Silage quality produced from galega-grass biomass

Abstract

The cropping of fodder grasses, particularly legumes, which compose only 20-30 % of annual forage ration of livestock, has great significance to attain sufficient amount in forage for proof enough protein supply. Fresh fodder needs to be made into silage or other kind of forage seeking to supply cattle by succulent forage during year in climate condition of Lithuania. Possibilities to ensile early flowering stage fodder galega’ mixtures (1:1) with orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), timothy (Phleum pratense L.), wheat-grass (Elytrigia repens L.), milk stage maize and sugar beet leaves were studied at Research Station and Training farm of Aleksandras Stulginskis University. All silage kept 6.5 month at (3-5)oC under laboratory conditions. Silages chemical composition was determined by standardized methods at Agrochemical laboratory of LAU and used for calculation of metabolic energy (ME) and netto energy of lactation (NEL). Additive of 0.3% formaldehyde pitch of carbamide could be recommended apply as silage preservative. Nonetheless, quality of pure galega was insufficient in consequence of unbalanced ration of protein and WSCs. Therefore galega-grass ensilaging.