Determination of the Effects of Grape Pomace Addition to Sorghum Sudan Grass on Silage Quality

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the silage quality and in situ degradability of silages prepared with addition of grape pomace into variety of sorghum-sudan grass as rapid fermentable carbohydrate source. Grape pomace obtained at the region was ensiled with sorghum- sudan grass grown at Keskin Fodder Plants Production and Processing Facility at same period at the levels of 0, 10, 20 and 40%. Glass jars (1L) were used for ensiling of silages. Four silage samples were prepared for each treatment groups. After 45 days of ensiling, silage samples were opened and pH, organic acid, nutrient contents, and in situ degradation levels were determined. Among silage fermentation parameters, pH and volatile fatty acid concentrations did not differ among silage prepared from different sorghum-sudan grass varieties (P>0.05), grape pomace significantly increased the pH of sorghum-sudan grass silages and decreased lactic acid concentrations of sorghum-sudan grass silages (P<0.05). Nutrient contents, except CP content, significantly differed between sorghum-sudan grass varieties, addition of grape pomace into sorghum-sudan grass significantly alter the nutrient contents of silages (P<0.05). While in situ OM, NDF and ADF degradabilities were similar between sorghum-sudan grass varieties, addition of grape pomace significantly decreased OM degradability in both sorghum-sudan grass varieties (P<0.05). In conclusion, addition of grape pomace into sorghum-sudan grass up to 40% had some negative effects on silage quality, but it was taught that grape pomace can be utilized as alternatve feedstuffs for ruminants by adding sorghum-sudan grass up to 20%.