Chemical composition and in vitro fermentation characteristics of high sugar forage sorghum as an alternative to forage maize for silage making in Tarim Basin, China

The chemical composition, mineral profile and in vitro fermentation characteristics of maize （MZ）, high sugar forage sorghum （HS） and forage sorghum （FS）, and silages made from each forage type were measured. The MZ and MZ silage （MZS） had higher crude protein, starch and ether extract contents than both sorghum forages and sorghum silages. HS had higher ash and water-soluble carbohydrate concentrations than FS and MZ. MZ, MZS, HS and HS silage （HSS） had lower neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and acid detergent lignin than FS and FS silage （FSS）. FSS had higher dry matter （DM） and pH than MZS and HSS. HSS contained higher concentrations of P and K than FSS and MZS. MZS and HSS had higher in vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility, CH4 production, total volatile fatty acids, acetate and propionate than FSS. pH was higher for FSS than for HSS, and ammonia was lower for HSS than for MZS and FSS. HSS had higher gas production than MZS and FSS after 2, 4, 6 and 8 h incubation. MZS had higher gas production than HSS and FSS after 26 and 28 h of incubation. The results indicate that HS may substitute for MZ to make good quality silage. However, animal studies are needed to assess the acceptability and feeding values of HSS vs. MZS for ruminant production.

Study on the Relationship of Seedling Density and Line Spacing to Leaf-stem Ratio, DW/FW Ratio and Grass Yield of Forage Sweet Sorghum

[ Objectives ] The aim was to optimize the configuration of seedling density and line spacing of forage sweet sorghum （ Sorghum blcolor （ L. ） Moench） and explore its high-yield cultivation techniques. [ Methods] Effects of such two influencing factors as line spacing and seedling density on the leaf-stem ratio, DW/FW ratio and grass yield of forage sweet sorghum were analyzed by using split-plot experiment design experiment method and LSD method of IBM. SPSS. Statis- tics. v22 stati, stics software. [ Results ~ Seedling density and line spacing had no obvious effect on the leaf-stem ratio and DW/FW ratio of forage sweet sorghum but had obvious influences on the grass yield. Moreover, the optimal combination of seedling density and line spacing for high yield of forage sweet sorghum was A2 B4, that is, seedling density was 225 000 plants/hm2, and line spacing was 40 cm. [ Conclusions] The results provided a theoretical basis and technical support for high-yield cultivation techniques of forage sweet sorghum.

Effects of Planting Density and Row Spacing on Plant Productivity of Autumn Forage Sweet Sorghum in Hebei Province

[ Objective] This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between each of planting density and row spacing and plant productivity of forage sweet sorghum planted in autumn idle land. [ Methods] Using split-plot experiment design experiment method and LSD method of IBM. SPSS. Statistics. v22 statistics software, the effects of planting density and row spacing on plant productivity of forage sweet sorghum planted in autumn idle land were compared. [ Result] The results showed that the planting density and row spacing had important influences on plant productivity of forage sweet sorghum planted in autumn idle land. Moreover, the optimal combination of plant productivity for A1B4 , i. e. ,under the combination of the planting density of 7.5 × 10^4 plants/hm^2 and the row spacing of 40 cm, the fresh weight and dry weight per plant were 654.37 and 147.11 g/plant, respectively. [ Conclusion ] The results provided a theoretical basis for the production of forage sweet sorghum in autumn idle land.

Preparation of Technical Specifications on the Cultivation of Sweet Sorghums for Forage( Excerpt)

The aim of this study is to standardize the planting technology of sweet sorghums for forage,to prepare? technical specifications for planting sweet sorghums for forage. Based on years of experiment,it is prepared according to the requirements of GB/1. 1 Standardization Guide Rule Part I: Standard Structure and Compilation. The results show that it defines the application scope,basic requirements,preparation before sowing,planting requirements,field management,harvesting requirements of the technical specifications for planting sweet sorghums for forages,and determines the specific measures and technical indicators of the technical specifications. This paper provides technical support for the standardization,industrialization and marketization of planting sweet sorghums for forage.

Effects of total replacement of corn silage with sorghum silage on milk yield,composition, and quality

Background： In the last years, difficulties occurring in corn cultivation（i.e., groundwater shortages, mycotoxin contamination） have been forcing dairy farmers to consider alternative silages. Some experiments conducted on lactating cows have proven that the total replacement of corn silage with sorghum silage did not reduce milk yield.However, this kind of substitution involves supplementing sorghum-based diets with grains, to compensate for the lower starch content of sorghum silage compared to corn silage. Change of silage type and inclusion of starch sources in the diet would influence rumen fermentations, with possible effects on milk composition（i.e., fatty acid profile） and coagulation properties. A worsening of milk coagulation properties would have a negative economic impact in Italy, where most of the milk produced is processed into cheese.This study was designed to compare milk composition and quality, with emphasis on fatty acid profile and coagulation properties, in dairy cows fed two diets based on corn or sorghum silage.Results： The sorghum diet reduced milk yield（P = 0.043） but not 4% fat corrected milk（P = 0.85）. Feeding sorghum silage did not influence milk contents of protein（P = 0.07） and lactose（P = 0.65）, and increased fat content（P = 0.024）.No differences emerged for milk concentrations of saturated（P = 0.61） and monounsaturated fatty acids（P = 0.50）,whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids were lower（P 〈 0.001） for the sorghum diet. Concentrations of n-6（P 〈 0.001） and n-3 fatty acids（P = 0.017） were lower in milk of cows fed the sorghum diet. Milk coagulation properties did not differ between the two diets, except the ＂a30＂（the curd firmness, expressed in mm, 30 min after rennet addition）, that was lower（P = 0.042） for the sorghum diet.Conclusions： Feeding a forage sorghum silage, properly supplemented with corn meal, as total replacement of corn silage maintained milk composition and did not influence negatively milk coagulation properties, which have a great economic relevance for the Italian dairy industry. Thus, silages obtained from forage sorghums could have a potential as substitute of corn silages in dairy cow diets.