A preliminary study on change of mistletoe (Viscum albüm L.) silage quality according to collection time and host tree species

In this study, it was aimed to determine the silage quality of mistletoe (Viscum album L.) collected from wild pear (Pyrus amygdaliformis) and poplar trees (Populus canadensis) in January, July, August, December. The fresh samples were chopped 2 cm size ensiled kg plastic bags then stored at 25 ± °C conditions for 45 days. Silage investigated dry matter ratio, pH, crude protein ash condensed tannin, acid detergent fiber, neutral lactic acid, acetic butyric malic citric succinic potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium contents. All traits silages significantly different between host trees, times, interactions tree x collection time. It has been determined that can be used as terms all investigated. Besides, December is better than other treatments. Mistletoe considered an alternative roughage source due its high content protein, nutrient composition, easy digestibility, organic content.