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Ensiling Characteristics of Coastal Bermudagrass Harvested at the Prehead and Full-Head Stages of Growth¹

Dairy Department, University of Georgia, Athens

ABSTRACT

In a study of the influence of growth stage at harvest on changes occurring during ensiling, four 8- by 24-ft. tower silos were rapidly filled with Coastal Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) at the (a) prehead and (b) full-head stages. Ground shelled corn was added at the rate of 100 lb per ton of forage. The younger forage contained more protein and less NFE, but the levels of crude fiber and dry matter were not materially affected by harvesting stage. Level of ammoniacal N and pH were approximately the same for silages made from the prehead and full-head Coastal Bermudagrass. The percentages of organic acids were quite low for all silages with prehead silage containing somewhat more lactic acid. On a dry matter basis total organic acids were 4.2 and 4.1% for the prehead and full-head silages. Nutrient losses by both fermentation and spoil-age, as determined by the input-output method, were larger for the more mature material. Temperatures developed during ensiling were approximately the same for all four silages, with average peak values of 104 and 105 F in silos with prehead and full-head material.

¹ Journal Paper No. 280 of the College Experiment Station, University of Georgia, College of Agriculture Experiment Stations.