Impact of development stage, wilting and addition of ground corn on the quality and nutritional value of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) silage

Abstract

The results of an experiment with ensiling sainfoin at different stages of development with ground corn are presented in this paper. Sainfoin biomass was cut at two stages (early flowering (10.05.2010) and full flowering (01.06.2010)), and ensiled fresh or after wilting, without additives and with the addition of 3% and 6% of ground corn. In the early flowering stage of sainfoin, the, biomass was better in terms of its floristic composition due to a lower presence of other plant species (the proportion of sainfoin was 85.49% at the earlier flowering stage and 76.255 at full flowering stage), with a more favourable ratio of leaf, leaf stems and stems compared to the full-flowering stage. Cutting at the later stage contributed to the significantly higher dry matter content of silage compared with the earlier stage (357.4:247.4 g kg(-1)), which contributed to the lower acidity of the silage from the later stage (pH 4.40:4.22), and also less production of butyric acid. Wilting, especially in the early flowering stage, contributed to the higher quality of silage with a lower ratio of butyric acid. The proportion of lactic acid in all silages was favourable compared to that of acetic and butyric acid. Addition of ground corn to sainfoin biomass, especially at the earlier growth stage, provided a slightly better fermentation and lower pH value.