PSXIV-26 Effect of effective microorganisms (EM®) and milk whey or molasses on in vitro digestibility of corn stover silage

Abstract

Abstract Corn stover (CS) is an agricultural by-product widely used in the ruminant feeding systems, despite its poor nutritional value and digestibility. Although treatments such as alkalinization, pelleting and extruded have been evaluated to improve its digestibility, the use of those treatments is limited. An alternative might be the use of EM (cocktail of mainly lactic bacteria), although there is no information about the optimal dose to improve DM digestibility of CS. On the other hand, there are agroindustrial byproducts such as milk whey and molasses that can be used as energy sources for ensiling. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of EM® and the type of energy substrate on in vitrodry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and pH of CS silage. Microsilos were elaborated in plastic bottles, which were assigned to a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement 4 (levels: 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 ml/kg as feed of EM®) × 2 (energy source:milk whey or molasses, 15%), with five repetitions each. Results were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS. Orthogonal polynomials were tested to determine linear and quadratic effects of EM® dosis. Interaction of dose × energy source was observed (P < 0.05). The highest IVDMD and lowest pH was observed with addition of 0.5 mL and 1 mL of EM® and milk whey. IVDMD linearly increased and pH was reduced (P < 0.05) with the increasing levels of EM®). It is concluded that addition of EM® at doses of 0.5 to 1 mL / kg DM improved IVDMD and that milk whey is the best source of energy for the ensiling of CS.