Influence of climate change on ensiling

Abstract

Climate change can affect the quantity, reliability, and quality of forage production and therefore silage preparation. In the coming decades, crops and forage plants integral to feed conservation will face rising temperatures, higher carbon dioxide levels, and highly variable water availability due to changing rainfall patterns. Contamination with undesirable microbes and chemical agents is often encountered during silage production under climate change conditions. The presence of yeasts and molds can negatively affect the nutritional value and livestock production. Future strategies in feed preparation, processing, and livestock production will focus on achieving carbon neutrality and reducing greenhouse gases in agriculture, including livestock farming, which is a global concern. Ensiling involves microbial activity followed by biochemical reactions. Changes in the silo occur almost immediately after plants are transferred from the field to the silo. The course and severity of these changes depend on various factors, mainly those that promote successful lactic acid fermentation, such as moisture content, an anaerobic environment, carbohydrate levels, and temperature