Fermentation and chemical composition of guinea grass silage added with wheat meal and Streptococcus bovis

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of wheat meal alone or combined with Streptococcus bovis on the fermentation and chemical composition of guinea grass silage. A completely randomised design was used in the following treatments: deionised water, untreated; fresh forage plus 100 g kg−1 of wheat meal; S. bovis JB1 plus 100 g kg−1 of wheat meal; and S. bovis HC5 plus 100 g kg−1 of wheat meal, with six replications. There were a higher number of enterobacteria, moulds and yeast populations in the untreated silage (P < .05) compared to treated silages. The association of S. bovis with wheat meal resulted in lower pH and concentration of NH3-N (P < .05) than silages untreated and treated only with wheat meal. The use of both S. bovis JB1 and HC5 combined with 100 g kg−1 wheat meal can also be a good alternative to farmers for improving the silage quality of guinea grass silage.