Round-bale silage harvesting and processing methods were assessed to evaluate\noverwintering ability and dry matter (DM) yield, fermentation quality and palatability of\noverwintered dwarf Napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach) in the two years following\nestablishment in Nagasaki, Japan, in May 2013 using rooted tillers with a density of 2 plants/m2.\nIn 2014, harvesting methods under no-wilting treatment were compared for flail-type harvesting\nwith a round-baler (Flail/baler plot) and mower conditioning with a round-baler (Mower/baler plot),\nwhich is common for beef-calfââ?¬â??producing farmers in the region. In 2015, the effect of ensilage with\nwilting was investigated only in the Mower/baler plot. Dwarf Napiergrass was cut twice, in early\nAugust (summer) and late November (late autumn), each year. The winter survival rate was greater\nthan 96% in May both years. The DM yield in the Mower/baler plot did not differ significantly for the\nfirst summer cutting or the annual total from the Flail/baler plot, but did show inferior yield for the\nsecond cutting. The fermentation quality of the second-cut plants, estimated using the V2-score, was\nhigher in the Flail/baler plot than in the Mower/baler plot, possibly because of higher air-tightness,\nand the second-cut silage tended to have better fermentation quality than the first-cut silage in both\nharvesting plots. Wilting improved the fermentation quality of dwarf Napiergrass silage in summer,\nbut not in autumn. The palatability of the silage, as estimated by alternative and voluntary intake\ntrials using Japanese Black beef cattle, did not differ significantly between plots. The results suggest\nthat dwarf Napiergrass can be better harvested using a mower conditioner with processing by a\nround-baler, an approach common to beef-calfââ?¬â??producing farmers, than with the flail/baler system,\nwithout reducing the persistence, yield, or palatability of the silage. Moreover, wilting treatment\nimproved the fermentation quality of the dwarf Napiergrass silage when processed in summer.
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