Losses in the conservation of grassland herbage in lined trench silos:I. A comparison of long and lacerated silages made by the warm fermentation process

Abstract

A conservation experiment is described in which a comparison is made of quality and of nutrient losses in long and lacerated silages of warm fermentation type made in large lined trench silos. High losses of 29.5 and 34.7% of the dry matter in the long grass silages and 32.8 and 32.4% in the lacerated silages were recorded. Losses of starch equivalent were correspondingly high amounting to 43.3 and 49.5% in the long grass silages and 49.1 and 46.5% in the lacerated silages. The mean loss of dry matter in the effluent from the lacerated silages was 1.3% higher than in the long grass silages.