Using molasses as an additive improved the quality and fermentation of bermudagrass silage in a University of Florida study.
Jiggs and Tifton 85 bermudagrass were harvested at four weeks of regrowth and ensiled at 22% dry matter or at 53% dry matter after field drying for four hours. Both were treated with 1 lb of sugarcane molasses per pound of wet forage, or with recommended rates of two commercial inoculants. A control silo was left untreated.
After 90 days, the treated and untreated silages all had similar crude protein levels (12.2%). The higher dry matter silages were more digestible than the wetter ones, but were higher in pH and had lower lactic-acid levels.
The molasses-treated silages were more digestible than the ones treated with inoculants. Their pH and aerobic stability were lower and their lactic-acid levels higher compared with inoculant-treated forage and untreated control silage.