Sugarcane Silage Research Articles

Estudo comparativo da cinética de degradação ruminal de forragens tropicais em bovinos e ovinos

Estimaram-se os parâmetros da cinética de degradação ruminal in situ da fibra em detergente neutro (DgFDN) da cana-de-açúcar e das silagens de capim-elefante, de milho e de sorgo em diferentes tempos de incubação, tamanhos de partícula (1 e 2mm) e espécies (ovinos e bovinos). A DgFDN foi obtida nos tempos de incubação: 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144 e 240 horas. A avaliação dos tamanhos de partículas e das espécies na degradabilidade foi realizada pelo teste de identidade de modelos de regressão não linear e interpretada pela análise de fatores. As taxas de degradação da FDN (k d) também foram estimadas, matematicamente, utilizando-se apenas de dois tempos de incubação in situ (tempos 6 e 24h ou 6 e 36h). Os valores de k d estimados em 2 tempos ou 11 tempos de incubação foram comparados pelo teste t com arranjo em pares. Os valores de k d estimados com dois tempos de incubação, quando comparados com os valores obtidos em vários tempos de incubação mostraram-se similares (P>0,05). Em estudos da cinética de degradação ruminal in situ da FDN, ovinos não devem ser considerados modelos experimentais para bovinos, mas o tamanho de partícula do alimento incubado, de 1 ou 2mm, tem pouca influência nos parâmetros de degradação ruminal.

Performance of Holstein heifers fed sugarcane silages treated with urea, sodium benzoate or Lactobacillus buchneri

The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of heifers fed sugarcane silages produced with and without additives. Thirty-two Holstein heifers were randomly assigned, in a block design, to evaluate rations (46% silage; 54% concentrate; 12% crude protein) containing silages treated with (fresh basis) urea (0.5%), sodium benzoate (0.1%) or Lactobacillus buchneri (3.64x10(5) cfu g-1 ). Inoculation with L. buchneri improved daily gain (1.24 vs. 0.94 kg day-1 ), and the addition of benzoate resulted in better feed conversion (7.6 vs. 9.4 kg of dry matter per kg of live weight), in relation to the untreated silage (control). Treatments did not affect dry matter intake (mean of 2.19% of live weight). Rations containing silages treated with benzoate or L. buchneri showed lower cost per kg of weight gain. Treatment with urea did not improve animal performance, but the cost per kg of weight gain was lower than that of the control ration.

Características da silagem de cana-de-açúcar tratada com inoculante bacteriano e hidróxido de sódio e acrescida de resíduo da colheita de soja

Objetivou-se neste trabalho avaliar a qualidade nutricional e as características fermentativas da silagem de cana-de-açúcar tratada com inoculante microbiano (Lactobacillus plantarum nas doses 1,0; 1,2 e 1,4 x 10(6) ufc/g MN) e hidróxido de sódio (solução 40% na base de 3% da MS) e acrescida de 10% de resíduo da colheita de soja, com base no peso verde da cana. Foi utilizada a variedade RB855536, colhida em soca aos 11 e 13 meses. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com três repetições, em esquema fatorial 2 x 8 (duas idades e oito tratamentos da massa ensilada). Os resultados foram avaliados pela análise de fatores. Para as variáveis de composição e cinética de degradação, foram obtidos três fatores: QN - qualidade nutritiva, incluindo MS, PB, DIVMS, FDN, FDA e LIG; MF - maturidade fisiológica, incluindo carboidratos solúveis, LIG e fração indegradável da FDN; e VDF - velocidade de degradação dos carboidratos fibrosos, contemplando o kdFDN. Às variáveis de características de fermentação atribuíram-se os fatores: PFS - perdas e fermentação secundária, incluindo perda de MS, concentração de ácido acético, ácido propiônico e etanol; PH - potencial hidrogeniônico, pH; e DP - degradação protéica, concentração de nitrogênio amoniacal. O resíduo da colheita da soja na ensilagem da cana-de-açúcar foi capaz de melhorar a qualidade nutritiva e reduzir as perdas de MS e a produção de etanol das silagens. O tratamento com hidróxido de sódio diminuiu a produção de etanol, mas não melhorou a qualidade nutritiva e não reduziu as perdas de MS das silagens. A utilização de inoculante microbiano contendo L. plantarum também não melhorou a qualidade nutritiva da silagem nem reduziu as perdas de MS e a produção de etanol.

