The effect of adding various moisture-absorbing materials to corn forage and its effect on dry matter, loss rate, and quantitative and qualitative parameters of corn silage

Articles in Press

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

Authors

1 M sc

2 Faculty Member

3 Faculty member

10.22069/ejrr.2026.24240.2027

Abstract

Background and objectives: Corn silage, due to its high moisture content and low dry matter at harvest, is prone to excessive effluent production, impaired fermentation quality, and reduced digestibility. The inclusion of moisture-absorbing agents can reduce free water, improve anaerobic fermentation conditions, and prevent the proliferation of undesirable microorganisms, pH decline, and nutrient loss. These agents help stabilize fermentation processes, enhance the production of beneficial volatile fatty acids, and improve the chemical composition of the silage. Consequently, dry matter concentration increases, and the nutritional value and digestibility of the feed for ruminants are improved. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different moisture-absorbing sources including dried alfalfa hay, wheat straw, ground corn grain, and dried sugar beet pulp on the chemical composition, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and ammonia-N concentrations, effluent production, and dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility in corn silage.
Materials and Methods: Experimental silages included: 1- control silage without any additive, 2- silage with 5% dried alfalfa hay, 3- 5% wheat straw, 4- 5% dried sugar beet pulp, 5- 5% ground corn grain, 6- 2.5% alfalfa hay + 2.5% wheat straw, 7- 2.5% alfalfa hay + 2.5% sugar beet pulp, 8- 2.5% alfalfa hay + 2.5% ground corn grain, 9- 2.5% wheat straw + 2.5% sugar beet pulp, 10- 2.5% wheat straw + 2.5% ground corn grain, and 11- 2.5% sugar beet pulp + 2.5% ground corn grain (based on DM). All silos were opened after 90 d ensiling and their characteristics were assessed
Results: Results showed that 5%AH silage had higher DM and crude protein (CP) content and lower starch contents compared to other silages (P<0.01). 5%CG silage had lower NDF and acid detergent fiber (ADF) and higher non-fiber charbohydrate (NFC) and starch contents than other dilages (P<0.01). pH of Con silage was lower than other experimental silages (P<0.01). 2.5%BP+2.5%CG silage had higher total volatile fatty acid (VFA), propionate and butyrate content compared to other silages (P<0.01). the highest concentration of acetate and lactate were observed in 5%WS and 5%AH silages, respectively (P<0.01). The lowest concentration of ammoni-N was observed in 5%BP and 2.5%AH+2.5%BP silages (P<0.01). Digestibility of DM and NDF were higher in 5%CG silage compared to other experimental silages (P<0.01). The lowest effluent was observed in 5%BP silage (P<0.01).
Conclusion: In conclusion, according to these results addition of 5% alfalfa hay or ground corn grain improved silage quality and its digestibility.

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Journal of Ruminant Research

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 12 September 2026

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