Influence of Forage Species, Cultivar and Cut on Lipid Metabolism During the Ensiling Process

Lipid metabolism in silage, mainly lipolysis, of different species (perennial ryegrass, red clover and white clover) and three cultivars of white and red clover at three cutting dates in one growing season (April, July and October) were studied. Lipolysis in silage was influenced by cutting date, species and to some extent by cultivar. Furthermore, in some cuts silages of red and white clover displayed a lower lipolysis than silage of perennial ryegrass. On average, over the three cutting dates, respectively 90.3 86.4% and 85.7% of the membrane lipids in perennial ryegrass, red clover and white clover were hydrolysed during ensiling. In red clover this could be due to the lipid-protecting properties of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity. This was not observed in perennial ryegrass or white clover. Nevertheless, differences in lipolysis in silage between cultivars of red clover were not correlated with PPO activity.

Publication year:2010