Abstract
At feed-out, aerobic spoilage of silage enables an increase in anaerobic spore-forming bacteria (ANSB) that may enter the total mixed ration (TMR). The aim of our study was to understand whether in hot summers the silage structures and management may affect the level of ANSB in milk for long-ripening cheese production. A survey of silage facilities, management, and their relationships with silage, TMR, feces, and milk ANSB most probable number (MPN) content was conducted in the Po Valley during summer months. Silo type did not affect the mean ANSB, but only the wideness of their value distributions, with a narrow range for bags and a wider range for bunkers. The unloading equipment affected the ANSB count; the front-end loader with cutter was associated with a lower ANSB count—probably as a result of the reduced surface left after daily silage removal. Silo length and daily removed face width were the main factors affecting contamination of silage by spore-forming bacteria during summer, with longer silos and wider surface removal reducing ANSB contamination—probably as a consequence of reduced aerobic spoilage at the silage surface. The silage contamination by spore-forming bacteria within a log10 2 MPN g−1 allowed a low concentration of spore-forming bacteria at the farm bulk milk tank level. Fecal ANSB levels did not factor into the regression that explains the ANSB in farm milk. It has been found that silage facilities’ features and their management are an important first step to reduce the extent of ANSB contamination at the farm level.
Highlights
Corn for silage is the most frequently cultivated crop in Lombardy on the left part of the Po Valley area—the most important milk production area in Italy—mainly used for the manufacturing of typical Italian long-ripening protected designation of origin (PDO)cheeses—chief among which is the Grana Padano cheese, because of its easy conservation by ensiling [1]
Anaerobic Spore-Forming Bacteria Determined in Different Matrices
The three most mostcommon commonfeeds feedsininthe the surveyed farmscereal were compared farm-produced feeds and grass including silage including winter silage) with wereother compared with other farm-produced feeds and with total mixed ration (TMR) and feces samples by violin plot to stress the different kinds of frequency distributions
Summary
Corn for silage is the most frequently cultivated crop in Lombardy on the left part of the Po Valley area—the most important milk production area in Italy—mainly used for the manufacturing of typical Italian long-ripening protected designation of origin (PDO)cheeses—chief among which is the Grana Padano cheese, because of its easy conservation by ensiling [1]. Corn for silage is the most frequently cultivated crop in Lombardy on the left part of the Po Valley area—the most important milk production area in Italy—mainly used for the manufacturing of typical Italian long-ripening protected designation of origin (PDO). Systems based on corn silage as the main forage source for dairy cows, in these conditions, allow the highest income over feed cost (IOFC) when compared to the other possible forage systems for this environment [2]. The massive presence of corn silage—frequently associated with other ensiled forages—represents a critical control point for the production chain of a long-ripening cheese, because it is the main contamination source of anaerobic spore-forming bacteria (ANSB) [3]. The ANSB are of major interest in long-ripening cheese production because they are responsible for the late-blowing defect [4].
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