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Abstract

Introduction Sainfoin is a tanniniferous, leguminous plant that has potentially beneficial effects on protein utilization in ruminants (McAllister, Martinez et al. 2005). Since ensiling causes major protein breakdown, our objectives were to study the effects of wilting, treatment with Promyr (PM; a commercial mixture of propionic and acetic acid) and plant tannin levels on the buffer soluble nitrogen (BSN) with or without polyethylene glycol (PEG). Material and Methods The Sainfoin varieties were Cotswold Common, Reznos and Teruel. A grass/clover mixture (1:1) served as a tannin-free control. The plant material (80 g) was ensiled in duplicate mini-silos for 60 days at 20°C, either fresh or after drying to 50% dry matter (DM) at 40°C. PEG and PM were applied before ensiling and PEG was used as an indirect measure of tannin effect during ensiling. The silages were analyzed for total N, BSN, trichloroacetic acid non-precipitable N (TCA-NPN), α-amino acid-N (AA-N), NH3, DM, extractable tannins (ET) and protein bound tannins (PBT). Tannins were measured by a modified method of Terrill et al. (1992). Results and Discussion Total N ranged from 22 to 26 g/kg DM depending on variety and treatment. Cotswold Common had the highest total N, and Reznos had the overall lowest ratio of BSN:total N. PEG increased and PM decreased the level of BSN in the silages (p

Conference

XVth Int. Silage Conf

SLU Authors

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science
Animal and Dairy Science
Veterinary Science

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/34793