The Effect of Various Additives Addition to Barley-Vetch Mixtures on Silage Quality Characteristics and In vitro Digestibility

In this study, it was aimed to determine the effects of adding different levels of molasses and fructose syrup to barley-vetch mixtures, one of the roughage sources produced as a second product in cotton fields in Şanlıurfa province, on some silage quality characteristics and ruminal methane gas formation by in vitro gas production technique. In the study, the additive-free silage group constituted the control group, while the silages, prepared by adding different levels of fructose syrup (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%) and molasses (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) to the control group, formed the treatment groups. In the study, while in vitro organic matter digestion (IVOMD) and metabolic energy (ME) values of silages increased in all experimental groups compared to the control group, CH4 gas production decreased. The lowest pH value among the silage groups was obtained from the silage prepared with the addition of 1.5% and 2% molasses. It was observed that the ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N/TN) value of the silages decreased in the silage prepared by adding 1.5% molasses. While the highest amount of CO2 was determined in the control group, the lowest value was determined in the silage group with 1.5% molasses added. The highest value in terms of lactic acid content was determined in the control group, while the lowest was determined in the silage group with 0.5% molasses. When the acetic acid contents of the silages were examined, it was seen that all additives decreased the acetic acid contents of the silages compared to the control silage. As a result, it was concluded that the addition of 1.5% molasses or 0.4% fructose syrup additive had positive effects on silage fermentation, improved in vitro organic matter digestion and metabolic energy values, and could be used as it was economical and applicable