The Effects of Ensiling Sunflower with Different Ratios of Sugar Beet Pulp and Bacterial Inoculant+Enzyme Additives on Silage Quality, In vitro Digestibility and Energy Content

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of the addition of different additives to ensiled headless confectionary sunflower crops (HCSC) on silage quality, in vitro digestibility (IVD), and energy content. HCSC was pulled into pieces and mixed with sugar beet pulp (SBP) at ratios of 0, 10, 20, and 30%, and a bacterial inoculant+enzyme mixture (BI+E) was added to these groups at a ratio of 0 or 5 g/ton. The pH values; ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations of the silages; and raw nutrient parameters, IVD, energy content, relative feed value (RFV) and Fleig scores were subsequently determined. SBP increased the OM and CP levels and lowered the DM, CA, EE, NDF, and ADF levels of the silages. BI+E increased the OM, CP, NDF, and ADF levels (p<0.05). The effect of the SBPxBI+E interaction on nutrient contents was significant only for the CP and EE values (p<0.05). SBP supplementation increased the AA and PA values. BI+E increased the values of all the parameters except for LA (p<0.05). The effects of the SBPxBI+E interaction on fermentation values were significant except for those of PA (p<0.05). Significant changes were observed in RFV and IVD by the addition of SBP, in Fleig scores by the addition of BI+E, and in IVD, RFV and Fleig scores by the interaction of SBPxBI+E (p<0.05). In the case of adding BI+E to HCSCs, it would be more appropriate to ensile it with a carbohydrate source such as SBP, and adding SBP to this material at a ratio of up to 30% is recommended.