The effects of two different in-silo absorbents on the quantity of effluent produced when ensiling forage kale without wilting

eather conditions during harvesting may lead to unwilted forage being ensiled, resulting in the production of silage effluent. An experiment tested the hypothesis that the addition of molassed sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) pulp (MSBP) or rolled barley (Hordeum vulgare) would reduce the silage effluent production from forage kale (Brassica oleracea) when ensiled without wilting. Forage kale (Kaleage, a blend of cv. Pinfold and cv. Keeper) was sown on 22 April 2003 at a rate of 7.5 kg/ha and harvested on 12 August 2003. Three silos of each treatment were filled with 10 kg of forage and treated with a silage inoculant applied at the manufacturer's recommended rate. Treatments consisted of kale with either 0 (control), 25, 50, 75 kg rolled barley or 25, 50, 75 kg MSBP incorporated per tonne of fresh forage. Effluent traps were fitted to each silo and the effluent produced was collected over 10 days. MSBP was found to reduce the amount of effluent produced more effectively (P<0.001) than rolled barley (P<0.003) and regression analysis showed that there was a linear decrease in the amount of effluent produced when there was an increase in the inclusion rate of either MSBP or rolled barley