The occurrence and prevention of ethanol fermentation in high-dry-matter grass silage.

Abstract

Ethanol is a common, usually minor fermentation product in ensiled forages, the major product being lactic acid. Occasionally, high levels of ethanol are found in silages. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of high-dry-matter (DM) grass silages containing ethanol as the main fermentation product (ethanol silages), to describe the fermentation process in such silages and to determine the effect of grass maceration prior to wilting and addition of a bacterial inoculant containing Lactobacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium strains on fermentation. Twenty-one laboratory silages produced between 1993 and 1995, 21 farm silages produced between 1980 and 1989 and 36 farm silages produced in 1995 (all produced without additive) were examined for pH and chemical composition. Dry matter (DM) loss during ensilage was determined for the laboratory silages only. Four laboratory silages were identified as ethanol silages. Mean concentrations of ethanol, lactic acid and acetic acid were 48.1, 15.5 and 6.0 g kg-1 DM respectively. In the silages that contained lactic acid as the main fermentation product (lactic acid silages) these values were 7.7, 45.5 and 15.1 g kg-1 DM. Mean DM loss and pH were 62.8 g kg-1 DM and 5.32 respectively for ethanol silages and 24.4 g kg-1 DM and 4.69 for lactic acid silages. There was no difference between ethanol silages and lactic acid silages in the mean concentration of ammonia-N (94 g kg-1 total N), and butyric acid was not detected (<0.2 g kg-1 DM), indicating that both types of silages were well preserved. Analysis of the composition of the grass at ensiling showed a positive correlation between the concentration of soluble carbohydrates and the development into ethanol silage. Analysis of the farm silages indicated that 29% of the silages produced between 1980 and 1989 and 14% of those produced in 1995 were ethanol silages. Maceration prior to wilting and addition of silage inoculant improved lactic acid fermentation and prevented high ethanol levels. The micro-organisms responsible for ethanol fermentation as well as the implications of feeding ethanol silages to livestock remain to be resolved. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry.