In connection with the research taking place at the Kaposvár Campus of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, which also aims to develop new feeding programs that reflect climate change, we performed NIR spectroscopic quality testing of mixed silages. With the developed methodology, the differences between the various mixtures during harvesting and ensiling were described. Our results were published in the Animal Science Journal.
Near-infrared spectroscopy for rapid evaluation of winter cereals and Italian ryegrass forage mixtures
Haruna Gado Yakubu, Alemayehu Worku, Róbert Tóthi, Tamás Tóth, Szilvia Orosz, Hedvig Fébel, László Kacsala, Balázs Húth, Richárd Hoffmann, George Bazar
Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was employed to determine the differences between forage mixtures of winter cereals and Italian ryegrass and to evaluate fermentation characteristics of mixed silages. Forages were harvested on five phases (Cuts 1–5), with 1 week interval (n = 100). The yield of the last harvest (Cut 5) was ensiled (in model silo) and analyzed on four different days (D0, D7, D14, and D90) (n = 80). Principal component analysis based on the NIR data revealed differences according to the days of harvest, differences between winter cereals and Italian ryegrass forages, and differences in the fermentation stages of silages. The partial least square regression models for crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), and ash gave excellent determination coefficient in cross-validation (R²CV > 0.9), while models for ether extract (EE) and total sugar content were weaker (R²CV = 0.87 and 0.74, respectively). The values of root mean square error of cross-validation were 0.59, 0.76, 0.22, 0.31, and 2.36 %DM, for CP, CF, EE, ash, and total sugar, respectively. NIR proved to be an efficient tool in evaluating type and growth differences of the winter cereals and Italian ryegrass forage mixtures and the quality changes that occur during ensiling.
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