Can Thistles (Carduus nutans L.) be Considered as Silage with Some Additives

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess nutritional characteristics of thistle silages with additives. Thistle plant material collected around the faculty of Agriculture, Ataturk University in 2010 were ensiled without and with 1% salt, 5% barley meal, 1% molasses and 10% wheat straw in triplicates. Dry matter, crude protein contents and pH values varied from 51.77 to 60.16%, 8.54 to 11.84%, and 4.69 to 4.92, respectively. The fleigh score was determined as very good, although the physical grades of silages were medium. Acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber contents and relative roughage value varied from 39.00 to 47.8%, 57.23 to 65.32% and 73.57 to 94.31, respectively. The obtained silages was found rich in term of macro and micro minerals. The effects of additives on nutrient content and physical characteristics were variable. In conclusion, thistle silage can be used in feeding dry cows and young ruminants due to its protein, fiber, and mineral contents. Further harvesting stage and digestibility studies are needed to determine proper additive to improve nutritional characteristics. Keywords: molasses, silage, fleigh score Bazi Katki Maddelerinin Ilavesi ile Deve Dikeni Bitkisi ( Carduus nutans L.) Silaj Olarak Degerlendirilebilir mi? OZET: Bu calismanin amaci katki maddeleri ile birlikte deve dikeni bitkisinin beslenme ozelliklerinin belirlenmesidir. Bitki materyali 2010 yilinda Ataturk Universitesi Ziraat Fakultesi arazisinden toplanmis, 3 tekerrurlu olarak kontrol, %1 tuz, %5 arpa kirmasi, %1 melas ve %10 bugday samani kullanilmistir. Kuru madde, ham protein icerikleri ve pH degerleri sirasiyla % 51.77-60.16, % 8.54-11.84 ve 4.69-4.92 arasinda degismistir. Silajlarin fiziksel dereceleri orta duzeyde olmasina ragmen Fleigh puani cok iyi olarak tespit edilmistir. Asit cozuculerde cozunmeyen lif, Notr cozuculerde cozunmeyen lif ve nispi yem degerleri sirasiyla % 39.00-47.82, %57.23-65.32 ve %73.57-94.31 arasinda degismistir. Elde edilen silaj makro ve mikro elementler bakimindan zengindi Besin icerikleri ve fiziksel ozellikler uzerine katki maddelerinin etkileri degiskenlik gostermistir. Deve dikeni silaji besin, lif ve protein iceriklerinden dolayi sigirlarin ve genc gevis getiren hayvanlar icin besin maddesi olarak kullanilabilecegi tespit edilmistir. Bununla birlikte hasat zamani, besleme degeri ve katki maddeleri uzerine ileri calismalara ihtiyac vardir. Anahtar kelimeler: melas, silaj, fleigh puani