Microbial status, aerobic stability and fermentation of maize silage sealed with an oxygen barrier film or standard polyethylene film (original) (raw)
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A New Oxygen Barrier Film Reduces Aerobic Deterioration in Farm-Scale Corn Silage
Journal of Dairy Science, 2007
Recently, many studies have focused on the aerobic deterioration of corn silage at the farm level, because a large part of the product stored in horizontal silos is exposed to air and is more prone to spoilage. The most important factor influencing the preservation of forage ensiling is the degree of anaerobiosis that is usually achieved with sheets of polyethylene. A new black-onwhite (125-m) coextruded oxygen barrier (OB) film has been developed for silage sealing and was tested in the present experiment to assess the effects on fermentation quality, dry matter losses, and yeast and mold counts at opening of whole-crop corn bunker silos compared with conventional polyethylene (ST) film. Two trials were carried out on 2 commercial farms. The bunkers were divided into 2 parts along the length so that half of the feedout face would be covered with ST film and the other half with OB film. Eight plastic net bags with well-mixed fresh material were weighed and buried in the upper layer of the bunker, and 4 bags were buried in the central part. The silos were opened for summer consumption and were fed out at different rates (19 vs. 33 cm/d). The bags were unloaded, weighed, and subsampled to analyze the DM content, pH, lactic and monocarboxylic acids, ammonia, yeast and mold counts, and aerobic stability. The pH of the peripheral silage was different under the 2 films, with a lower value in the OB treatment. The OB film on farm 1 affected the silage dry matter losses, which were reduced 3.7 times in comparison with the ST film sealing. On farm 2, although the dry matter losses were numerically higher in the silage sealed with the ST film compared with OB film (9.0 vs. 5.9%, respectively), the difference was not statistically significant. However, the corn silage sealed with the ST film was less stable than the silage sealed with the OB film. The results indicate that the new OB film is a promising tool to constrain spoilage and dry matter
Agronomy
Despite the efforts to improve the methodological standards of silage trials, many factors that can influence the results of lab-scale studies need to be better understood. This study aimed to determine the effects of short-time delayed sealing and inoculation with a blend of Lentilactobacillus buchneri and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on fermentation, aerobic stability, and chemical composition of silages. Whole-crop maize was treated with or without a commercial inoculant and ensiled (29.3% dry matter) for 55 days in 8.8 L PVC silos that were sealed immediately (up to 30 min delay) or after a delay (90, 150, or 210 min between chopping and sealing) with five replicates each. The increasing air exposure before sealing increased fermentation losses and reduced silage nutritional value. Crude protein and ash were significantly affected by inoculation, with control treatments showing higher ash and lower protein values. Lignin, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber were o...
Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia, 2012
The present experimental assay evaluated the effect of lab silo sealing methods on the ensilage of the sugarcane, with or without microbial additives (Lactobacillus plantarum and Propionibacterium acidipropionici). Twentyliter plastic buckets were used as experimental silos, which were sealed with either a polyethylene sheet (silo cover with a mesh size of 200 μm) or an appropriate plastic lid equipped with Bunsen valve. Silos were stored for 30, 60, or 90 days. Fermentative losses, chemical composition, organic acids, ethanol and aerobic stability were evaluated. The sealing method employed did not influence most of evaluated variables, showing a small decrease of effluent production in silos covered with polyethylene sheet. The microbial additive did not avoid dry matter (DM) fermentative losses in sugarcane silages (216 g kg-1), nor affected aerobic stability (44.6 hours). The levels of neutral and acid detergent fiber of fresh sugarcane increased after ensiling due to DM losses as gases and effluent. The ethanol content of silages was not influenced by treatments (mean 146 g kg-1 of DM). The sealing methods of experimental silos were not affected by the evaluated variables; polyethylene sheet and plastic lid show the same performance on the fermentative model and both methods represent well the conditions of large scale farm silos.
