Quality of Silages From Sunflower Harvested at Different Vegetational Stages

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine qualities and in vivo digestibility of silage of sunflower green herbage harvested at blooming, milk or dough stage and incubated in 120 l plastic barrels for 90 days. While dry matter, organic matter and crude fat content increased at dough stage, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber decreased (P < 0.05). The highest lactic and propionic acid and the lowest butyric acid and pH values were observed in blooming stage silage. While dry grass yield and table ratio increased with maturity, stem and leaf ratio as well as digestibility of most of the nutrients decreased (P < 0.05). It may be concluded that high quality alternative silages could be obtained from sunflower green herbage, best coming from bloom stage.