1Animal Science Department, Agricultural Faculty Yüzüncü Yil University, 65080 Van-Turkey.
2Yüzüncü Yil University, Veterinary Faculty, Animal Nutrition Department, Van-Turkey.
3Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Van Country Management, Van-Turkey.
4Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, GevaÕ District Management, Van-Turkey.
*Corresponding author: Tel: +90 432 2251701/1609; Fax: +90432 2251104; E-mail: mesdemirel@yyu.edu.tr.
This study was carried out to determine qualities and in vivo digestibility of silage of sunflower green herbage harvested at blooming, milk or dough stage and incubated in 120 l plastic barrels for 90 days. While dry matter, organic matter and crude fat content increased at dough stage, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber decreased (P<0.05). The highest lactic and propionic acid and the lowest butyric acid andpH values were observed in blooming stage silage. While dry grass yield and table ratio increased with maturity, stem and leaf ratio as well as digestibility of most of the nutrients decreased (P<0.05). It may be concluded that high quality alternative silages could be obtained from sunflower green herbage, best coming from bloom stage.
Harvesting stage, sunflower silage, fermentation quality, in vivo digestibility
