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Quality fodder production is considered to be
important criterion for sustainable and economical
livestock production. Inadequate supply of quality
fodder has been recognized as one of the reasons for
poor livestock productivity in India (Anjum et al., 2012;
Kumar et al., 2016). Shortage of feed and fodders led
to development of alternative fodder production systems
involving conservation and storage methodologies for
providing the feed to the livestock. Silage production
has been seen to suffice all these factors which can
help in sustenance of provision for round the year
fodder for dairy animals. When the grains are in milk
stage, surplus fodder, if conserved as silage, helps not
only in providing nutritionally uniform feed but also spares
land for cultivation of other crops (Mandal et al., 2003).
Conventional fodder can be replaced with silage
without any adverse effect on intake, digestibility, milk
yield and its composition in dairy animals. An increase
*Corresponding author: E-mail: navjotbrar11@yahoo.co.in; 1Professor (Animal Nutrition), Department of Veterinary and Animal
Husbandry Extension Education, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana-141 004, Punjab, India;
2Professor-cum-Head, Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University,
Ludhiana-141 004, Punjab, India
Indian Journal of
Animal Nutrition
Qualitative Assessment of Silage Prepared at Farmer’s Field in
Tarn Taran District of Punjab
Navjot Singh Brar*, Balwinder Kumar, Parminder Singh1, Anil Kumar and Prahlad Singh2
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tarn Taran-143412, Punjab, India
Indian J. Anim. Nutr. 2017. 34 (3): 357-360
doi: 10.5958/2231-6744.2017.00058.5
ABSTRACT
A comparative study for qualitative assessment of silage prepared from maize varieties alone (P-1844
and PAC-746) and combination of maize varieties (PAC-746 and 31Y45) with sugargraze at commercial dairy
farms was carried out in Tarn Taran district of Punjab. The data were recorded with respect to maize hybrid
grown, stage of harvesting (days after sowing), days taken to fill the pit and days of ensiling. After the opening
of silo pit, the representative samples of silage were collected and quality analyses of these were carried out.
The silages prepared from maize hybrid P-1844 (S1 and S2) harvested around 70 days after sowing (DAS) with
ensiling period of 43 and 63 days, respectively recorded moisture content of 72.6 and 68.3%, DM content of 27.4
and 31.8% and CP content of 7.9 and 7.5%, respectively. The NDF content in silages S1 and S2 were 45.3 and
43.4% whereas ADF content values were 32.9 and 28.9%, respectively. The lowest (P<0.05) value of NH3-N (2%)
was recorded for silage prepared from P-1844 while the highest (3.3% of total N) was recorded in silage from
maize hybrid PAC-746. Different silages possessed pH in range of 3.8 to 4.0 and buffering capacity values
between 3.9-4.2 meq./g. The aflatoxin contents for the silages were below 8 ppb. Therefore, it could be
concluded that silage prepared from var. P-1844 (S1 and S2) recorded all the quality parameters in ideal range
whereas other silage samples showed values beyond desirable limits.
Key words: Aflatoxins, Chemical composition, Silage characteristics
in milk yield of Holstein Friesian crossbred dairy
animals by 15.5% had been reported by Brar et al.
(2016) with feeding silage over green fodder.
The method of storage and ensiling period, crop,
its variety and stage of harvesting affect the quality of
silage. Griffiths et al. (2004) used 0-5 milk line score
(MLS) to determine the proper stage of harvesting of
maize crop. A MLS of 2.5 (the milk line is halfway down
the grain) was considered to be the best stage to
harvest green maize for silage. Dry matter, moisture
and fibre content are important indicators of feed
quality and digestibility for various classes of feeds
including silage (Kumar et al., 2016). Ruminants need
adequate degradable protein in the diet to sustain
normal microbial activity and digestive function in the
rumen (Kaiser and Piltz, 2004). Silage pH is influenced
by DM, sugar content of the fodder ensiled and type of
silage fermentation (Kaiser and Piltz, 2004).
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Indian J. Anim. Nutr. 2017. 34 (3): 357-360
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Ammonia-N in the silage is an important guide to
fermentation quality of silage. A higher NH3-N content
has been reported in poorly preserved silages which
indicate extensive degradation of the forage protein
during ensiling process (Kaiser and Piltz, 2004). About
300 mycotoxins have been detected in maize silage and
among these aflatoxins are the most harmful for feed
and food safety (Cavallarin et al., 2011). Therefore, the
present study was carried out to evaluate the quality of
silage prepared at commercial dairy farms with sets of
different management practices under subtropical
conditions existing at Tarn Taran district of Punjab,
India.
