Aerobic Stability and Nutritive Value of Low Dry Matter Maize Silage Treated with a Formic Acid-Based Preservative

Aerobic stability is one of the major problems of the ensiling process, especially in warm climates. Ashbell et al. (2002) have shown that at 30°C, the development of aerobic yeast and moulds in silages is most intensive. In Turkey all silages are susceptible to air penetration during storage and unloading with a large proportion of the silage spoiled and in extreme cases all the silage is spoiled. The purpose of the present work was to study the effects of formic acid-based preservative (FAB; Kemisile® 2000, Kemira Oyj-Industrial Chemicals, Finland) on the aerobic stability and nutritive value of maize silage

Improving the Aerobic Stability of Whole-Crop Cereal Silages

Whole-crop cereal silages, such as wheat, sorghum, and maize are susceptible to aerobic deterioration, especially in warm climates. This is because aerobic yeasts are the most active at 20-30°C (Ashbell et al., 2002). Therefore, it is very important to find suitable additives that inhibit fungi and protect the silage upon aerobic exposure. Propionibacterium acidipropionici is propionic acid bacteria (PAB), which produce propionic and acetic acid in silage. Results with these micro-organisms in laboratory studies were promising with regard to aerobic stability. The purpose of the present work was to study the effects of PAB, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and combinations of PAB + LAB on the fermentation and aerobic stability of whole-crop cereal silages

Inoculant Effects on Ensiling and \u3ci\u3ein Vitro\u3c/i\u3e Gas Production in Lucerne Silage

Inoculants are the most common additives used in making silage. While inoculant effects on fermentation and dry matter (DM) recovery are understood, animal performance effects are often greater than expected. In vitro analyses may help uncover how inoculants affect rumen fermentation and ultimately dairy cattle performance. Our objective was to study how inoculation of lucerne silage affected in vitro gas production

\u3cem\u3eIn Vitro\u3c/em\u3e Gas Production and Bacterial Biomass Estimation for Lucerne Silage Inoculated With One of Three Lactic Acid Bacterial Inoculants

Silages inoculated with microbial inoculants frequently have a lower pH than non-inoculated crops. Less often inoculated crops have a positive effect on milk production (Weinberg & Muck, 1996). One hypothesis is that bacterial inoculants produce a probiotic effect that could enhance animal performance (Weinberg & Muck, 1996). Our objective was to use the method of Blümmel et al. (1997) to study differences in in vitro fermentation among lucerne silages inoculated with three microbial inoculants

In situ degradability of corn stover and elephant-grass harvested at four stages of maturity

Among tropical forages, corn silage is largely used by farmers trying to explore the maximum genetic potential from the animals. However, other tropical forages, such as elephant-grass (Pennisetum purpureum), are more productive and therefore cheaper to use than corn silage. Our objective was to compare the in situ degradability of elephant-grass with that from corn hybrids, all harvested at four stages of maturity. The experimental design followed a randomized block design with nested subplots. Two corn hybrids: AG5011, ZN8392 were harvested with 25, 30, 35, and 40% dry matter (DM) in the whole plant, and separated in stem + leaf sheath + leaf blade (stover), and cobs. Elephant-grass was harvested with 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after a leveling cut. Dried and ground samples were incubated in nylon bags inside the rumen for 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h to estimate the kinetics of ruminal DM and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradation. The advance of maturity increased the NDF and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content in elephant-grass, and reduced its DM degradability. However, maturity had little or no effect on fiber content and DM degradability of corn stover. Elephant-grass had a higher NDF degradability than corn stover, and there was no effect of maturity on NDF degradability of either elephant-grass or corn stover. Fiber degradability of elephant-grass was not worse than that of corn stover, and therefore the choice of forage should be made on economical analysis rather than assuming an intrinsic low production potential for elephant-grass based diets.Dentre as forragens, a silagem de milho é amplamente utilizada pelos fazendeiros que visam explorar o máximo do potencial genético dos animais. No entanto, outros volumosos tropicais como o capim-elefante (Pennisetum purpureum) são mais produtivos e, portanto, mais baratos do que a silagem de milho. Nosso objetivo foi comparar a degradabilidade in situ do capim-elefante com a degradabilidade de híbridos de milho, colhidos em quatro estágios de maturidade. O experimento seguiu um delineamento de blocos ao acaso com sub-parcelas. Dois híbridos de milho: AG5011 e ZN8392 foram colhidos com 25, 30, 35 e 40% matéria seca (MS) na planta toda e separados na fração colmo + bainha + folhas e espigas. Capim elefante foi colhido 30, 40, 50 e 60 dias após o corte de nivelamento. As amostras secas e trituradas foram incubadas no rúmen por 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 e 72 h para cálculo da cinética da degradação ruminal da MS e da fibra em detergente neutro (FDN). O avanço da maturidade aumentou os teores de FDN e fibra em detergente ácido (FDA) do capim elefante e reduziu a degradabilidade da MS. Entretanto, a maturidade teve pouco efeito sobre os teores de fibra e a degradabilidade da MS da fração planta dos híbridos de milho. O capim elefante apresentou maior degradabilidade da FDN do que híbridos de milho, e não houve efeito da maturidade sobre a degradabilidade da FDN das duas espécies. A degradabilidade da fibra de capim-elefante não é pior do que a de híbridos de milho e, portanto a escolha da forragem deve ser feita com base em análises econômicas ao invés de assumir um menor potencial de produção em dietas a base de capim elefante