Feeding of Sugar Cane Silage to Dairy Cattle during the Dry Season

A study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding sugar cane silage compared to chopped whole sugar cane or grass silage on performances of lactating dairy cows during the dry season. Twenty four Holstein Friesian crossbred (>87.5% Holstein Friesian) lactating dairy cows in mid lactation; averaging 15.4±3.2 kg of milk, 120±23 days in milk, 50.5±6.5 months old and 432±39 kg live weight, were stratified for milk yield, days in milk, age, stage of lactation and body weight, and then randomly allocated to three treatment groups (8 cows in each group). All cows were fed 7.5 kg/d commercial concentrate plus ad libitum roughage according to treatment groups, which were grass silage, sugar cane silage or chopped whole sugar cane respectively. All cows consumed similar DM and produced similar milk and milk composition yields. However, cows on grass silage lost more weight than the other cows. The present study indicated that, during the dry season, sugar cane silage can be fed to lactating dairy cows, while giving similar milk yield to grass silage or chopped whole sugar cane. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2005. Vol 18, No. 8 : 1125-1129)

Fermentation and epiphytic microflora dynamics in sugar cane silage

Sugar cane silages are characterized by extensive yeast activity, alcohol production and great dry matter - DM - losses. Better knowledge of the fermentation process is fundamental to the development of efficient ensilage techniques for this forage. This study evaluates temporal changes in chemical composition, DM losses and epiphytic microflora in sugar cane silage. Mature sugar cane, variety RB835486 (12 months of vegetative growth), was hand harvested, processed in a stationary chopper and ensiled in 20-L plastic buckets provided with valves for gas release and a device for effluent collection. Laboratory silos were kept at ambient temperature and sampled after ½, 1, 2, 3, 7, 15, 45, 90, 120 and 180 days. Ethanol concentration reached 6.4% in DM after 15 days of ensilage, followed by 71% water soluble carbohydrates - WSCs - disappearance. Gas and total DM losses reached a plateau on day 45 (16% and 29% of DM, respectively). Yeast count was higher on the second day (5.05 log cfu g-1). Silage pH declined to below 4.0 on the third day. Effluent yield was negligible (20 kg t-1). DM content in the forage decreased (35% to 26%) from day 0 to day 45. The increase in ethanol concentration showed an opposite trend to WSCs and true in vitro dry matter digestibility reductions in the silage. Developing methods to control yeasts, most probably through the use of additives, will enable more efficient production of sugar cane silage by farmers.

Monensin supplementation of lactating cows fed tropical grasses and cane molasses or grain

Effects of monensin (Mon) on performance of Holstein–Friesian cows fed tropical grasses and cane molasses (M) or cereal grain were examined in three experiments. In experiment 1 (incomplete 4 × 4 Latin square), three rumen-fistulated cows [188 ± 11 days in milk (DIM)] were fed mixed diets based on rhodes grass ( Chloris gayana cv. Callide) hay where M was substituted for wheat grain (W) at rates of 0 (M0), 125 (M125) or 250 (M250) g/kg dry matter (DM). A fourth diet contained M250 plus 0.02 g Mon/kg DM (M250 + Mon). Substituting M for W tended ( P < 0.10) to decrease the ratio of rumen molar proportions of acetate + butyrate (Bu):propionate (Pr) (4.3 versus 3.8 and 4.0 for M0, M125 and M250, respectively). There were no treatment effects ( P > 0.10) on intake, organic matter digestibility, milk production or liveweight (LW) change. In experiment 2, 48 cows (173 ± 28.3 DIM) grazing kikuyu ( Pennisetum clandestinum cv. common) pastures and supplemented with maize silage and a grain-based concentrate were offered either M (2.6 kg DM/(cow day)) or barley grain (B) (2.7 kg DM/(cow day)). Within each supplement type, half were fed 0 or 320 mg of Mon/(cow day). There were Mon × supplement interactions (Mon × S; P < 0.05) on the rumen molar proportion of Pr and Bu at 15:00 h, with B + Mon having the highest value for Pr (0.259 mmol/mmol) and lowest value for Bu (0.121 mmol/mmol). A Mon × S effect ( P < 0.05) on milk fat content was noted with Mon causing a lower value regardless of energy source (31 and 36 g/l versus 40 and 38 g/l for B + Mon, M + Mon, B − Mon and M − Mon, respectively). As a main effect, M as opposed to B, reduced yields of milk ( P < 0.05; 16.2 l/(cow day) versus 18.0 l/(cow day)) and protein ( P < 0.05; 479 g/(cow day) versus 538 g/(cow day)). Monensin reduced milk fat yield ( P < 0.05; 669 g/(cow day) versus 562 g/(cow day)), raised milk protein concentration ( P < 0.05; 31 g/l versus 29 g/l) and caused LW gain rather than loss ( P < 0.05; +0.06 kg/(cow day) versus −0.30 kg/(cow day)). No treatment effects on pasture intake were noted. In experiment 3, 48 cows (91 ± 16.1 DIM) grazing kikuyu pasture and supplemented with grain-based concentrate, sugar cane silage and 2.7 kg DM/(cow day) of M were supplemented with either 0 or 320 mg Mon/(cow day). Monensin reduced ( P < 0.05) milk fat content (33 g/l versus 30 g/l) and tended ( P < 0.10) to reduce milk protein content (29 g/l versus 28 g/l). No effects of Mon on other milk production parameters, LW change or pasture intake were noted. Feeding monensin to mid-lactation Holstein–Friesian cows offered diets based on tropical grasses, and cane molasses or grain, improves rumen fermentation efficiency, thereby improving energy efficiency resulting in higher LW gain. Monensin had no effect on milk yield, but reduced milk fat concentration.

