• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.843-851
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• 2003

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of pre-wilting Bana grass (Pennisetum purpureum x P. americanum) herbage under sunny conditions for 0, 6, 18, 24, 32 and 48 h and ensiling it with maize meal. Four levels of maize meal(viz., 0, 5, 10 and 15% on fresh weight (Fw) basis) were tested. The experiment had a split-plot design. Wilting increased the concentration of water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) significantly (p<0.001) on a Fw basis, although there were no significant changes on DM basis. Unwilted grass contained $36.1g{\cdot}WSC{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}Fw$ ($127.6g{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}DM$) and this increased to $64.1g{\cdot}WSC{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}Fw$ ($116.7g{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}DM$) after 48 h of pre-wilting. Wilting also increased the DM content of herbage significantly (p>0.001) from 250 to $620g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, between 0 and 48 h respectively. The concentration of fermentation end-products decreased (except butyric acid) and pH increased when the period of wilting increased, indicating that fermentation was restricted. In particular, lactic acid content declined from 50.8 to $26.2g{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}DM$ (p<0.01) and the residual WSC contents of silage increased from 2.7 with fresh herbage to $18.1g{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}DM$ with 48 h of wilting (p<0.001). Rapid wilting for 24 h, to a DM of $450g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ was optimum since important increases in pH, residual WSC and DMD occurred at this level of wilting. Acetic acid, butyric acid and ammoniacal-N contents were lowest with 24 h of wilting. There were no significant interactions between length of wilting and the incorporation of maize meal. Wilting had a greater influence on fermentation than the incorporation of maize meal. Addition of maize meal facilitated fermentation by increasing forage DM content and reducing effluent production. In addition, the maize meal increased DMD. It was concluded that maize meal should generally be incorporated at a level of 5% on fresh weight basis.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.519-527
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• 2009

The main nutritional problem of sorghum$\times$sudangrass hybrid silage is low quality and dry matter (DM) contents. This experiment was conducted to evaluate whether field pre-wilting treatment of sorghum$\times$sudangrass hybrid silage increases DM content and forage quality of the silage. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were consisted of five different wilting days: 0 day (direct cut silage), 0.5 day, 1 day, 2 days and 3 days. Sorghum$\times$sudangrass hybrid silage with pre-wilting showed low 4.00 pH values, however direct cut silage (control) showed a 4.30 value because of its high moisture content. The DM content of sorghum$\times$sudangrass hybrid silage with pre-wilting was high above 25.1% after 1 days, however that of direct cut silage had 17.6%. And the effluent of wilted silage was decreased with prolonged wilting period, but that of direct cut silage produced effluent of 183 mL/kg. Crude protein and ether extract with wilted silage were decreased, however crude ash was increased with prolonged wilting period. Silage with pre-wilting had higher acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents than control silages, while its non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC) showed the opposite results. Lactic acid and total organic acid were increased with prolonged wilting period. For the palatability of dairy goat, silage with 2 days wilting was highest among silages. The experiment results indicate that wilted sorghum$\times$sudangrass hybrid silage could be recommended as effective method for reducing effluent, increasing pH and forage quality more than direct cut silage. Optimum pre-wilting day of sorghum$\times$sudangrass hybrid silage may be 1 days.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2010

This study was carried out to establish the optimum pre-wilting time for the high-quality silage production of whole crop oat. Plants were harvested for three time at intervals of 10 days after heading (DAH) and silage production was conducted after the pre-wilting treatment of 0, 4, 8 and 32 hours, respectively. Results showed to attain a proper moisture content for profitable silage production, which was an optimal content for making silage, by pre-wilting oat for 4 hours after harvest at either 20 days after heading or harvesting 30 DAH(days after heading). As the feed value of silage, the processing of proper moisture contents showed that crude protein contents were high and the entire feed value showed higher than others. High content of lactic acid and the low content of acetic and butyric acid showed on 60~65% the moisture conditions of silage. There was desired that whole crop oat was pre-wilting on 4 hours and harvested at about 20~30 DAH and after that, even if harvesting at once, it was judged that it could produce good quality silage.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 1996

