Kafkas Universitesi Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi, vol.15, no.1, pp.19-24, 2009 (SCI-Expanded)
This study was carried out to determine the effects of ensiling grass with different silages additives on dry matter (DM), nutrient content, pH and rumen degradability and the effects of grass silage on the digestibility and rumen parameters in the rams. Fifteen silages were ensiled as grass (with no additives), grass + 2.5% barley mixture, grass + 5% barley mixture, grass + 2.5% barley + 1% molasses + 0.5% salt mixture and grass + 5% barley + 2% molasses + 1% salt mixture with three replicates. Additionally grass with no additives was ensiled in the plastic barrels to determine the effects of this silage on the digestibility, rumen pH, ammonia nitrogen and volatile fatty acids by using three rams. The highest crude protein (CP) contents were determined in the barley, molasses and salt mixture of grass silages (10.41, 10.86%) and the highest nitrogen free extract (NFE) contents were determined in the barley mixture grass silages (44.41, 47.17%). The pH value of silages was decreased according to the amount and type of silage additives. DM and nutrient degradabilities of grass silages with or without additives left rumen incubation at different hours were found statistically different with aspect to hours and types of silage. (P<0.05). CP and DM digestibilities of grass silage in the rams were determined as 64.49 and 53.21%. Total volatile fatty acids were determined as 69.73 mmol/L. Grass silage, mixtured with barley, molasses and salt were determined the best silage with respect to the nutrient content and pH.