Silo Bags Research Articles

Effects of an Enzyme Addition on Corn Silage Fermentation

Whole plant corn silage was ensiled for 0, 2, 6, 14, 30, and 50 d in triplicate plastic silo bags, with or without addition of a commercial cellulase and xylanase enzyme mixture (230mL/ton). After each fermentation period, silage was removed and analyzed for DM, pH, water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), Total N, ADF, NDF, and lactic acid. Samples from 50 d silage bags were analyzed for in situ DM and NDF disappearance.Aerobic stability of silage was recorded upon opening 30 d silage bags. No differences were noted for pH, DM, or ammonia (percentage of total N). The WSC content (DM basis) was higher (P<.05) at 6 d for enzyme-treated silage (4.27 vs 3.91%). Increases in lactic acid levels for treated silage were noted after 2 d of fermentation, however this was significant only at 30 d (P<.10). Reductions in ADF and NDF concentrations were significant at 50 d for enzyme-treated silage (P<.10). No differences were observed for in situ disappearance of DM. After 48h of ruminal incubation, control silage had higher NDF disappearance. Following 3 d of silage exposure to air, temperature of enzyme-treated silage rose dramatically and declined to temperatures similar to the control at 5 d. Although silage was lower in ADF and NDF after 50 d of fermentation, these data suggest that an application of a commercial enzyme mixture to corn silage did not appreciably change silage fermentation or composition.

Effect of Inoculation of Whole Plant Corn Forage with Pediococcus acidilactici and Lactobacillus xylosus on Preservation of Silage and Heifer Growth

Whole plant corn silage was ensiled in plastic silo bags, with or without addition of a corn silage inoculant containing Pediococcus acidilactici and Lactobacillus xylosus, to evaluate effects on end-products of silage fermentation, apparent total tract nutrient digestibility, and performance of Holstein heifers. Dry matter recovery and soluble carbohydrate concentration were higher for inoculated silage than for control silage following 110 d of fermentation. Differences between control and inoculated corn silage were not significant for total N, content of nitrogenous fractions and structural carbohydrates, major fermentation acids, or pH. Following exposure to air, pH of inoculated silage was lower than control silage, suggesting greater aerobic stability for the inoculated silage. Heifers fed control silage gained more body weight and used feed more efficiently during the first 42 d of the growth trial than did heifers fed inoculated silage. Body weight gains and DM intakes were greater for heifers fed inoculated silage than for heifers fed control silage during the second 42 d of the growth trial, and efficiency of feed utilization was not different between treatments. During the complete 84-d growth trial, heifers fed the two corn silages did not differ in average daily gain, but heifers fed inoculated corn silage consumed more DM and used it less efficiently than heifers fed control silage. Digestibilities of organic matter, N and ADF were greater when heifers were fed inoculated silage than when they were fed control silage, during the last 3 d of the trial, but differences in digestibilities of NDF and hemicellulose were not significantly different between treatments.

Technical Note: Clean-Out Device for Silage Compactor

Silage conservation experiments using silo bags require that the tunnel of the silage compactor be cleaned between treatments and that compaction be maintained in the closing-end of the silo bag. Over one tonne of forage, compacted to a density of approximately 700 kg/m3 (0.025 lb/in.3), remains in the tunnel after loading the silo bag. This material is normally discarded, or manually loaded into available storage space at the closing end of the silo bag. A mechanical clean-out device for removing forage remaining in the tunnel of a silage compactor and placing it in the silo bag was designed and tested. The design of the clean-out device consisted of a blade fitted inside the compactor tunnel without interfering with it's operation. At the completion of the filling operation, two hydraulic cylinders powered by tractor hydraulics swing the blade through the tunnel thereby moving the forage into the silo bag. The clean-out device reduced dry matter losses due to spoilage at the closing-end, and the time and labour required to close a bag.

Valorisation of Ensiled Fodder Beets

Fodder beets (Beta vulgaris L.) are especially respected for their high feeding value and high netto-energy yield per hectare. The price per nutritive value is lowest as compared to other forages. Preservation of fodders beets demands thorough cleaning without damaging and regularly occurs as a whole in well closed piles. In addition, feeding them to the animals is labour demanding. These disadvantages enforce the research towards other preservation methods which may be able to valorise this valuable type of roughage. The preservation of fodder beets in silages using silo bags, either separately or in combination with maize was investigated. Fodder beets were harvested and ensilaged at the ideal moment of maize harvest (October) or fodder beets were harvested at the ideal moment for fodder beet harvest (November) and consequently ensilaged with previously ensilaged maize. Highest energy yields of the silages were recorded at optimal harvest time for fodder beets. Ensilaging fodder beets separately resulted in large energy losses due to effluent and dry matter losses. Using lab scale silage, possible solutions for these large losses were investigated. Addition of 10% maize did reduce the effluent losses but dry matter losses remained at a high level. Addition of 4,5 l propionic acid per ton beets reduced effluent and dry matter losses sufficiently. Ensilaging foliage was another point of interest. This appeared to result in a lowered energy yield at organic and dry matter basis, an increased amount of ashes and doubling of the iron (Fe) concentration