Spring sown oat crops were grown during early March to late June in 1993~1994. The crops were harvested at different stage of maturity to determine the yield performance, chemical components and net energy value of the plants for silage utilization. The pattern of dry matter accumulation, absolute growth rate(Abs. GR), leaf weight ratio(LWR), stalk diameter(SD) and other growth parameters were analysed to evaluate the suitability of the plant materials for ensiling. The effect5 of wilting treatment and formic acid addition on the quality of silage was also disscused during the experiments. Spring sown oat crops was evaluated as a suitable materials for whole plant silage making. The best qualitative oat silage was obtained at the stage of soti dough to hard dough, when the plant reached 32.2~35.7% in dry matter concentration. Spring sown oat produced 9.43 ton in DM basis, 5.79 ton in TDN and 57.550 MJ-NEL/ha in net energy lactation. Early harvesting of the oat corps needed wilting treatment of the material before ensiling. Under pre-witing treatment (1/2 day) and formic acid addition(0.3%) silage quality point of oat crops harvested at the bloom stage was improved from 58 to 84 point.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.419-428
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• 2012

This study was carried out to analyze winter cereal crops for harvest time, proper drying time and haylage quality in order to investigate the possibility of the production of good quality haylage substitute for hay. As a result, in case of productivity and feed value, dry matter yield and TDN yield was increased with late harvest and crude protein and NDF, ADF was decreased (p<0.05). To make haylage for whole crop barley, oats, triticale, whole crop wheat need more than 32 hour wilting time in the milk ripe stage, yellow ripe stage need about 8~24 hour, and wilting time did not need the full ripe stage. Rye does not suitable for making haylage because of difficulty pre-wilting time. In case of fermentative quality on haylage, pH was increased with late harvest on all winter cereal crop forage. Lactic acid content was decreased with late harvest (p<0.05), and highest in the milk ripe stage. Acetic acid was also decreased with late harvest, and butyric acid was not detected. In conclusion, to harvest sooner of winter cereal crops could be an efficient way when making haylage in terms of protein content and fermentation quality. Ray can used as fresh and silage, because difficulty for pre-wilting time in Korea. Whole crop barley, oats, triticale, wheat can be used haylage when harvested yellow ripen stage and pre-wilting time for 8~24 hours.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.92-99
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• 1983

Experiment were conducted to study effect of pre-wilting on the quality of silage. Herbage samples were taken on November 11, 1981. Italian ryegrass and rye plant at grazing stage were taken and wilted to adjust their dry matter contents to the range of 15.8 to 53.2% and ensiled in order to evaluate the effect of pre-wilting on the chemical composition and nutrient loss of silage. Both prewilted and unwilted grass material were ensiled in small polyetylene film bag and stored under room temperature. 1. The formation of total acid decreased by increasing DM content, however, lactic acid content of the total organic acid increased. 2. In the silage, the loss of DM declined as DM content increased. 3. The quality of silage estimated by organic acid constituent was improved as DM content in the herbage increased. 4. The production of $NH_3-N$ decreased by increasing degree of prewilting. 5. In vitro dry matter digestibility was not affected by prewilting.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.823-829
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• 2003

Four different types of silage from new cultivars of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), cv. NG 1 and NG 2, were fed to eight wethers in order to evaluate their preference and intake by sheep. The silages were prepared from direct-cut NG 1 herbage; pre-wilted NG 1 herbage; NG 1 herbage with maize meal (5% inclusion) and NG 2 herbage with maize meal (5% inclusion). All silages were palatable to sheep. Maize-treated silage had high quality fermentation, characterized by high Fleig scores and low pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammoniacal nitrogen contents. The pH, Fleig score, in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOMD) and ammoniacal-N contents for maize-treated cv. NG 1 silage were 3.7, 78, $540g\;kg^{-1}$ dry matter (DM ) and $0.18g\;kg^{-1}$ DM whereas, in maize-treated cv. NG 2 they were 3.6, 59, $^458g\;kg{-1}$ DM and $0.18g\;kg^-1$ DM, respectively. The superior quality of maize-treated silages made them more preferable to sheep. Among the maize-fortified silages, palatability and intake were significantly (p<0.001) greater with cv. NG 1. Although direct-cut silage had better fermentation quality compared to wilted silage, wilted silage was significantly (p<0.001) more preferable to sheep. However, there were no significant differences (p<0.05) in the levels of preference and intake of wilted silage compared to maize-treated cv. NG 2 silage, even though the latter tended to be more palatable. There were indications that high pH (4.6 vs 3.5) and IVDOMD content (476 vs $457g\;kg^{-1}%$ DM) of wilted silage contributed to higher intake, compared to direct-cut silage. It was generally concluded that pre-wilting and treatment of Napier grass with maize meal at ensiling enhances intake and palatability.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.18-28
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• 1978

