THE EFFECT OF INITIAL COMPACTION AND MOISTURE CONTENT ON ENSILING LOSSES OF FORAGE CROPS

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Abstract
To study the effects of compaction and moisture content on ensiling losses, silage quality, and palatability, forage crops ranging in dry matter content from 19.8 to 36.5 per cent were ensiled at initial densities varying from 15 to 44 lb. per cubic foot. These experiments were conducted in 1954 and 1956, using metal silos of half-ton capacity, covered with perforated wood covers.Spoilage was closely related to compaction, decreasing significantly as the degree of compaction was increased, but was not influenced by the moisture content of the crop. Fermentation losses were significantly reduced with increases in either ensiling density or dry matter content.The quality of the resulting silages, as indicated by chemical analyses, was affected by both moisture content of the forage and the degree of initial compaction. Acidity of the silages was highest from the forages of high dry matter and heavy compaction, and showed a significant correlation with fermentation loss. Fermentation losses were also significantly correlated with the ash content of the silage, with increases in crude fibre, and with decreases in dry matter of the material during ensiling.Free choice palatability tests indicated a preference by heifers for the more heavily compacted forages.

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