Effects of microbial inoculants on alfalfa, ryegrass, and grass clover mixture silages on silage pH, dry matter loss, and aerobic stability
| Author | Affiliation |
|---|---|
Lanckriet, Anouk | |
| Date |
|---|
2013-07-08 |
ISSN: 1525-3163 (Electronic) / 1525-3198 (Electronic).
MEDLINE: J Anim Sci - 1966 / J Dairy Sci - 1965.
An in vitro study using 3L glass mini silos was conducted to observe the effects of silage inoculants on nutrient composition, pH, VFA concentration, DM loss, and aerobic stability. Three silages were studied: alfalfa (AS), perennial ryegrass (RS), and a mixture of red clover:ryegrass:timothy (MIX). Nine treatments (control, DeLaval Feedtech (F10, F18, F22, F3000), Sil-All 4 × 4 (SA), Lalsil Dry, Bonsilage (BO), Bio-sil Stabil, were organized as a randomized complete bock design, with 5 replicates per treatment. Silos were filled to a target density of 0.2 kg DM/L and ensiled for 90 d at 20°C. After 90 d, silages were analyzed for DM loss and chemical composition (DM, CP, NDF, and pH). Silage VFA (g/100 g of DM) were analyzed by GLC. Aerobic stability was measured on d 90 by exposing the silages to air and measuring temperature until silages were 3°C above ambient temperature. Mean nutrient composition (%) was 33.8, 32.2, and 32.8 for DM, 20.6, 14.7, and 19.0 for CP, and 38.0, 44.1, and 42.2 for NDF for AS, RS, and MIX. Lactate increased in RS for F18 and F22 compared with other inoculants (9.1 v. 6.6; overall mean ± SEM, 6.8 ± 0.57; P < 0.01) and MIX for F10, F22, F3000, and ISA versus other inoculants (5.8 v. 4.3; 4.9 ± 0.2; P < 0.01). After 90 d, pH was lower in AS treated with F18, F22, F3000, and SA versus other inoculants (4.88 v. 5.02; 5.1 ± 0.01; P < 0.01), in RS for F10, F22, F3000, and SA versus other inoculants (4.02 v. 4.21; 4.13 ± 0.02; P < 0.01), and in MIX treated with F10, F22, and F3000 compared with other inoculants (4.02 v. 4.18; 4.15 ± 0.03; P < 0.01). Loss of DM was reduced in RS for F10, F18, F22, F3000, and BO compared with other inoculants (2.9 v. 3.8%; 3.5 ± 0.7; P < 0.01), and reduced in MIX for F10, F22, and F3000 compared with other inoculants (4.02 v. 4.18; 4.6 ± 0.4; P < 0.01). Adding inoculants improved (P < 0.05) aerobic stability compared with the control (AS, 229.8 v. 98.