A field study was carried out at six commercial
dairy farms in villages of Thatian Khurd, Sabrah, Mari
Kamboke and Algokothe of district Tarn Taran, Punjab,
India. The data on stage of harvesting (days after
sowing), days taken to fill the pit and days of ensiling
with regard to hybrid maize fodder (P-1844, 31Y45,
PAC-746) and sugargraze were recorded. After the
opening of silo, representative samples in triplicate from
six silo pits from different depths were collected from
all dairy farms and analysed for quality parameters.
The samples were dried in hot air oven at 80°C
overnight for DM estimation. Dried samples were ground
in Willey mill grinder using 2 mm sieve for
determination of proximate principles (AOAC, 2000)
and cell wall constituents (Robertson and Van Soest,
1981). Nitrogen/CP content in silage was estimated
(AOAC, 2000). The pH of the silage was measured
using digital pH meter calibrated against standard buffer
solution (BDH). To determine the buffering capacity
(BC), 40 mL of the extract was taken below the probe
of pH meter after calibrating it by standard methods.
Aflatoxins in the samples were measured in laboratory
of Kemin Industries, South Asia Pvt. Ltd. by Elisa
method. The data were analyzed by simple ANOVA by
using the software package SPSS version 19 and
differences in mean were assessed by using DMRT,
Duncan, 1955).
The results showed that moisture content in
silage samples varied from 68.3 to 83.5% (Table 1).
The maximum moisture content of 83.5% was recorded
in silage prepared from 31Y45 + sugargraze (S6)
followed by 81.4% in silage made from PAC-746+
sugargraze (S5). The higher moisture content in
sugargraze might have resulted in higher moisture
content in these silages at feed out stages. The
moisture content in silage prepared from hybrid PAC-
746 (S4) was found to be 79.1% while silage from
P-1844 (S3) recorded moisture content of 77.9%. The
excessive moisture content could cause spoilage and
decrease the quality of silage. Silage S2 made from var.
P-1844 possessed lower (P<0.05) moisture (68.3%)
content than other silages (Table 1). Brar et al. (2016)
also reported better quality of silage with optimum
moisture content in fodders at the time of harvesting.
The DM content in the silage samples ranged from
16.5 to 31.8% (Table 1). The silage S2 (31.8%) showed
higher (P<0.05) DM followed by S1 (27.4%). The rest
of silage samples contained less than 25.0% DM.
Chahine et al. (2009) reported that 30.0-40.0% DM
content was optimum for corn silage. Chaudhary et al.
(2016) also observed variable DM content (22.0-35.5%)
in silages prepared from different maize hybrids due to
their morphological variation and plant characteristics.
The CP content was higher (P<0.05) in silage (S3)
prepared from maize hybrid P-1844 (8.9%) harvested
at 85 days after sowing having cob with grains beyond
2.5 MLS stage. Thus, with advancement of age of crop,
the grains got more developed which resulted in increase
in protein content. This also led to increase in NDF and
ADF content in silage S3 beyond desirable limit which
could affect the digestibility of silage negatively. The
negative correlation of ADF and NDF with the
digestibility was also reported by Chahine et al. (2009).
In case of other silages, the crop was harvested
between 65 to 71 DAS when the grains were at dent
stage or near 2.5 MLS. These samples showed CP
content of 7.5 to 8.0% (Table 1). A range of 7.0-9.0%
CP has been considered to be optimum for corn silage
(Chahine et al., 2009). Chaudhary et al. (2016) also
recorded CP content of maize silages of different
hybrids in range of 6.1-9.2% as affected by maturity.
The NDF level was the lowest in silage S2 (43.4%)
and S1 (45.3 %) of hybrid P-1844 while the silage
Qualitative assessment of silage prepared under field conditions
Indian J. Anim. Nutr. 2017. 34 (3): 357-360
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prepared from 31Y45 + sugargraze (S6) and PAC-746
+ sugargraze (S5) recorded NDF values of 45.5 and
53.4%, respectively. Maize silage from P-1844 (S3) and
PAC-746 (S4) showed NDF values above 55.0% (Table
1). The optimum range of NDF in corn silage has been
reported to be 35-55% (Chahine et al., 2009). The level
of NDF is an inverse predictor of intake (high NDF
values low intake of feed and vice versa). The ADF
values were lower (P<0.05) in silage S5 (PAC-746 +
sugargraze) and found to be at par with silage S2
(28.9%), silage S1 (32.9%), S6 (30.9%) and S1 (32.9%).