Valor nutritivo da cana-de-açúcar tratada com doses de hidróxido de sódio e rolão de milho

Foram desenvolvidos no Instituto de Zootecnia, em Nova Odessa, SP, três experimentos para avaliar o valor nutritivo da silagem de cana-de-açúcar tratada com 0,50% de uréia, e nãop adicionada de NaOH, e com 0,25% NaOH e com 0,50% NaOH. Em cada um desses experimentos foram adicionados 0, 40, 80 e 120 kg de rolão de milho/t de cana-de-açúcar, na ensilagem. Cada um dos experimentos foi desenvolvido em delineamento de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. A análise dos três experimentos em conjunto, mostrou efeito do tratamento da cana-de-açúcar com NaOH e da adição de rolão na redução da produção de álcool etílico. Houve aumento da digestibilidade e do consumo de matéria seca e de nutrientes digestíveis totais com o tratamento da cana-de-açúcar com NaOH e com a adição de rolão de milho, na ensilagem.

Características de carcaça e da carne de novilhos Hereford terminados em confinamento com diferentes fontes de volumoso

Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, estudar as características de carcaça e da carne de novilhos Hereford terminados em confinamento por 112 dias e alimentados com dietas isoprotéicas (12% de proteína bruta) contendo, na matéria seca, 33% de concentrado e 67% de cana-de-açúcar ou silagem de milho. Foram utilizados doze novilhos, com idade de 20 meses. O peso de fazenda, peso de carcaça quente e peso de carcaça fria foram maiores nos novilhos alimentados com silagem de milho, sendo, respectivamente, 446, 230 e 227 kg contra 421, 211 e 208 kg, citados na mesma ordem, para os novilhos alimentados com cana-de-açúcar. Não houve diferença entre tratamentos para rendimento de carcaça fria, quebra durante o resfriamento e porcentagem dos cortes comerciais da carcaça. O comprimento de carcaça foi maior nos novilhos alimentados com silagem de milho (125 vs 122 cm), mas a fonte de volumoso não afetou a conformação de carcaça, espessura de gordura de cobertura, área de Longissimus dorsi, assim como as porcentagens de músculo e osso na carcaça, sendo que, na média dos dois tratamentos, essas características apresentaram valores de 9,5 pontos, 5,04 mm, 58,1 cm², 63,7 e 15,4%. Novilhos alimentados com silagem de milho apresentaram maior porcentagem de gordura na carcaça (23,2 vs 20,6%). Não houve diferença significativa nas características cor, textura, marmoreio, força de cizalhamento, maciez e quebra na cocção da carne, mas a quebra ao descongelamento foi maior nos animais alimentados com cana-de-açúcar (6,10 vs 3,69%).

