Effects of wilting on silage quality: a meta-analysis

Ridla, Muhammad; Albarki, Hajrian  Rizqi; Risyahadi, Sazli Tutur; Sukarman, Sukarman

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Anim Biosci > Accepted Articles

Article

https://doi.org/10.5713/ab.23.0403 [Accepted] Published online February 23, 2024.

Effects of wilting on silage quality: a meta-analysis

Muhammad Ridla^1,2,*

, Hajrian Rizqi Albarki¹

, Sazli Tutur Risyahadi^1,3

, Sukarman Sukarman⁴

¹Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, Faculty of Animal Science, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
²Center for Tropical Animal Studies (CENTRAS), IPB University, Jl. Raya Pajajaran, Bogor 16153, Indonesia
³Animal Feed and Nutrition Modelling (AFENUE) Research Group, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, Faculty of Animal Science, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
⁴National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta 10340, Indonesia

Correspondence: Muhammad Ridla, Tel: +62-251-8626213, Fax: +62-251-8626213, Email: hmridla@apps.ipb.ac.id

Received: 7 October 2023 • Revised: 9 November 2023 • Accepted: 10 December 2023

Abstract

Objective
This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of wilted and unwilted silage on various parameters, such as nutrient content, fermentation quality, bacterial populations, and digestibility.
Methods
Thirty-six studies from Scopus were included in the database and analyzed using a random effects model in OpenMEE software. The studies were grouped into two categories: wilting silage (experiment group) and non-wilting silage (control group). Publication bias was assessed using a fail-safe number.
Results
The results showed that wilting before ensiling significantly increased the levels of dry matter, water-soluble carbohydrates, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber, compared to non-wilting silage (p < 0.05). However, wilting significantly decreased dry matter losses, lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, and ammonia levels (p < 0.05). The pH, crude protein, and ash contents remained unaffected by the wilting process. Additionally, the meta-analysis revealed no significant differences in bacterial populations, including lactic acid bacteria, yeast, and aerobic bacteria, or in vitro dry matter digestibility between the two groups (p > 0.05).
Conclusion
Wilting before ensiling significantly improved silage quality by increasing dry matter and water-soluble carbohydrates, as well as reducing dry matter losses, butyric acid, and ammonia. Importantly, wilting did not have a significant impact on pH, crude protein, or in vitro dry matter digestibility.

Keywords: Forage; Meta-analysis; Silage; Wilting