Nutritive value of desert wormwood ( Artemisia desertorum Spreng.) silage in mixture with high-moisture maize straw.

This study aimed to determine the fermentation characteristics, nutrient composition and in vitro digestibility of desert wormwood ( DW, Artemisia desertorum Spreng.) silage as the sole ingredient, or mixed with high-moisture maize (corn) straw ( HMCS). Desert wormwood and HMCS were harvested and chopped (1-2 cm) then ensiled in laboratory silos (25 cm high with an internal diameter of 7·6 cm) at a density of 550 g L−1 at room temperature for 60 days. The proportions of DW in the DW/ HMCS mixtures were 1, 0·75, 0·50, 0·25 and 0, based on fresh weight. The silages were analysed for fermentation characteristics, nutrient composition and in vitro digestibility. Desert wormwood ensiled with HMCS had lower p H and acetic acid concentration and higher lactic acid concentration as the proportion of DW decreased. As the proportion of DW decreased, the crude protein concentration and the in vitro digestibility of dry matter increased and the concentrations of neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and acid detergent lignin decreased. This study has indicated that mixing HMCS with DW can improve the fermentation quality and nutrient composition of these silage mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]