Abstract
A 2 × 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used to study the effect of diet, dry matter level and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) on the ensiling characteristics of cattle waste and rye straw mixtures. Waste collected from cattle fed high roughage or high concentrate diets was mixed with ground rye straw in a ratio of 60:40, wet basis. Mixtures were adjusted with water to 30, 40 or 50% dry matter and were treated with 0 or 4% NaOH, dry basis, prior to ensiling. Untreated silages exhibited more (P<.01) desirable fermentation characteristics, as measured by pH, lactic acid and water soluble carbohydrate content. Ensiling eliminated coliforms and Proteus organisms in untreated silages but not in NaOH-treated silages. In a digestibility trial with lambs, silages containing waste collected from cattle fed high concentrate diets had higher dry matter digestibilities (P<.01) than silages containing waste from cattle, fed a high roughage diet. Treatment with NaOH increased dry matter and organic matter digestibilities (P<.01) but decreased crude protein digestibility (P<.01). Dry matter level did not affect dry matter digestibility.
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