Silagem de cana-de-açúcar em substituição a silagem de sorgo granífero para vacas leiteiras

Twelve Holstein and Schwyz lactating cows were used in a switch-back trial to evaluate the following silages corrected to a same nitrogen level by addiction of cottonseed meal, to supply the required nutrients for maintenance and production of the eight first kg of milk per cow by day, concentrate meals being used to supplement the milk produced above this level: Treatment A) grain sorghum silage; Treatment B) 50% grain sorghum silage and 50% sugar cane silage; Treatment C) sugar cane silage. Milk production per cow per day was respectively 12.9 kg, 12.3 kg and 11.8 kg and treatment A was superior to C (p<0.05). Total dry matter consumption by 100 kg of body live-weight (3.0kg, 3.0kg and 2.8kg), as the TDN consumptions (9.2kg, 8.8kg and 8.0kg) for treatments A,B and C respectively, presented no statistical differences. Twelve Ideal breed lambs were used to run an apparent digestibility trial with the same treatments applied to the lactating cows: the dry matter digestibility values were 54.4%, 56.8% and 52.0% respectively for A,B and C treatments, with no statistical differences among them.

Fermentation and utilization by lambs of sugarcane harvested fresh and ensiled with and without NaOH. 4. Ruminal kinetics

The effect of ensiling sugarcane with NaOH (3%, dry matter basis) was studied. Six Pelibuey lambs, fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulae, were distributed in two 3 × 3 Latin squares. The experimental treatments were: fresh sugarcane; control sugarcane silage; NaOH-treated sugarcane silage. Chemical composition, voluntary feed intake, digestibility, ruminal fermentation patterns, rumen kinetics and microbial protein synthesis were determined. Markers used were polyethylene glycol, Cr-EDTA and Na 35 2SO 4. Voluntary intake of NaOH-treated silage (64.5 g per 0.75 kg) and fresh sugarcane (53.5) were higher ( P ≤ 0.01) than control silage (42.5). Total nitrogen flow (12.6, 12.8 and 9.1 g per 24 h, respectively), microbial nitrogen flow (9.2, 9.3 and 5.5 g per 24 h, respectively) and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis (17.9, 21.3 and 14.3 g per 100 g digestible organic matter (DOM), respectively) followed the same trend. The positive effect of NaOH was also reflected in higher in vivo digestibility of dry matter (65.7 vs. 55.3%), lower ethanol formation (0.22 vs. 1.45 g per 100 g) and increased lactic acid production (2.9 vs. 1.5 g per 100 g). In summary, treatment with NaOH improves the voluntary intake of sugarcane silage.

Sugarcane Silage, Sodium Hydroxide- and Steam Pressure-Treated Sugarcane Bagasse, Corn Silage, Cottonseed Hulls, Sodium Bicarbonate, and Aspergillis oryzae Product in Complete Rations for Lactating Cows

Five experiments compared silages, by-product roughages, and added sodium bicarbonate. Thirty-four cows were fed diets containing 1) 30% cottonseed hulls, 2) corn silage to supply 25% of dry matter intake from nongrain portion, 3) alkali-treated sugarcane bagasse silage, or 4) sugarcane silage both to supply 25% of dry matter intake. Only dry matter intake differed for diets 1 and 2 which excelled 3 and 4 for daily dry matter intake, milk yield, and protein percent. With 36 cows, sugarcane silage, enzyme-treated sugarcane silage, nongrain portion of corn silage, and pelleted cottonseed hulls with sodium bicarbonate (0 or 1%) and an enzyme product from Aspergillus oryzae (0 or 56.7 g/day) were compared. Milk yield was decreased and fat percent increased by silage compared with pelleted cottonseed hulls. Bicarbonate increased milk fat percent and fat-corrected milk in silage-containing rations. For the effect of sodium bicarbonate in early lactation, 36 cows were in a continuous feeding trial of corn silage, cottonseed hulls, or steam pressure-treated sugarcane bagasse, with sodium bicarbonate (0 or 170 g/cow per day). Lactation curves for feed intake, milk yield, and milk fat percent showed no effects of sodium bicarbonate. Cottonseed hull diets excelled corn silage diets. For the same cows and diets plus additional forms of steam pressure-treated bagasse (pelleted and wetter), bicarbonate was detrimental to feed intake and milk yield in pelleted bagasse diets but tended to be beneficial to milk yield in corn silage. Four groups of cows (152 cows/group) receiving 0 or 150g sodium bicarbonate in a corn silage-based ration for 30 days did not differ in a field study.

