Abstract
The aim of this study was to relate the occurrence of visible losses in silage (effluent, spoiled top-layer and during feedout) with silage-making practices, physical and chemical characteristics of silage, and milk composition in Brazilian dairy herds. One-hundred and eight silos from 95 farms, in the State of Parana, were visited for data collection. Data were analyzed by Fisher's Exact and Pearson Correlation Test. Effluent loss was higher in silages with the lowest dry matter content. Using unwalled clamp (drive-over piles) silos, neglecting a protection over the plastic film, and unloading silage with a bucket increased the occurrence of top spoilage. Feedout losses were higher in farms where: the crop was harvested with self-propelled machines; the particle size was larger, and the silage density was lower. There was no relationship between visible losses and silage composition or milk composition, except for milk fat content that, unexpectedly, there was a positive correlation with spoiled silage in the top-layer. Silage losses are reduced by adopting good practices during silage production and feedout.
Highlights
In Brazilian milk production systems, it is common to supply conserved feeds, especially corn silage, in order to improve the nutritional value of diets, reduce the effects of seasonality on pasture production, in addition to maintaining or increasing milk production
In the Central-Eastern region of the State of Paraná, the use of conserved forage becomes even more important, since it is a region of humid subtropical climate with intense winters and frequent frosts (Sistema de Tecnologia e Monitoramento Ambiental do Paraná [SIMEPAR], 2019), which makes it difficult to use only pastures to feed dairy cows
Beyond the occurrence of ‘invisible’ losses, which occur mainly by carbon dioxide formed during fermentation and nutrient oxidation, silage dry matter (DM) can be lost by effluent run-off and disposal of inedible silage
Summary
In Brazilian milk production systems, it is common to supply conserved feeds, especially corn silage, in order to improve the nutritional value of diets, reduce the effects of seasonality on pasture production, in addition to maintaining or increasing milk production. Silage quality depends on crop management and environmental factors, which may alter nutrient recovery upon silage utilization. Beyond the occurrence of ‘invisible’ losses, which occur mainly by carbon dioxide formed during fermentation and nutrient oxidation, silage DM can be lost by effluent run-off and disposal of inedible silage. Inefficient sealing, damage to the covering system, cracking of silo walls, water infiltration, and poor management of the silo face often increase aerobic deterioration (Borreani et al, 2018)
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