Nutrient Losses, Quality, and Feeding Values of Wilted and Direct-cut Orchardgrass Stored in Bunker and Tower Silos

Abstract

First cutting orchardgrass was preserved in 2 successive years as: (1) wilted silage stored in a tower silo; (2) direct-cut, sodium metabisulfite treated silage, stored in a tower silo; and (3) direct-cut, sodium metabisulfite treated silage, stored in a bunker silo. All silages were sealed with weighted plastic covers. Tower storage of wilted forage and bunker storage of direct-cut forage were about equally efficient in preserving forage dry matter (89.2% and 87.7% respectively). Tower storage of direct-cut forage preserved an average of 82.4% of the stored dry matter, the lower value being largely attributed to greater seepage looses. All silages were of good chemical quality and feeding value as indicated by feeding and digestibility trials, although wilted silage was consumed in somewhat greater amounts by dairy cattle.