Ensiling Characteristics, In Vitro Rumen Fermentation Patterns, Feed Degradability, and Methane and Ammonia Production of Berseem ( Trifolium alexandrinum L.) Co-Ensiled with Artichoke Bracts ( Cynara cardunculus L.).

This study investigated the effect of co-ensiling increasing levels of artichoke bracts ( Cynara cardunculus L.) with berseem ( Trifolium alexandrinum L.) (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100, respectively) on silage quality after 0, 30, 60, and 120 days. Moreover, the in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics and methane (CH 4 ) and ammonia (NH 3 -N) production were evaluated using a buffalo inoculum source. The results showed that pH of the silage and the concentration of acetic, propionic, butyric acid, and NH 3 -N significantly decreased (L; p < 0.01) with the increasing amounts of artichoke bracts in the mixture. At 30 and 60 days of ensiling, the highest lactic acid concentration was observed at intermediate proportions of artichoke bracts ( p < 0.01). Cumulative gas production was higher in artichoke bracts than in the berseem silage. After 24 h of incubation, the highest value ( p < 0.05) of truly dry matter, organic matter, natural detergent fiber degradability, and NH 3 -N concentration was recorded with 500 g/kg of forage mixtures. As the artichoke bract concentration increased, the partitioning factor and ruminal pH declined linearly ( p ≤ 0.05). No significant differences were observed for total volatile fatty acids and volatile fatty acids molar proportions. In summary, co-ensiling artichoke bracts with berseem at a ratio of 1:1 might be a promising and easy method for the production of high-quality silage from legume forage with positively manipulating rumen fermentation.