Dynamics in the microbiology of maize silage during whole-season storage
Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2010
Aims: To monitor seasonal variations in the microbiology of maize silage and to determine whether the risk of fungal spoilage varies during whole-year storage. Methods and Results: A continuous survey of 20 maize silage stacks was conducted over a period from three to 11 months after ensiling. Filamentous fungi, yeasts and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were enumerated at five timepoints, and cultivable species of filamentous fungi were identified. Significant differences in the numbers of filamentous fungi, yeast and LAB were detected. The highest numbers of fungi were five to seven and the lowest 11 months after ensiling, while the LAB decreased in numbers during the study. Filamentous fungi were isolated from all stacks at all time-points. The most abundant toxigenic mould species were Penicillium roqueforti, Penicillium paneum and Aspergillus fumigatus. Conclusions: There are significant variations in the microbiology of maize silage over a whole storage season. The risk of fungal spoilage was highest 5-7 months after ensiling and lowest after 11 months. Significance and Impact of the Study: This information is valuable in the assessment of health risks connected with spoiled maize silage and may be useful in the management of maize silage stacks, when whole-season storage is applied.
Journal of Dairy Science, 2006
The aim of this study was to determine how delayed silo sealing, high ensiling temperatures, and rainfall at harvest affect the fermentation and aerobic stability of corn silage. One-half of each of 4 replicated, 6 × 1.5 m plots of a corn hybrid was harvested at 35% dry matter (Dry), and each of the other halves was harvested after they were sprinkled with sufficient water to simulate 4 mm of rainfall (Wet). Six representative (2 kg) subsamples were taken from the Wet and Dry forage piles and ensiled immediately (Prompt). Three hours later, 6 additional representative (2 kg) samples were taken from each pile and ensiled (Delay). Half of the bags from each moisture × sealing time treatment combination were stored for 82 d in a 40°C incubator (Hot) and the other half were stored in a 20°C airconditioned room (Cool). A 2 (moisture treatments) × 2 (sealing times) × 2 (ensiling temperatures) factorial design with 3 replicates per treatment was used for the study. Wetting the corn silage increased concentrations of NH 3-N, ethanol, and acetic acid. Ensiling at 40 instead of 20°C increased pH, in vitro digestibility, and concentrations of NH 3-N, residual water-soluble carbohydrates and acid detergent insoluble crude protein. The higher ensiling temperature also reduced concentrations of neutral and acid detergent fiber and lactic and acetic acid. Delayed sealing reduced concentrations of NH 3-N and total volatile fatty acids. Wetting, high temperature ensiling, and delayed sealing each reduced yeast counts slightly, and marginally (8 h) increased aerobic stability. Hot-Wet-Delay silages were more stable than other silages but had the lowest lactic to acetic acid ratio, and total volatile fatty acid concentration. This study indicates that the fermentation of corn silage is adversely affected by wet conditions at harvest and high ensiling temperatures, whereas delayed silo sealing for 3 h caused no adverse effects.
Hygienic condition of maize silage (Zea mays L.) depending on cutting height and ensiling additive
TURKISH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY, 2014
Maize silage is a high energy bulk feed, extensively used in the nutrition of dairy and meat purpose cattle due to the high yielding potential of this crop, high concentration of energy, palatability, and easy application in the total mixed ration feeding regime. A necessary precondition for the complete utilization of the nutritive value of maize is to prepare high quality silage. In North America and Europe, cattle nutrition is increasingly based on maize silage fed throughout the year, resulting in the need to store silage in silos for 14 months or even longer. Thus, it is necessary to collect a greater amount of data on the microbial composition of silage throughout its storage. In view of the above, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of cutting height (CH) and the application of ensiling additives (EAs) on the hygienic status and aerobic stability of maize silage. The experiment was run in a 2-factorial design with 3 replications. The first factor was CH of the maize plants: 20 cm, 30 cm, and 40 cm. The second degree factor was connected with the EAs: Inokulant 11A44, Inokulant 1132, Bioprofit, Pro-Stabil AP 80 L, and the control with no additives. Analyses showed that the applied EAs, both microbial and chemical, influenced both the quality and stability of maize silage. Applied EAs in the tested silage reduced the counts of mold fungi, yeasts, bacteria from the genus Clostridium, and coliform bacteria. The chemical preparation containing propionic acid (E-280) and ammonium propionate (E-284) was found to be the most effective at limiting microbial counts in silage.
