Effect of ensiling whole barley grain with pasture on silage quality and effluent production, and the performance of growing cattle

Abstract

Pasture was ensiled with increasing amounts of whole barley in stacks [0, 75 (SLB), 150 (SMB) kg/t fresh pasture] or in 200-L drum silos 10, 75 (DLB), 150 (DMB), 225 (DHB) kg/t fresh pasture]. All silages were well fermented with low pH values and low ammonia concentrations. The addition of barley significantly (P<0.05) increased the dry matter content of the resultant stack silages by 29% (SLB) and 54% (SMB) and significantly (P<0.05) increased residual water-soluble carbohydrate levels in the SMB silage compared with untreated stack silage. Incorporation of barley with pasture in 200-L silos significantly (P<0.001) increased the dry matter of the resultant silages and significantly (P<0.01..