IS-1944-92C

Publications

Achievements

The Use of Ozone-Treated Dicotyledonous Lignocellulose as a Silage Additive: Nutritional Studies	Budget	Duration
	$230,000	3 years

	Ben Ghedalia, D.	ARO, Min. Ag.
	Tock, R.W.	Texas Tech
	Stern, M.D.	U Minnesota

Final Report Abstract
This report presents studies dedicated to the nutritional evaluation of alfalfa silages made with cotton lignocelluloses treated with either conoxyl or ozone. In a lamb-growth study, wilted alfalfa silage (A) was compared with a silage made of 55% fresh alfalfa +45% conoxyl-treated cotton gin trash (T). The rations were made of 25% silage, 25% poultry litter and 50% concentrate and the average daily gains were 284 g and 288 g for A and T, respectively. In a digestibility study, wilted alfalfa silage (A) was compared with a silage made of 80% fresh alfalfa +20% ozonated cotton stalks (T). Both silages were good and readily consumed. Total carbohydrate digestibility based on monosaccharide analysis was similar, 63%, for both silages. Wilted alfalfa silage (A) and a silage made of 80% fresh alfalfa +20% ozonated cotton stalks (T), were compared also in a digestibility study with lactating cows fed rations in which the silages comprised 50% of the dietary forage. NDF digestibility was similar, 45%, in both rations; while total ration carbohydrate digestibility was 83% and 85%, and milk production during the experimental period was 27.1 kg and 27.6 kg, for A and T, respectively. The Texas Tech group dedicated their studies to examining various oxidizing agents for upgrading the value of gin trash. Concomitantly, conoxyl-treated gin trash was sent to the Minnesota partner for fermentor studies. Although conoxyl treated gin trash was effective in ensiling fresh alfalfa and in the lamb growth study, the effect of conoxyl on the digestibility of gin trash was rather weak according to the Israeli and Minnesota reports. The Texas Tech examined also the potential of other oxidizing agents, such as: hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, and sodium formate, with and without ozone, and the full data is presented in the body of the report. The conclusion of this project is that silages made of fresh forage plus conoxyl or ozone treated cotton lignocellulose, can be used in rations of productive ruminants.