DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2017.v04i07.004

Pages: 273-281

Abstract: This study was conducted with the aim of determining the effects of different forage conservation methods on nutrient contents, forage quality, in vitro gas production and gas production parameters, energy contents and organic material digestibilities of some forages. In present study, 2 forages (alfalfa and sorghumxsudan grass) and 4 forage types (fresh, hay, silage and haylage) were used. Furthermore, grain (5%) were used in alfalfa silage and haylages and their effects on in vitro gas production and feed value were determined. In vitro gas production technique was used for determining the in vitro gas productions of feeds. The study was conducted by using random parcel experimental design. The highest quality was obtained in fresh form for sorghumxsudan grass and in supplemented silage form for alfalfa. While additives decreased pH values in with grain alfalfa silages and alfalfa haylages, they did not affect the organic acid contents. It was concluded that different conservation methods affected the nutrient contents and in vitro gas productions of forages and also that sorghum sudan grass haylages had the lowest gas production level, ME,NEL and OMD for all the incubation times. Furthermore, there were found significant differences in terms of in vitro gas productions, silage qualities, feed values and nutrient contents between the silage and haylage forms of the same forage source.