2002, Cilt 18, Sayı 1-2, Sayfa(lar) 077-081
The Effect of Urea and Molasses Addition into Sorghum Harvested at Early-Milk Stage on Silage Quality and In Vitro Digestibility
Hüseyin Nursoy1, Suphi Deniz1, M. Akif Karslı1, Oktay Kaplan2
1Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi, Hayvan Besleme ve Beslenme Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, VAN
2Harran Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi, Hayvan Besleme ve Beslenme Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, ŞANLIURFA
Keywords: Sorghum Silage, Urea, Molasses, In Vitro Digestibility, Digestible Dry Matter Yield
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The aim of this study was to determine the effects of urea or urea plus molasses addition into sorghum harvested at early-milk stage on silage quality, in vitro digestibility and digestible dry matter (DM) yield of silage. To achieve this objeclive, four different sorghum varieties (Grass II, Grazer, Gözde, and P-988) harvested at earty-milk stage were utilized- Silage samples were added 0.5 % urea or 0.5 % urea plus 4 % molasses (on weight basis) and ensiled in mini-silos (1 L in volume). Silage samples were analyzed for chemical composition, pH and organic acids (Lactic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acids). In vitro DM digestibility and digestible DM yields of silages were also determined. Urea and urea + molasses addition significantly increased silage crude protein (CP) in addition to silage pH (P< 0.05). Addition of urea or urea plus molasses did not affect silage butyric and propionic acid contents, but significantly decreased acetic acid. On the other hand addition of urea or urea plus molasses increased lactic acid contents in Gözde and P-988 varieties (P< 0.05). Urea plus molasses addition increased silage DM digestibility in Grass II variety (P< 0.05), but this effect was not significant for other varieties. Digestible DM yields were not affected by additives (P> 0.05). In conclusion, addition of 0.05% urea or 0.05 % urea plus 4 % molasses into sorghum harvested at early-milk stage improved CP and DM contents of silages but had no positive effects on silage quality and digestible DM yields.