A preliminary study on new biodegradable films to cover silages
Two different silage cover films, one made of standard polyethylene (PE) and the other made of Mater-Bi® biodegradable plastic (MB), with two different thicknesses (60 and 120 Pm) have been compared. A whole maize crop was chopped, treated with a mixture of Lactobacillus plantarum, L. buchneri, and Enterococcus faecium, and ensiled in plastic bags with four replications for each treatment. After 55 and 110 d of conservation, all the silages were well fermented with no differences in fermentative and nutritional quality between the treatments, and few differences in mould count and aerobic stability after 110 d of conservation. These results showed the possibility of successfully developing a biodegradable cover for silage for 4 months after ensiling.
Re-ensiling and microbial inoculant use effects on the quality of maize silages exposed to air
Revista Brasileira de Agropecuária Sustentável
Re-ensiling has increased worldwide due to the increase in marketing of silage between farms. However, litlle is known about the aerobic deterioration and microbial inoculants effect in this process. The aim of this study was to determine the re-ensiling and microbial inoculant use effects on the maize silage quality. Experimental treatments included maize silage exposed to air for zero or 18 h, with or without microbial inoculant use containing a mixture of Lactobacillus plantarum and Propionibacterium acidipropionici. The forage was ensiled in 20 plastic buckets (20 liters capacity) with five repetitions per treatment. The silos were opened after 116 days and the chemical composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), fermentative parameters, microorganism counts, total dry matter (DM) losses and aerobic stability of silage were evaluated. Re-ensiling reduced the non-fibrous carbohydrates content by 14.8%, whereas it increased the neutral detergent fiber content by 6%. Th...
Agronomy
A common method of silage production in Europe is based on the use of cylindrical bales wrapped with polyethylene films. In this study, several modifications of composition of these films were tested for their impact on the microorganisms involved in the ensiling process. Different additives, including nanosilver particles and microcellulose, were analyzed upon the first stage of the experiment. In the second stage, the usability of recycled polyethylene as a film component was assessed. The forage value after ensiling was determined during storage, based on analyses of the content of crude fiber, nitrate nitrogen, total protein, sugars, acids (lactic, acetic, butyric and propionic), pH and dry matter. Microbial forage quality was evaluated by analyses of growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) compared to the number of undesirable aerobic bacteria, yeasts and molds. Film properties were also characterized. No statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences were shown for the teste...
Revista de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, 2021
Maturity stage (MS) at harvesting is the most important factor that determines the nutritive value and productivity of corn silage. Once opened, the silage for supplyis exposed to oxygen deterioration due to aerobic microbial activity, which could negatively influence the quantity and quality of silage. There are bacterial inoculants containing microorganisms which improve the process of fermentation and the aerobic stability of silage. The aim was to evaluate the effect on aerobic stability produced by a bacterial inoculant in whole plant corn silage at different maturity stages (MS). The experimental design was factorial (n=3). The factors were: inoculated and state of maturity; the first with two levels: control and inoculated and the second with three levels: 25, 35 and 45% MS. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and the comparison of means by the Tukey test (p˂0.05). Maize crop was harvested: 25, 35 and 45% dry matter (DM). Chopped material was ensiled in 20 L buckets (six silos/MS), three of them were Inoculated (I) and three were not Control. The interactions between I*MS were not significant (P>0.05) for all variables. To the evaluated variables, there was no difference (P>0.05) among Inoculated vs. Control treatments. There was a difference (P<0.05) between MS, where 25% DM had higher water-soluble carbohydrates and acetic acid, which allowed greater aerobic stability than with 35 and 45% DM. DM losses with 45% DM treatment had the highest (P<0.05) loss compared to 25 and 35% DM. Results suggested there was no effect of bacterial inoculation but there were effect maturity stages on the aerobic stability of silage. As the harvest is delayed the silage has lower aerobic stability.