Título en español.

Se usaron 16 vacas Holstein y Suiza Parda en las postrimerías de su lactancia, para comparar la digestibilidad de una ración completa, compuesta de un 15 por ciento de bagazo triturado de caña de azúcar y un 85 por ciento de concentrados, con la de una ración testigo, preparada a base de ensilaje de caña de azúcar entera y un concentrado corriente. El consumo diario de materia seca en la ración completa, en el ensilaje, y en el alimento concentrado corriente promedió 11.31, 2.18 y 6.26 kg., respectivamente. Se usó el óxido crómico como indicador de digestibilidad, esperándose 7 días para recoger las boñigas (muestras fecales). Se determinaron los coeficientes de digestibilidad aparente para la ración completa y la testigo, siendo los promedios respectivos los siguientes: materia orgánica, 74.3 y 69.6; proteína bruta, 71.3 y 55.1; materia seca, 71.9 y 68.3; extracto libre de nitrógeno, 80.7 y 76.6; extracto etéreo, 70.0 y 67.3; fibra bruta, 36.6 y 47.7; y los totales de nutrimentos digeribles, 72.2 y 69.2. Las diferencias entre los promedios de las dos raciones fueron altamente significativas (P &lt; .01) para los dos primeros componentes, significativas (P &lt; .05) para los dos componentes siguientes, pero no significativas para los tres últimos componentes citados. Con los datos obtenidos de la ración testigo, bajo la cual las vacas individuales consumieron proporciones variables del ensilaje en relación con las del concentrado, se obtuvieron coeficientes de regresión lineal altamente significativos (P &lt; .01) para el TND y significativos (P &lt; .05) para la proteína bruta, al usarse la digestibilidad como una variable dependiente y la proporción de la materia seca procedente del forraje en relación con la materia seca total consumida, como variable independiente. Al hacerse un ajuste a base de un 15 por ciento de materia seca procedente del forraje en relación con la materia seca total consumida, la digestibilidad de la proteína bruta promedió 69.8 por ciento y el contenido del TND promedió 73.4 por ciento, siendo estas cifras muy similares a las cifras correspondientes en el caso de la ración completa. Por tal razón, las dos raciones pueden considerarse igualmente digestibles, a base de una proporción común de forraje a concentrado, al menos en lo referente a la proteína bruta y el TND.

A Comparison of Blackstrap Molasses Fortified with Soybean Oilmeal and a Conventional Concentrate Mixture as a Supplement for Growing Heifers Fed Fair-Quality Forage

Six Brown Swiss and six Holstein heifers were assigned to one of two experimental rations as they reached 127 days of age, for use in an experiment involving a randomized block design. The 240-day experiment was divided into 8 periods of 30 days each. The heifers were fed individually. Both rations included the same harvested forages, principally sorghum silage or sugarcane silage, the daily allowance of which increased from 5 pounds in period 1 to 28 pounds in period 8. In ration I the forage was supplemented with 5 pounds of a conventional concentrates mixture throughout the experiment. In ration II the daily allowance of concentrates mixture was reduced from 3 pounds in period 1 to 0 in period 4, while the daily allowances of blackstrap molasses and of dehulled soybean oilmeal were increased from 2 to 0.6 pounds, respectively, in period 1 to 5 and to 1.2 pounds, respectively, in period 4, at which level they remained until the end of the experiment. Both experimental rations were expected to supply approximately the amounts of total digestible nutrients and digestible protein needed for normal growth of heifers, according to published feed analyses and published nutrient requirements. Considerable variation in growth rate was found for individual 30-day periods on both rations. During the whole experiment the heifers which consumed ration I gained significantly (P &lt; .05) more than the heifers which consumed ration II (1.01 vs. 0.76 pounds per heifer per day). The former growth rate can be considered barely adequate, while the latter is definitely not adequate. Part of the poor growth rate in the heifers fed ration II can be ascribed to a lower total forage consumption per heifer than in the heifers fed ration I (3,304 vs. 3,045 pounds). Ration II was adversely affected by an overestimation of the digestible protein content of the soybean oilmeal in planning the rations, which was revealed by subsequent chemical analysis. Judging from other published reports, the high levels of molasses employed in ration II may have lowered the amount of net energy for growth contributed per pound of molasses, and decreased the crude-protein digestibility of the whole ration. The following feed costs were calculated under rations I and II: Average costs per heifer per day, $0.26 and $0.23; and cost per pound of live-weight gain $0.26 and $0.30, respectively. The results suggested that the use of a high level of molasses supplemented with a minimal amount of soybean oilmeal as a substitute for all other concentrate feeds in rations based on poor-quality forage for heifers under 12 months of age, is neither nutritionally satisfactory nor economically advantageous.

