Abstract
This study investigated the effects of a dual-purpose inoculant (DPI) on the fermentation profile, nutritive value, and aerobic stability of silage. The inoculant effect was first examined with minisilos, and the results were later validated with 400-kg silo bales and a 40-t bunker silo. Briefly, whole-plant corn harvested at the one-half to two-thirds milk line stage was chopped and then treated with or without inoculant containing Lactobacillus plantarum LP1028 and Lactobacillus buchneri LBC1029 at application rates of 2.5 × 105 cfu and 5.0 × 105 cfu per gram of fresh forage, respectively. The results showed that applying DPI had no effect on the nutritive value in all trials. DPI inoculation also slowed yeast and mold growth in silage under aerobic exposure. Inoculation may double the aerobic stability time after 105 d of ensiling (53.25 vs. 113.20 h) in a bunker silo. This study successfully examined the effectiveness of DPI in minisilos, and the results were consistent when moving from the laboratory to the field. Applying DPI made the fermentation more heterolactic without compromising the silage nutritive value, and increasing acetic acid acted as an antifungal agent to inhibit spoilage microbial growth and improve silage aerobic stability.
Highlights
Seasonal variation in crop production is the main cause of insufficient feed supply in the livestock industry [1]
The primary outcome of this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a dual-purpose inoculant (DPI) containing two silage isolates, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus buchneri, on fermentation profile, nutritive value, and aerobic stability with minisilos, and verify the laboratory results on a farm scale for field application
CP tended to be higher in 45-d DPI silage (6.54 vs. 6.80, p = 0.054) but no significant difference was observed after 105 d of storage
Summary
Seasonal variation in crop production is the main cause of insufficient feed supply in the livestock industry [1]. To address this issue, ensiling has been widely adopted to preserve crops for use when quality feed sources are scarce [2]. Aerobic spoilage may occur as aerobic microorganisms can grow using the fermentation products and carbohydrates of the silage, especially in corn silage [4]. This problem can be severe in silos opened in warm weather or with a slow feed-out rate [5]. Aerobic deterioration lowers the palatability and digestibility of silage and poses a great threat to animal health [6,7]
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