To study about the effect of harvested stage and physical treatment such as wilting or chopping of plant material on the quality of silage, Italian ryegrass(Lolium multiflorum) harvested at pre-headed or heading stage and Seombadi(Dystaenia takesimana Nakai) harvested at pre-flowering stage, were used for the purpose. The materials were treated in four different ways which were a) non-treated, b) one day-wilted, c) chopped with 1 to 2cm length and d) wilted and chopped, and those were ensiled in plastic containers and stored at room temperature for three months. After three months of storage, it was investigated and obtained the following results. 1) Having 6.31 of NFE/CP ratio and low content of crude fiber, Seombadi contained more suitable constituents for silage than Italian ryegrass. 2) Under the non-treated or chopped condition, the loss of NFE was higher, and lower with wilted material. 3) Wilting or chopping improved DM digestibility. 4) Compared with Italian ryegrass harvested at pre-headed stage, the storage amount per unit volume of heading stage-Italian ryegrass and Seombadi were higher 8% and 69% respectively, and wilting and/or chopping increased the storage amount 41 to 134%. 5) The majority of weight loss during storage was observed at 1st week after ensiling, it continued slightly until 4th week. The highest loss in 8th week were 3.76% of nontreated material. 6) One day wilting increased DM content of silage 23 to 131%. Wilting and chopping increased pH and lactic acid improved the quality considerably. 7) The correlation between $NH_3$ and butyric acid, and between lactic acid and DM were r=0.782**, r=0.634** respectively. The regression equation were y=12.853X+4.908 (X=butyric acid), y=0.016X+1.309(X=DM content), respectively. 8. The above results indicate that it is necessary to wilt or chop material to make good quality silage from Italian ryegrass, and such treatment can improve the quality of silage with Seombadi also.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.198-206
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• 1995

Baled silage making(BS) of selected forage crops was discussed during 1991-1993, to determine the best cutting time of the plants for BS production, BS yields and silage quality. Seven species of forage crops and pasture grasses(rye, barley, spring oat, Italian ryegrass, orchardgrass, alfalfa and grass-legume pasture mixtures) were harvested at different stage of growth from young plant to physiological maturity, and baled in a self constructed square baling chamber. Each bales, measured 90cm length, 60cm width and 50cm height, were wrapped with 0.05mrn thick polyethylene plastic film, and stored in stack silo. Each bales were weighed between 15-20 kg in dry matter basis. The effects of pre wilting and formic acid addition on the silage quality of young plant materials, which contained high water concentration, was also evaluated during the experiment. Rye plant including of barley and spring oat were evaluated as a good materials for baled silage making. Fodder rye produced high quality BS with a value of silage quality point 84(Flieg's point) when the plant harvested at stage of greatest dry matter accumulation by 12.64 tonha. The best quality BS of barley was obtained at stage of hard dough to yellow stage by 11.9 ton/ha dry matter yield and 81 point silage quality. Italian ryegrass and pasture grasses including of orchardgrass, alfalfa and grass-legume pasture mixtures procuced also high quality bale silage by harvesting at stage of late blooming. However pre witting operation and formic acid addition was required for BS production of grass materials because of high water contents. Water contents of Italian ryegrass and other pasture species ranged 18.9%(Italian) to 20.8%(alfalfa). Silage quality point of Italian BS harvested at late blooing was increased from 72 to 88 by 1/2-one day pre wilting and 0.3% formic acid treatment. Silage quality of young plant materials of rye and other forage crops, barley and spring oat were also improved markedly through the pre wilting treatment and formic acid addition.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Organic Agriculture Conference
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• 2009.12a
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• pp.141-154
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• 2009