mexico. Silages were made in mini-silos with a density of 736 kg/m3 of fresh forage. A 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design with four replications per treatment was used. Interaction between forage crop and microbial inoculation for fermentative characteristics were observed, whereas for chemical composition only main effects were significant. Microbial inoculation did not affect canola silage fermentation products. Microbial inoculation improved alfalfa silage quality by decreasing pH and increasing concentrations of lactic acid, as well as energy content. Crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and net energy of lactation (NEL) content in canola silage were 259 g/kg DM, 234 g/kg DM, and 6.2 MJ/kg DM, respectively. As compared to alfalfa silage, canola silage had slightly lower concentrations of fiber, CP (4.8%), and energy (0.9-5.3%). The results indicated that the ensiling process of canola forage produced a well-preserved material however nutrient content and fermentation products were lower than in alfalfa silage.

    REFERENCES

    1. AOAC. (1990). Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC international. 15 th. Ed. Arlington, Virginia. 1298 pp.
    2. Balakhial, A., Naserian. A.A., Heravi Moussavi. A., Eftekhar Shahrodi. F., and Vali-Zadeh. R. (2008). Changes in chemical composition and in vitro DM digestibility of urea and molasses treated whole crop canola silage. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances. 7 (9): 1042-1044.
    3. Bolsen, K.K., Ashbell G., and Weinberg. Z.G. (1996). Silage fermentation and silage additives. Asian Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences. 9(5):483-493.
    4. Boyles, M., Peeper. T., and Stamm. M. (2009). Great Plains canola production handbook. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station. Kansas State University. 29 pp.
    5. Broderick, G.A., Koegel. R.G., Walgenbach. R.P., and Kraus T.J.. (2002). Ryegrass or alfalfa silage as the dietary forage for lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science. 85(7):1894-1901.
    6. Colombari, G., Borreani, G., and Crovetto G.M.. (2001). Effect of ensiling alfalfa at low and high dry matter on production of milk used to make grana cheese. Journal of Dairy Science. 84(11):2494-2502.
    7. Contreras-Govea, F., & R. Muck. 2006. Inoculantes microbiales para ensilaje. Focus on Forage. 8(4):4.
    8. Dansby, A., C. Pierson., J. Bushong., B. Caldbeck., J. Damicone., C. Godsey., M. Stamm., D. Thorenson., & F. Young. 2011. U. S. Canola digest. An official publication of the U. S. Canola Association. 3 (1) 10:26.
    9. Filya, I., Muck. R.E., and Contreras-Govea. F.E. (2007). Inoculant effects on alfalfa silage: fermentation products and nutritive values. Journal of Dairy Science. 90(11):5108-5114.
    10. Francois, L.E. (1994). Growth, seed yield, and oil content of canola grow under saline
    11. conditions. Agronomy Journal. 86(2):233-237.
    12. Galyean, M.L. (1980). Laboratory procedures in animal nutrition research. Department of Animal and Food Science. Texas Tech University, Lubbock. 189 pp.
    13. Geoering, H.K., and Van-Soest. P.J. (1970). Forage fiber analysis. Apparatus, reagents, procedure and some applications. Agric. Handbook 379.ARS. USDA. Washington DC. 24 pp.
    14. Hall, M.H., and Jung J.. (2008). Use of brassica crops to extend the grazing season. Pennsylvania State University Agricultural Cooperative Extension. Agronomy Fact 33. Available at http:// pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/uc100.pdf (accessed July 2012).
    15. Jasaitis, D.K., Wohlt. J.E., & Evans J.L.. (1987). Influence of feed ion content on buffering capacity of ruminant feedstuffs in vitro. Journal of Dairy Science. (70):1391-1403.
    16. Kristensen, N.B., Sloth. K.H., Højberg. O., Spliid. N.H., Jensen. C., and Thøgersen. R. (2010). Effects of microbial inoculants on corn silage fermentation, microbial contents, aerobic stability, and milk production under field conditions. Journal of Dairy Science. 93(8):3764-74.
    17. Kung, L.Jr, Satter. L.D., Jones. B.A., Genin. K.W., Sudoma. A.L., Jr. Enders. G.L., and Kim. H.S. (1987). Microbial inoculation of low moisture alfalfa silage. Journal of Dairy. 70:2069-2077.
