Effect of herbal medicine residues addition on the sensory evaluation, fermentation quality, and nutritional composition of whole corn silage

The effects of single and mixed herbal medicine residues on the quality of whole corn silage were investigated. Corn was chopped to between 1.5~2.0 cm and then ensiled with added herbal medicine residues. After storage for 300 days, the chemical composition and fermentation quality of the corn silage were analysed. The results showed that the sensory quality of mixed herbal medicine residues was generally good, and when the level of 5% was added, crude protein (CP), ether extract content (EE), and phosphorus (P) were significantly increased (P<0.05) compared with the control group and the level of 7% and 10%. And NH3-N/TN was significantly decreased (P<0.05) compared with the control group. When the level of 5% was added lactic acid (LA) and propionic acid (PA) were significantly increased (P<0.05) compared with the level of 7% and 10%. The single medicine residues groups, Arctium lappa, Codonopsis pilosula, and Ligusticum wallichii had medicine residues with a sensory evaluation level of two or more. In the C. pilosula group, dry matter (DM) and CP were significantly increased compared with the control group(P<0.05) and in other groups, LA and PA were significantly higher (P<0.05) after the addition of 7% and 10%. Compared with the control group, the A. lappa group DM, CP, and P were significantly increased(P<0.05), NH3-N/TN and LA were significantly decreased(P<0.05) by the addition of the A. lappa medicine residues. Compared with the control group, the L. wallichii group showed a significant increase in CP, EE, and P (P<0.05) and NH3-N/TN and AA were significantly decreased(P<0.05) compared with the other groups. In conclusion, the appropriate ratio of mixedand C. pilosula medicine residueswas 5%. A. lappa and L. wallichii medicine residues offered benefits to silage at each concentration tested, but the Arctium lappa medicine residue was better for corn silage.