The silage S3 (P-1844) and S4 (PAC-746) recorded
ADF content above 33.0% (Table 1). The optimum range
of ADF in corn silage has been reported to be 20-33%
(Chahine et al., 2009). The ADF content was
negatively correlated to digestibility and energy (Chahine
et al, 2009; Kumar et al., 2016; Chaudhary et al., 2016).
Ammonia-N concentration ranged from 2.0 to
3.3% of total N among the silages (Table 1). However,
ammonia-N was lower (P<0.05) in silage S1 (2.0)
followed by silages S5, S3 and S2. Wilkinson (1990)
reported that silage having NH3-N (% total silage N)
<5, 5-10,10-15 and >15% to be excellent, good,
moderate and poor, respectively. In the present study,
the values of NH3-N were below 5.0% which indicated
better silage quality.
Evaluation of silage pH can provide feedback on
whether fermentation occurred under ideal conditions
or not. The pH of different silage samples was recorded
between 3.5 to 4.0 (Table 1) which lies between ideal
limits. Roth and Heinrichs (2001) reported the optimum
range of pH values for corn silages between 3.5 to 4.3.
Kaiser and Piltz (2004) reported that when DM content
was lower, the pH values of well preserved silages were
in the range of 3.5-4.2. They further stated that if the
silage pH exceeded these limits, there was a high
probability that the silage had been poorly preserved.
The buffering capacity in silage samples ranged
from 3.9 to 4.1 meq./g and was found to be similar in all
the silages (Table 1). Buffering capacity measures to
what degree of a forage sample will resist a change in
pH. Silages having higher buffering capacity take longer
time to ensile (Kung and Shaver, 2001). Aflatoxin
Table 1. Qualitative parameters of silage prepared at commercial dairy farms in Tarn Taran district of Punjab
Silage Village Variety Harvesting Days Days Moisture DM CP NDF ADF Ammonia pH BC Aflatoxin
sample (DAS) to fill of N (% of (meq./g) (ppb)
the pit ensiling total N)
(%)
S1Thattian Khurd P-1844 67-69 343 72.6b27.4b8.0b45.3b32.9a2.0a3.8 3.9 <8
S2Sabrah P-1844 70-71 263 68.3a31.8a7.5d43.4a28.9a3.0bcd 4.0 4.1 <8
S3Sabrah P-1844 85 1120 77.9c22.2c8.9a63.6d45.1b2.6bc 3.6 3.9 <8
S4Mari Kamboke PAC-746 68 140 79.1d20.9d7.6cd 64.8e40.8b3.3d3.5 3.9 <8
S5Mari Kamboke PAC-746+ 69-70 262 81.3e18.7e7.9bc53.4c28.8a2.5b3.7 4.2 <8
sugargraze
S6Algokothe 31Y45 +
sugargraze 65-71 745 83.5f16.5f7.5d45.5b30.9a3.1cd 3.8 4.0 8
SEM 0.18 0.14 0.11 0.16 1.45 0.16 -0.14 -
a,b,c,d,e Means bearing different superscripts in a column differ significantly (P<0.05)
Brar et al.
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Chaudhary, D.P., Kumar, A., Kumar, R., Singode, A., Mukri,
G., Sah, R.P., Tiwana, U.S. and Kumar, B. 2016.
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concentration in silages prepared from 31Y45 +
sugargraze (S6) was 8.0 ppb while other samples showed
less than 8 ppb (Table 1). The longer filling time of
chaffed fodder in silo for S6 might not have maintained
anaerobic conditions properly leading to increased
aflatoxin level. Wittenberg (2004) also reported that rapid
elimination of oxygen from silo pit was critical for the
prevention of storage moulds as subsequent aeration of
silage can cause fungi to proliferate and if conditions
are suitable, mycotoxin may be produced. However, the
food and drug administration limits, the amount of
aflatoxins allowable in lactating cow feed to 20 ppb and
consumption of food stuff with higher levels of 20 ppb is
injurious to animals and cause reduction in milk
(Upadhaya et al., 2010).
It could be concluded that for making of good
quality silage, the crop should be harvested 70 days
after sowing and when the grains are in dent stage or
near 2.5 MLS. Delay in harvesting increased the NDF
and ADF content above optimum range. The silage
prepared from var. P-1844 (S1 and S2) recorded all the
quality parameters in ideal range whereas other silage
samples showed values beyond desirable limits.
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Qualitative assessment of silage prepared under field conditions
Indian J. Anim. Nutr. 2017. 34 (3): 357-360
Received on 01-01-2017 and accepted on 03-08-2017
