ABSTRACT
The effect of silage aditive Supersil BR on grass silage (Lolium hybridum) quality and milk production

Francisco Lanuza A.1, Fernando Klein R,1, Juan Carlos Dumont L,1, Luis Latrille L,2, Guillermo Reyes G.2, Juan Boldt Q.1, Andrés Bassi V.1 y Rodolfo Saldafía P.1
 

This trial was conducted from November 1990 to august 1991 atthe Remehue Research Station (INIA) in order to evaluate the use of a comercial additive (Supersil BR, a mixture of formic, sulphuric, phosphoric and propionic acids plus formalin) to silage madeof hybrid ryegrass (cv. Sabrina-Sabel). The effect was measured on food intake and milk production of autumn calving cows and in the characteristics of fermentation parameters of both silages. Harvesting by direct cut Was made at November 18th and 19th when the forage had 18.2% dry matter and 17.9% soluble carbohydrates (dry matter basis). For silage-making two silos were used; one of the silos had no additive (control treatment) and the other was added 2.5 L of Supersil BR per ton of fresh forage. Sixteen lactating Holstein-Friesian cows were alloted in two groups which were fed ad libitum either the treated or the control silage; in addition the cows received a mixture of 5.0 kg/day of concentrate (containing 19% T.P. and 2.8 Mcal ME/kg) and 0.25 kg of a mineral mix per cow daily. Chemical composition of the silages differed statistically only for pH (3.9 and 4.0), ammonia N (8.1 and 5.9% of total N) and acid detergent fiber (34.81 and 37.35%) for the control and Supersil BR, respectively (P<0.05). The low difference found in the silage quality could be explained by the adecuate soluble carbohydrate level of the forage used. Silage dry matter intake showed only a tendency to by higher with Supersil SR (1 0.45 vs 9.64 kg/cowl day) than with the control silage. Neither milk production nor milk composition (butterfat, total protein, solids not fat and total solids) were significantly (P > 0.05) affected by silage type.

Keywords: dairy cows, animal nutrition, silage, Lolium hybridum, milk production.
1 Estación Experimental Remehue (INIA), Casilla 24-O, Osorno, Chile.
2 Instituto de Producción Animal, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile.