Quality of sorghum silage in the feed-out period: evaluation of hybrids, silo layers, and mass structure

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the chemical and fermentation quality of silage from two sorghum hybrids in different layers of the silo feed-out face, as well as the interference of the aerobic exposure time of structured and/or unstructured silo face (after feed-out). The AG-2005E hybrid silage presented higher crude protein content and higher pH compared to hybrid AG-60298 (6.33% and 4.0 versus 6.06% and 3.8, respectively). Silages from stratum 0 to 20cm had the lowest dry matter content and the highest crude protein content (38% and 6.35%, respectively). The pH did not differ between layers, and the NH3 content was higher in the stratum 60 to 80cm (4.5%). During 72 hours of aerobic exposure, the unstructured silage presented a higher increase in temperature than the silage from the structured face, but this period was not enough to result in differences in dry matter, mineral matter, NH3, and pH. The chemical and fermentation quality of the silage was directly influenced by hybrid and silo stratum. After aerobic exposure, silage from the structured face seems to suffer less interference compared to the silo feed-out face.