Use of absorbants and inoculants to enhance the quality of corn silage

Abstract

This study examined whether inoculants and various absorbent materials could be used during ensiling to reduce effluent losses and improve nutritive value of corn silage. Two corn forages were harvested: conventional silage containing 29% dry matter (DM) and low DM silage containing 20% DM. Ninety-six mini-silos (10 cm × 1 m) were each prepared using 2.7 kg of chopped corn forage and one of the following compounds and add rates (fresh basis): no additive (control); 5, 10 or 15% ground barley; 5, 10 or 15% powdered whey; 5, 10 or 15% dried molasses; 1% bentonite; 1% zeolite; 0.5% zeolite plus 0.5% limestone; commercial inoculant containing Lactobacillus plantarum and Propionic bacteria sp. (Biotal™, Lallemand Animal Nutrition, Rexdale, ON; 2 mg kg-1 fresh forage); commercial inoculant containing Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici (Feedtech™, DeLaval, Tumba, Sweden; 24 mg kg-1 fresh forage ); and 1% zeolite plus Biotal inoculant. Effluent loss from the control low DM silage was high (74 mL...