Effects of enzymes and nutrients in a bacterial inoculant on quality of timothy or alfalfa silage and dairy cow performance

Abstract

Timothy (trial 1) and alfalfa (trial 2) were inoculated at ensiling (33–37% dry matter (DM)) in concrete-stave, vertical silos with a culture of lactic acid bacteria (Lab; Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici) alone, or with additional nutrients and enzymes (Supersile®, Biotal Canada, Calgary, AB), and compared with an untreated (control) silage. Colony forming units of Lab, ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), lactic acid and volatile fatty acid concentrations, pH, DM disappearance and temperature changes during ensiling were measured to assess silage quality. Nine dairy cows in mid-lactation (alfalfa) and nine cows in late lactation (timothy) were used to evaluate inoculants in repeated Latin square designs. Timothy silage that had been inoculated with Supersile or Lab had lower concentrations of acetic and butyric acid (P < 0.05) compared with the control. No other effects on silage quality were observed, and cow performance was not affected by using inoculants on either timothy or alfalfa in this study. Enzymes added in this experiment were not beneficial. Key words: Silage, inoculants, alfalfa, timothy, dairy, cow