The nutritive value of stack silage (rye grass and clover)

Abstract

An account has been given of a digestion trial with sheep which was designed to assess the nutritive value of “sweet” rye grass and clover stack silage. The most noteworthy feature of the results was the appreciable depression of digestibility suffered by the crude protein of the crop as a result of ensilage. A tentative explanation of this effect has been put forward, based on a consideration of the high temperature attained in the stack.In conclusion, the writer would like to state that the silage was made under the direction of his colleague, Arthur Amos, Esq., M.A., and to him thanks are due for permission to use the fodder for the purposes of the feeding trial. The writer also tenders his thanks to Mr G. Thurlbourn for considerable assistance in connection with the analytical work and the care of the animals.