The Possibilities of Using Sugar Beet Pulp Silage Produced by Different Methods in Lamb and Dairy Cow Rations - 2 - Ruminal Degradability

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the ensiling methods for the more efficient and long lasting preservation of sugar beet pulp which is rich in energy and is a source of inexpensive feedstuff The ruminal degradabilities of these silages were determined Sugar beet pulp was mixed with wheat straw or grass hay and 5% molasses in order to increase the level of dry matter of the silages to 20 25 and 30% In addition at the level of 0 1 1 5 and 2% as well as 0 0 5 and 1 % urea were added to the samples containing straw and grass hay respectively The mixed materials were ensiled in jars (approximately 1 I in volume) for two months All samples were incubated for 4 8 16 24 48 and 72 h in four rumen fistulated rams Each of the samples was incubated in duplicate in the rumen of each ram After a 72 h incubation period the ruminal dry matter degradability of silages containing 20 25 and 30% dry matter were found to be 81 31 73 72 and 70 42% and 81 49 81 09 and 77 19% for the samples containing wheat straw and grass hay respectively The ruminal degradabilities of silage samples were affected negatively by adding different levels of wheat straw in order to increase dry matter content whereas grass hay levels had no effect On the other hand urea supplementation had no effect on ruminal dry matter degradability.