QUANTITY AND NUTRIENT CONTENT OF EFFLUENT LOSSES FROM ENSILED HIGH MOISTURE GRASS

Observations were made on effluent flow and nutrient content of the effluent from eight silos filled with orchardgrass. Dry matter (DM) content of the effluent appeared to be approximately one-third the DM content of the ensiled material. The protein content of the effluent was more closely related to the DM than to the protein content of the forage. The amount of ash in the effluent DM was two and a half times the ash content of the forage. Approximately 75% of the total effluent flow occurred in the first 5 days after ensiling. Protein content of the effluent ranged from 1.1% during the first day of flow to 2.4% of the last day. The soluble carbohydrate content averaged 26.9 g/L for the first day of sampling to 5.9 g/L on the last day the effluents were sampled. Ash content of the effluent DM remained relatively constant with time but ranged from 18 to 30% depending on the material ensiled.