The effect of oven temperature on the error in estimating the dry matter content of silage

Abstract

The dry matter content of 15 silages was determined by a toluene distillation method and oven drying at 40, 70, and 100°c. Oven drying at 100°c led to dry matter losses of up to 16 per cent depending on the quantity of organic acids present. At lower oven drying temperatures smaller losses occurred, but the difference between silage samples was not reduced. Oven drying at all temperatures can give misleading dry matter estimates.