Search

This study was carried out to determine the most suitable mixing ratios to obtain a high quality silage from sunflower and sugar beet plants. As the silage material in the study, Sunflower crops in the dough stage (whole plant) and sugar beets (whole plant, including leaves and roots) were used. The sunflower crops (S) and sugar beet plants (SB) were ensiled as 5 replicates in 1-liter glass jars by slicing and mixing based on weight as 100%S and 0%SB, 85%S and 15%SB, 55%S and 45%SB. The jars were opened for analyses at the end of 70 days of incubation. In the 100%S and 0%SB, 85%S and 15%SB, 55%S and 45%SB groups, the silage dry matter (DM, %) values were 24.97, 26.29 and 28.72; pH values were 4.39, 4.34 and 4.41; ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N, mg.dl-1) values were 5.59, 3.65 and 4.34; lactic acid (LA, %) values were 2.41, 1.91 and 2.16; Fleig scores were good, very good and very good; organic matter digestibility (OMD, %) values were 54.60, 51.34 and 49.42; metabolic energy (ME, Mcal.kg-1) values were 1.97, 1.87 ve 1.79; net energy lactation (NEL, Mcal.kg-1) values were 1.22, 1.14 and 1.09, respectively. Considering the nutrient content, fermentation quality, in-vitro digestibility and energy content parameters of the silages prepared in the study, it was concluded that qualified silages could be obtained from not only pure sunflower crops but also the mixture of sunflower crops and sugar beets, without needing any supplements. However, a decrease in OMD and energy contents was observed in the group with 45% sugar beet plant added. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]