The Effect of Dry Matter Content and Silage Additives on the Fermentation of Bunker-Made Grass Silages on Commercial Farms in Wales 1987-93

Abstract

A total of 4224 samples of silage made in bunkers on commercial farms between 1987 and 1993 was analysed to investigate the effect of dry matter (DM) content and silage additives on fermentation as measured by ammonia-N concentration and pH. Increasing DM content without additive use had a major beneficial influence on fermentation. When silage DM contents were greater than 240 g /kg at least 70% of the silages were well fermented. Below this, with diminishing DM concentration, the proportion of well fermented silages declined so that with DM below 180 g /kg only 14% were well fermented.