dc.contributor.author | McCallum, Katie | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2020-12-18T18:25:56Z | |
dc.date.available | 2020-12-18T18:25:56Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2020-12-18T18:25:56Z | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10222/80139 | |
dc.description.abstract | Fungal contamination of forages can cause decreased nutritive value, mycotoxin production and animal health issues. Ninety-three first-cut alfalfa-grass silage samples were collected from various storage types (wrapped round bales, conventional tower silos, horizontal bunker silos) on Canadian dairy farms. Quality analyses (near infrared reflectance [NIR], wet chemistry, digestibility analyses) and metagenomic sequencing were performed and effects of management factors on these parameters were evaluated. Pichia spp. yeasts capable of aerobic deterioration and mycotoxin-associated moulds of the genera Monascus and Pencillium were most abundant. Mycotoxin contamination was low with zearalenone (ZEA) present in 1% and mycophenolic acid (MPA) in 11% of samples. Higher yeast abundance in tower silos indicate they are not airtight and do not preserve quality well. Bales had lower heat damaged protein (ADF-CP) than other storage types despite a less complete fermentation. Findings will contribute to developing management plans to assist dairy producers in producing high quality silage. | en_US |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.subject | Dairy | en_US |
dc.subject | Mycotoxins | en_US |
dc.subject | Metagenomics | en_US |
dc.subject | Fungi | en_US |
dc.subject | Silage | en_US |
dc.title | Management Practices and Quality of First-Cut Alfalfa-Grass Silage on Canadian Dairy Farms | en_US |
dc.date.defence | 2020-12-03 | |
dc.contributor.department | Faculty of Agriculture | en_US |
dc.contributor.degree | Master of Science | en_US |
dc.contributor.external-examiner | n/a | en_US |
dc.contributor.graduate-coordinator | Gordon Price | en_US |
dc.contributor.thesis-reader | Scott White | en_US |
dc.contributor.thesis-reader | Jason Wells | en_US |
dc.contributor.thesis-supervisor | Nancy McLean | en_US |
dc.contributor.thesis-supervisor | Linda Jewell | en_US |
dc.contributor.ethics-approval | Not Applicable | en_US |
dc.contributor.manuscripts | Not Applicable | en_US |
dc.contributor.copyright-release | Not Applicable | en_US |