This study was carried out from 2015 to 2016 to identify the suitable sowing and harvesting dates of summer crops in the mountain of Yeongnam, South Korea. The experimental design consisted of the different sowing and harvesting dates as follows: corn hybrid (Z. mays, Kwangpyeongok) of sowing (May 8, 19, and 27) and harvesting (August 10, 20, and 30); sorghum×sorghum hybrid (Sorghum bicolor x Sorghum bicolor, SS405) of sowing (May 27, June 19 and June 27) and harvesting (August 10, 20, and 30). In corn hybrid, ear rate and dry matter (DM) yield decreased (p<0.05) with the postponement of sowing date. Otherwise, ear rate and DM yield increased (p<0.05) with the postponement of harvesting date. Crude protein content decreased (p<0.05) with the postponement of sowing date, but neutral detergent fiber content increased (p<0.05). In sorghum×sorghum hybrid, plant length and DM yield with the postponement of harvesting date increased (p<0.05), while crude protein content with the postponement of harvesting date decreased (p<0.05). This study concluded that sowing corn hybrid in early May and sorghum×sorghum hybrid in early June then harvest in the middle of August was recommend to increase dry matter yield and feed value.

This study was conducted to estimate the effect of home or hetero fermentative lactic acid bacteria(LAB) on chemical composition, fermentation quality, and aerobic stability of rye silage. Rye forage was harvested at dough stage(28.9% of dry matter), chopped to 3-5 cm length, and divided into 4 piles for different inoculations as treatment, following 1) No additives(CON); 2) Lactobacillus plantarum at rate of 1.5 x 105 cfu/g of fresh forage(LP); 3) L. buchneri at rate of 1.2 x 105 cfu/g of fresh forage(LB); and 4) Mixture of LP and LB at 1:1 ratio(MIX). Rye silage was ensiled into 20 L bucket silo in quadruplicate for 0, 1, 4, 7, and 100 day periods. After 100 days of ensiling, the silage treated with LB had lower acid detergent fiber content(p<0.05), but higher in vitro dry matter digestibility(p<0.05). The LB and MIX reduced (p<0.05) pH more rapidly than CON and LP across the ensiling days, but had no difference on 100 days. Silage treated LP had lowest(p<0.05) acetic acid, but highest(p<0.05) propionic acid. In contrast, LB treated silage had highest(p<0.05) acetic acid, but lowest(p<0.05) propionic acid with the absence of butyric acid. On microbial count, LP treated silage had lowest(p<0.05) LAB, yeast, and aerobic stability, whereas LB and MIX treated silages had highest(p<0.05). Mold was not detected across all silages. Therefore, it could be concluded that heterofermentative LAB solely or combo with homofermentative LAB might improve in vitro dry matter digestibility, fermentation characteristics, and aerobic stability of rye silage harvested at dough stage.