The fermentation characteristics and nutritive value of a mixture of w
hole corn plants and wet tomato pomace were studied. Laboratory silos
were filled with mixtures of corn plant dry matter (DM) and tomato pom
ace DM in the following ratios: 100:0, 94:6, and 88:12. The initial pH
of the mixtures decreased linearly as the amount of tomato pomace inc
reased, but no treatment effects were found after 3 d of ensiling. At
d 56, concentrations of lactic acid and nonprotein N (as a percentage
of total N) decreased linearly as tomato pomace increased. Whole corn
plants were chopped from a single field, mixed with 0 or 12% tomato po
mace (percentage of DM), and ensiled in two concrete stave silos. The
addition of tomato pomace increased concentrations of crude protein (7
.6 to 9.8%), lignin (2.4 to 6.1%), and fatty acids (2.5 to 3.8%). Both
silages were mixed into an isonitrogenous total mixed ration that con
tained 40% concentrate. The total mixed rations were fed to lactating
dairy cows for 60 d. Milk production (35.5 kg/d), milk composition, DM
I (22.7 kg/d), nutrient digestibility, and N balance were not affected
by the addition of tomato pomace. Wet tomato pomace can be blended wi
th corn plants before ensiling without greatly altering fermentation.
The nutritional value of the mixture was equivalent to that of untreat
ed corn silage.