Effect of different double-sided plastic films on chemical and fermentation characteristics of corn silage

Fernando Braga Cristo,Fernando De Souza Sidor,Maria Eduarda Cozechen Seller,Everton Luiz Carneiro,Mikael Neumann,Paulo Victor Pinheiro Cesar,Luísa Da Costa,Leticia Santos Savoldi,Daniel Corrêa Plodoviski

doi:10.1590/1809-6891v22e-66770

Fernando Braga Cristo, Fernando De Souza Sidor + Show 7 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-6891v22e-66770

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Abstract

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of different double-sided plastic films on chemical and fermentation characteristics, dry matter digestibility, aerobic stability, physical and dry matter losses in corn silages stored in bunker silos. This was a completely randomized experimental design consisting of three treatments: DF110µm - double-sided polyethylene with 110 µm thickness; DF200µm - double-sided polyethylene with 200 µm thickness; and DFBO - oxygen-impermeable film consisted of double-sided polyethylene with 80 µm thickness overlaid with a translucent vacuum polyamide film with 20 µm thickness. The use of DF200µm film increased the ruminal dry matter digestibility by 4.58% and reduced the silage temperature by 3.1 °C, as well as the physical losses of the corn silage were reduced by 118.9 g kg-1 DM using DFBO and 95 g kg-1 DM with DF200µm; DFBO resulted in the highest aerobic stability (127 hours) of corn silage. The use of DF200µm and DFBO is recommended for preserving corn silage in bunker silos.

Highlights

IntroductionCorn silage is the forage most used for feeding feedlot cattle, due to its excellent potential for dry matter production and nutritional value[1]
The use of DF200μm and DFBO is recommended for preserving corn silage in bunker silos
Corn silage is the forage most used for feeding feedlot cattle, due to its excellent potential for dry matter production and nutritional value[1]

Summary

Introduction

Corn silage is the forage most used for feeding feedlot cattle, due to its excellent potential for dry matter production and nutritional value[1]. Using polyethylene-based plastic films to seal silos was considered a major milestone in the production of preserved food, allowing the isolation of food deposited in the silo from variations in temperature, rainfall and oxygen[4]. The isolated use of polyethylene is incapable of totally blocking oxygen, which can generate changes during the fermentation process and silage preservation, resulting in aerobic deterioration that leads to significant losses[9]. Seeking to solve this problem, the combination of plastic polymers such as polyamide with polyethylene, through the extrusion process, has become an alternative, as it combines the barrier capacity of polyamide with the good mechanical resistance of polyethylene[3]

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