Nutritive value of ensiled Amaranthus powellii Wild. treated with salt and barley

Silages or ensiled plant parts are important to feed materials for ruminal fermentation and contributed to the feeding of ruminant animals in large share. The current study was conducted to determine the nutritive value of ensiled Amaranthus powellii Wild. (AP) treated with salt and barley. Experimental silages were (1) no supplemented AP forage (control), (2) 1% salt-added AP, (3) 1% salt + 5% barley-added AP, (4) 5% barley-added AP, (5) 1% salt + 7.5% barley-added AP, and (6) 7.5% barley-added AP silages. Silages were analyzed to determine their nutritional contents, physical properties, and microbiota. The DM (g/kg), OM, CP, ADF, NDF, ADL, and ash contents (g/100 g DM) of AP silage were determined as 331.20, 29.84, 12.62, 37.22, 57.72, 42.23, and 3.28, respectively. DM and OM contents were increased by both salt and barley additions while CP and ADF values decreased by these additions (P < 0.01). DDM and RFV values were improved by both salt and barley additions with alone and together usage, reaching the highest levels by 7.5% barley addition (P < 0.01). While salt itself did not affect RFQ, 5%, 7.5% barley, and 1% salt with 5% barley additions decreased this value (P < 0.01), most likely, due to the nutritional content of added barley. The physical properties of AP silage were not affected by any treatment (P > 0.05), except a* and Fleig score (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Salt caused loss natural red coloring in AP silage compared with control silage, while the other additions saved the natural coloring (P < 0.01). Expectedly, all treatments increased lactic acid bacteria count compared with control (P < 0.01). To conclude, AP had the potential to be a good silage with respective to its nutritional contents, feed value, and physical properties with appropriate microbiological status. Salt and barley both can be used to improve the nutritional status of AP silages. Further studies are needed to determine its in vitro digestibility and preference by animals in vivo.