Abstract

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of grain content on the nutritive value of whole-plant grain sorghum silage. Silage dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and crude protein (CP) contents increased with increasing levels of grain in the reconstituted, whole-plant silages, whereas neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents decreased as the level of grain increased from 0 to 48%. When fed to sheep (used as a model), voluntary DM intake and DM and OM digestibilities increased in a linear manner, whereas ADF digestibility decreased with increasing level of grain. Crude protein and NDF digestibilities responded in a quadratic fashion to increasing grain content. These results suggest that the optimum level of grain in whole-plant grain sorghum silage is at least 48% of the DM in a high silage-based ration.

Keywords: Cattlemen's Day, 1996, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution, no. 96-334-S, Report of progress (Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service), 756, Beef, Grain sorghum, Silage, Silage grain content, Silage nutritive value

How to Cite:

Dalke, B., Sonon, R. J., Holthaus, D., Bolsen, K. & Young, M. A., (1996) “Effect of grain content on the nutritive value of whole-plant grain sorghum silage”, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports 1(1), 65-67. doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.1977