Effects of adding pith and molasses on chemical and fermentation properties of wet sugar beet pulp silages

The aim of this study was improving chemical and fermentation properties of wet sugar beet pulp silage using molasses and pith. Wet sugar beet pulp with two different dry matters (10 and 15%) treated with sugar cane pith (with the commercial name "Khotan" as a moisture absorbent) at 0, 5, and 10% and molasses at 0 and 5% levels and then ensiled for 90 d. In this experiment 12 treatments in 4 replicates and 48 laboratory silos were analyzed in a completely randomized factorial design. Using high dry matter sugar beet pulp produced silages with higher digestibility and pH but lower lactic acid, volatile fatty acids and ammonia-nitrogen concentrations (P<0.05). Molasses resulted in an increase in dry matter (DM) and a decline in neutral detergent insoluble fiber (NDF), acid detergent insoluble fiber (ADF) and volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations (P<0.05). Molasses did not have any significant effects on lactic acid or pH but increased (P<0.05) lactate to acetate ratios of silages. Application of pith resulted in an increase of DM, NDF and ADF concentrations and a decline of crude protein (CP) and ammonia-nitrogen (P<0.05). Pith also reduced lactic acid and volatile fatty acids concentration and increased pH and lactate to acetate ratios (P<0.05). Application of pith dramatically reduced waste water production (P<0.05). Application of molasses resulted in an increase in DM digestibility of sugar beet pulp silage but a reduction was occurred when pith was used (P<0.05). Application of molasses and pith inhibited fermentation rate and increased pH values of silages due to lactate and volatile fatty acids production (P<0.05). Finally, due to positive effects of molasses on digestibility and fermentation pattern, negative effects of pith on CP, digestibility and fermentation rate, and positive effects of pith on fermentation pattern and reduction in waste water production, it is recommended to produce sugar beet pulp silage by treating 15% DM wet sugar beet pulp with 5% molasses and 5% pith.