The effects of moisture at baling and wrapping delay on storage characteristics of annual ryegrass round bale silage

Abstract

Moisture content and time between baling and wrapping round bale silage impacts silage quality and aerobic stability. The objective of this study was to observe the effects of wrapping delays of 0, 1, 2, or 3 d on the nutritional quality and storage characteristics of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) silage baled at two levels of moisture (30 ± 9.5% [DRY] or 74 ± 0.8% [WET]). The DRY (n = 18) and WET (n = 20) bales were assigned as replicates and wrapped by pasture quadrant, then stored for 85 d. Crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent insoluble crude protein (ADICP) of the silage were greater (P