ANN-0061
QUESTION
In very good silage the pH and Ammoniacal Nitrogen concentration of total nitrogen ranges between?
OPTIONS
(A) Above 4.8 pH Ammoniacal nitrogen above 20% of total nitrogen
(B) 4.5-4.8 pH and Ammoniacal nitrogen between 15-20% of total nitrogen
(C) 4.2-4.5 pH and Ammoniacal nitrogen between 10-15% of total nitrogen
(D) 3.5-4.2 pH and Ammoniacal nitrogen less than 10% of total nitrogen
ANSWER
(D) 3.5-4.2 pH and Ammoniacal nitrogen less than 10% of total nitrogen
EXPLANATION
Very good silage has a low pH, generally around 3.5–4.2, and low ammoniacal nitrogen, preferably less than 10% of total nitrogen. Higher pH and higher ammoniacal nitrogen indicate more proteolysis and poorer fermentation quality, so the other ranges describe progressively inferior silage.