Título en español.

Este estudio incluye los datos de una serie de experimentos sobre la alimentación del ganado lechero, obtenidos de los siguientes tratamientos: 1. Ensilaje de yerba Merker madura vs. yerba Para cortada y madura. 2. Ensilaje de yerba nueva vs. ensilaje de yerba Merker madura vs. yerba Merker cortada madura. 3. Ensilaje de yerba Para con 5 ó 10 por ciento de miel vs. yerba Merker cortada madura. 4. Ensilaje de yerba Merker madura vs. yerba Merker cortada nueva. 5. Ensilaje de la asociación Merker-kudzú vs. yerba Merker cortada madura. 6. Ensilaje de caña de azúcar nueva vs. yerba Merker cortada madura. Todos los experimentos se llevaron a cabo durante el período comprendido entre enero, 1947 y enero, 1950.

Saltbushes and their allies in the united states

Additives have been available for enhancing silage preservation for decades. This review covers research studies published since 2000 that have investigated the efficacy of silage additives. The review has been divided into 6 categories of additives: homofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB), obligate heterofermentative LAB, combination inoculants containing obligate heterofermentative LAB plus homofermentative LAB, other inoculants, chemicals, and enzymes. The homofermentative LAB rapidly decrease pH and increase lactic acid relative to other fermentation products, although a meta-analysis indicated no reduction in pH in corn, sorghum, and sugarcane silages relative to untreated silages. These additives resulted in higher milk production according to the meta-analysis by mechanisms that are still unclear. Lactobacillus buchneri is the dominant species used in obligate heterofermentative LAB silage additives. It slowly converts lactic acid to acetic acid and 1,2-propanediol during silo storage, improving aerobic stability while having no effect on animal productivity. Current research is focused on finding other species in the Lb. buchneri group capable of producing more rapid improvements in aerobic stability. Combination inoculants aim to provide the aerobic stability benefits of Lb. buchneri with the silage fermentation efficiency and animal productivity benefits of homofermentative LAB. Research indicates that these products are improving aerobic stability, but feeding studies are not yet sufficient to make conclusions about effects on animal performance. Novel non-LAB species have been studied as potential silage inoculants. Streptococcus bovis is a potential starter species within a homofermentative LAB inoculant. Propionibacterium and Bacillus species offer improved aerobic stability in some cases. Some yeast research has focused on inhibiting molds and other detrimental silage microorganisms, whereas other yeast research suggests that it may be possible to apply a direct-fed microbial strain at ensiling, have it survive ensiling, and multiply during feed out. Chemical additives traditionally have fallen in 2 groups. Formic acid causes direct acidification, suppressing clostridia and other undesired bacteria and improving protein preservation during ensiling. On the other hand, sorbic, benzoic, propionic, and acetic acids improve silage aerobic stability at feed out through direct inhibition of yeasts and molds. Current research has focused on various combinations of these chemicals to improve both aerobic stability and animal productivity. Enzyme additives have been added to forage primarily to breakdown plant cell walls at ensiling to improve silage fermentation by providing sugars for the LAB and to enhance the nutritive value of silage by increasing the digestibility of cell walls. Cellulase or hemicellulase mixtures have been more successful at the former than the latter. A new approach focused on Lb. buchneri producing ferulic acid esterase has also had mixed success in improving the efficiency of silage digestion. Another new enzyme approach is the application of proteases to corn silage to improve starch digestibility, but more research is needed to determine the feasibility. Future silage additives are expected to directly inhibit clostridia and other detrimental microorganisms, mitigate high mycotoxin levels on harvested forages during ensiling, enhance aerobic stability, improve cell wall digestibility, increase the efficiency of utilization of silage nitrogen by cattle, and increase the availability of starch to cattle.