    18. Kung, L., & Shaver. R. (2001). Interpretation and use of silage fermentation analysis report. Focus on Forage. 3: (13) :1-5.
    19. Luchini, N.D., Broderick. G.A., Muck. R.E., Makoni. N.F., and Vetter R.L.. (1997). Effect of storage system and dry matter content on the composition of alfalfa silage. Journal of Dairy Science. 80:1827-1832.
    20. McAllister, T.A., Feniuk. R., Mir. Z., Mir. P., Seling. L.B., and Cheng K.J.. (1998). Inoculants of alfalfa silage: Effects on aerobic stability, digestibility and the growth performance of feedlot steers. Livestock Production Science. 53(2):171-181.
    21. McDonald, P., Henderson A.R., and Heron S.J.E.. (1991). The Biochemistry of Silage. 2nd ed. Cambrian Printers Ltd. Aberystwyth. 184-236 pp.
    22. Muck, R.E. (1987). Dry matter level effects on alfalfa silage quality: I. Nitrogen
    23. transformations. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. 30 (1): 0007-0014. 
    24. Muck, R.E. (1997). Forage handling, preservation and storage. Research Summaries. US Dairy Forage Research Center. Linden Drive West Madison. 18:19.
    25. Muck, R.E., Mertens. D.R., and Walgenbach. R.P. (1996). Proteolysis in different forage silages. U. S. Dairy Forage Research Center. Research summaries. 50-51.
    26. National Research Council (NRC). (2001). Nutrient Requirement of Dairy Cattle. Seventh Revised Edition. National Research Council. National Academy Press. . Washington, D. C. p. 381.
    27. Neely, C., Brown. J., Hunt. C., and Davis J.. (2009). Increasing the value of winter canola crops by developing ensiling systems (Canolage) to produce cattle feed. In: Idaho Alfalfa and Forage conference, 3-4 February 2009. pp: 27-31.Pahlow, G., Muck. R. E., Driehuis. F., Oude Elferink. S. J. W. H., and Spoelstra S. F.. (2003). Microbiology of ensiling. Pages 31–93 in Silage Science and Technology. (D. R. Buxton, R. E. Muck, and J. H. Harrison, ed.) Agronomy monograph no 42. American Society of Agronomy., Crop Science Society of America., and Soil Science Society of America. Madison, WI.
    28. Parker, P. (2006). Managing failed canola crops. NSW Department of Primary Industries. P. 3.
    29. Playne, J.M. (1985). Determination of ethanol, volatile fatty acids, lactic and succinic acids in fermentation liquids by gas chromatography. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 36:638-644.
    30. Reta, S.D.G., Figueroa. U.V., Sánchez. D.J.I., Ochoa. M.E., Quiroga. G.H.M., and M.A. Gaytán. (2011). Patrones de cultivo forrajeros alternativos para una mayor eficiencia de producción y aprovechamiento de los nutrientes reciclados en las excretas del ganado lechero. Folleto Técnico núm 18. p. 52.
    31. Reta, S.D.G., Figueroa-Viramontes. U., Faz-Contreras. R., Núñez-Hernández. G., Gaytán–Mascorro. A., Serrato-Corona. J.S., and Payán-García. J.A. (2010). Sistemas de producción de forraje para incrementar la productividad del agua. Revista Fitotecnia México. 33 (Num. Especial 4): 83 -87, 2010.
    32. SAS Institute, (1985). SAS User’s Guide. Statistics, version 5.0. 5th Ed. SAS Inst., Cary, NC.
    33. Williams, A.G., Lowe. J.F., and Rees D.V.H. (1994). The permeability and porosity of grass silage as affected by dry matter content in grass silage. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research. 59:133-140.
    34. Yahaya, M.S., Kimura. A., Harai. M., Kawai. M., Takahashi. J., and Matsuoka. S. (2000). The breakdown of structural carbohydrates of Lucerne and Orchardgrass during different length of ensiling and its effects on nutritive value of the silage. Asian Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences. 13(Suppl. July 2000 B):153.
    35. Yahaya, M.S., Kimura, A., Harai, M., Kawai, M., Takahashi, J., and Matsuoka, S. (2001). Effects of length of ensiling on silo degradation and digestibility of structural carbohydrates of Lucerne and Orchardgrass. Animal Feed Science and Technology. 92(3):141-148.
    In this Article
      Contact us
      Follow us
      Published In
      Indian Journal of Agricultural Research

      Editorial Board

      View all (0)