Research Journal of Agricultural Science, 48 (2), 2016 105 BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ASTERACEAE SPECIES SILAGE AND POSSIBLE USE AS A FEEDSTOCK FOR LIVESTOCK AND BIOGAS PRODUCTION IN REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA V. ŢÎŢEI 1 , S. COŞMAN 2 1 Botanical Garden (Institute) of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Chişinău, 18 Padurii str., MD 2002 R. Moldova 2 Institute of Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine of M.A.F.I., Anenii Noi, Maximovca, MD 6525 R. Moldova, E-mail: vic.titei@gmail.com Abstract. Silage is very palatable to livestock and can be fed at any time, they have also been used as substrate in biogas production. We studied the quality of silage prepared from non-traditional plant species of Asteraceae family: elecampane (Inula helenium), Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus), eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) grown in experimental land of the Botanical Garden (Institute) of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova and compared it with the control – sunflower (Helianthus annuus). The silage obtained from these species, by organoleptic characteristics (smell, colour and consistency) and biochemical indices (pH, content and correlation of organic acids, chemical composition of the dry matter), largely meets the standards. The silage prepared from Asteraceae species contains 0.12- 0.23 nutritive units supplied with metabolizable energy for cattle 1.22- 2.32 MJ/kg, the digestible protein content is of 51-104 g/nutritive unit. The highest methane production was achieved with the sunflower, Helianthus annuus silage substrate (290.8 L/kgVS), followed by the Echinacea purpurea substrate (258.4 L/kgVS), the Inula helenium substrate produced 236.4 L/kgVS and the Helianthus tuberosus - 231.8 L/kgVS. Key words: Asteraceae species, biochemical composition, biomethane, nutritional value, silage INTRODUCTION Continuous population growth, depletion of fossil energy resources, food shortages caused by climate change, reduction and degradation of agricultural lands require identification of new sources to overcome these global problems. Agriculture remains an important sector in the national economy of the Republic of Moldova, which plays an important role in providing the population with food products and also with raw materials for other sectors, providing about half of export earnings. The Republic of Moldova has virtually no fossil energy resources, 88-93% being imported. One of the major problems concerning the revitalization and development of the animal breeding sector, both globally and locally, is the growth and diversification of fodder production, balanced in terms of quantity and quality throughout the year, according to the physiological needs of animals and productivity indices. An increase in production of protein substances can be achieved by broadening the diversity of crops, by extending the areas for cultivation, by creating new varieties with high genetic potential of productivity, quality and high tolerant to weeds, pests, diseases, drought and frost, have good winter hardiness and be able to grow with low nutrient and energy input. In the world’s flora, there are over 50 000 species of plants that animals use as food and about 150 species are cultivated. This huge reserve allows the mobilization of new species that would expand the range of crops, increase