Effectiveness of chopped lucerne hay as a moisture absorbent for low dry‐matter maize silage: Effluent reduction, fermentation quality and intake by sheep

Abstract This study determined effects of addition of lucerne hay ( LH ) as moisture absorbent on effluent reduction, fermentation and subsequent intake of maize (corn) silage by sheep. Treatments included maize forage ensiled without LH ( LH 0), with 50 g/kg LH ( LH 5) and with 100 g/kg LH ( LH 10) on a fresh weight basis. Silages were made in 150‐kg bags in triplicate. Upon opening, representative samples from each bag were taken twice weekly during a feeding trial and used for laboratory analyses in a completely randomized design. Silages were fed ad libitum to six ewes in a duplicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 21‐day periods for intake and digestibility determination. Lucerne hay incorporation linearly increased DM , ash, water‐soluble carbohydrates, buffering capacity and pH of silages, while it linearly decreased ammonia nitrogen, acetic acid and ethanol concentrations ( p < .05). Effluent volume linearly decreased from 33 ml/kg in LH 0 to 0.8 ml/kg in LH 10. Addition of LH resulted in a linear increase in intakes of organic matter and fibre in ewes, while digestibilities of these nutrients linearly decreased ( p < .05). Lucerne hay addition improved fermentation parameters and resulted in increased intake of maize silage without having negative impact on aerobic stability.