Wheat silage, with and without sodium hydroxide (NaOH), was fed, with
or without alfalfa haylage, in an 80-day growing trial. Calves fed NaOH-silage
consumed 18% more feed and gained 16% faster than those fed control silage,
but feed efficiencies were similar. When 50% of the wheat silage was replaced
with alfalfa haylage (DM basis), gains decreased 3.1 and 3.7%, feed intake
increased 12.3 and 9.7%, and feed efficiency decreased 23.7 and 14.4% for
calves fed control and NaOH silages, respectively. NaOH increased ensiling
temperatures by 9 to 12° C during the first 6 weeks. Dry matter recovery
from the concrete stave silos was similar for both silages (82.1% for control
and 83.9% for NaOH); recoveries from buried bags were 92.3 and 89.5%. NaOH
wheat silage was more stable in air than was either control wheat silage or
alfalfa haylage.
