EVALUATING THE FERMENTATION AND NUTRITIONAL EFFECTS OF LACTIC ACID BACTERIA INOCULANT ON WHOLE CORN PLANT SILAGE AT LOW AND HIGH DRY MATTER
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Abstract
Homolactic and heterolactic combination inoculants have the ability to lower the pH of silage to make it stable, while also providing antifungal properties to prevent spoilage. These inoculants can be especially beneficial in corn ensiled at high dry matter that is challenged by both a slower fermentation and being more prone to spoiling at feedout. In this experiment we tested the ability of an inoculant containing Pediococcus pentosaceus NCIMB 12455, Lactobacillus buchneri NCIMB 40788, and Lactobacillus hilgardi CNCM I-4785 to improve the fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability of whole corn plant silage harvested at two different dry matters: low and high (26.2% and 39.7%), and ensiled for four different lengths: 30, 60, 120, and 180 days. We had five replications for all the combinations and used mini silo models to create a perfect environment to see how the inoculant worked. The corn silage was then analyzed for yeast, mold, and lactic acid bacteria counts, fermentation and digestion characteristics. We hypothesized that the inoculant would decrease yeast and mold counts, increase lactic acid bacteria counts, increase acetic acid concentrations, and increase digestibility. We also hypothesized that all these effects would be stronger in high dry matter silage. Our study found that inoculated silage produced more acetic acid and had higher starch digestibility. Inoculated silages spoiled later than uninoculated silages. Lactic acid production and undigested Neutral Detergent Fiber was higher in low dry matter silage. Feeding inoculated silage to dairy production cows will increase the energy cows get from starch and the silage will have improved aerobic stability that allows the feed to be stable for longer periods of time.