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PubMed2003

Comparison of grass and legume silages for milk production. 2. In vivo and in sacco evaluations of rumen function.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the basis for higher voluntary intakes and increased alpha-linolenic acid content in milk from cows offered clover silages. Six cows with rumen and duodenal cannulae were used in a four-period changeover-design experiment. Cows received 8 kg/d of dairy concentrate and had ad libitum access to one of six silage treatments: grass, red clover, white clover, alfalfa, and 50/50 (dry matter basis) mixtures of grass with red clover or white clover. The rumen fermentability of grass, red clover, white clover, and grass/red clover silages was also evaluated in a nylon bag study. Legume silages led to increased dry matter intake and milk production in comparison with grass silage. There was no significant effect of legume silages on rumen pH and volatile fatty acid concentrations, but a significant increase in rumen ammonia concentration with the legume silages, reflecting their higher protein content. The inclusion of white clover or alfalfa silage, but not red clover silage, in diets led to an increase in molar proportions of isobutyric, iso-valeric, and n-valeric acids in comparison with diets based on grass silage. Rumen fill was significantly lower, and rumen passage rates were significantly higher for cows offered alfalfa or white clover silages. However, the markedly different particle size distribution of rumen contents with these feeds suggests very different mechanisms for the high intake characteristics: high rates of particle breakdown and passage with alfalfa, and high rates of fermentation and passage with white clover. Microbial energetic efficiency (grams microbial N per kilogram organic matter apparently digested in the rumen) was highest for cows offered alfalfa silage, intermediate for clover silage, and lowest for cows offered grass silage. These differences reflect the higher rumen outflow rates for legume silages in comparison with grass silage. However, the effect of these differences on N-use efficiency (feed to milk) was probably quite small in comparison with effects of N intake. Although the biohydrogenation of alpha-linolenic acid was still high for red clover silage (86.1% compared with 94.3% for grass silage), there was a 240% increase in the proportion of alpha-linolenic acid passing through the rumen. This explains the increased recovery of alpha-linolenic acid from feed into milk with diets based on red clover silage.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2005

Effect of fibrolytic enzymes on the fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability, and digestibility of bermudagrass silage.

The aim of this study was to determine if the nutritive value and aerobic stability of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) silage could be improved by addition of proprietary, exogenous cellulase/hemicellulase enzyme preparations at ensiling. A 5-wk regrowth of Tifton 85 bermudagrass was conserved without treatment (control) or after treatment with exogenous fibrolytic enzymes including Promote NET (Pr), Biocellulase X-20 (X20), Biocellulase A-20 (A20), and Enzyme CT. The respective enzymes were applied at half the recommended rate, the recommended rate, or twice the recommended rate corresponding to 0.65, 1.3, and 2.6 g/kg of DM, 7.3, 14.5, and 29 mg/kg of DM, at 7.3, 14.4, and 29 mg/kg of DM, and 89, 178, and 356 mg/kg of DM, for Pr, X20, A20, and CT, respectively. The enzymes were sprayed on the bermudagrass at ensiling (not added at feeding as suggested by the manufacturers) to test the objectives of the study. Six 1-kg replicates of chopped (5 cm) forage were ensiled for 145 d in 2.8-L mini silos. Three silos per treatment were used for chemical analysis and 3 for aerobic stability monitoring. The silage juice was analyzed for organic acids, pH, water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), ammonia-N, and soluble N. Freeze-dried samples were analyzed for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF). In vitro digestibility of DM (IVDMD), NDF (IVNDFD), and ADF (IVADFD) were determined after digesting the silages in buffered rumen fluid for 6 or 48 h in 2 ANKOM(II) Daisy Incubators. Compared with the other silages, those treated with Pr had lower DM losses, and lower pH and ammonia-N concentration than control silages. Residual WSC concentration was greater in Pr- and CT-treated silages than in control silages and greater in Pr-treated silages than CT-treated silages. Compared with control silages, NDF concentration was lower in silages treated with Pr, X20, and CT, and ADF concentration was lower in silages treated with Pr, X20, and A20. Nevertheless, Pr-treated silages contained lower ADF and NDF concentrations than silages treated with the other enzymes. Enzyme-treated silages contained less acetic acid than control silages, and Pr-treated silages had the lowest concentrations of acetic acid. Aerobic stability was increased by enzyme treatment but microbial counts were not affected. The 6-h IVDMD was increased by treatment with Pr and A20, however only Pr increased the IVDMD and IVNDFD at 48 h. The 48-h IVADFD was also increased by treatment with Pr, CT, and A20. These results show that when applied at ensiling, certain fibrolytic enzymes (particularly Promote) can improve the digestibility, fermentation, and aerobic stability of bermudagrass silage.

Aerobiosis↗

PubMed2003

Corn silage management: effects of hybrid, maturity, inoculation, and mechanical processing on fermentation characteristics.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of hybrid, maturity, mechanical processing, and inoculation of corn silage on fermentation characteristics. In experiment 1, Pioneer hybrid 3845 corn silage was harvested at three maturities (hard dough, one-third milkline, two-thirds milkline). In experiment 2, Pioneer hybrids 3845 and Quanta were harvested at three maturities (one-third milkline, two-thirds milkline, and blackline). In both experiments, corn silage was harvested at each maturity with and without mechanical processing and with and without inoculation. In experiments 1 and 2, corn silage was harvested at a theoretical length-of-cut of 6.4 and 12.7 mm, respectively. Maturity at harvest tended to have a greater impact on silage fermentation characteristics of corn silage than mechanical processing and inoculation. In experiments 1 and 2, corn silage harvested at the earliest maturity tended to have decreased dry matter content and increased water-soluble carbohydrate concentrations during the ensiling process than corn silage harvested at advanced maturities. In experiment 2, pH levels were lower for corn silage harvested at the early maturity (one-third milkline) compared with advanced maturities (two-thirds milkline and blackline) by 57 d after ensiling. The difference in pH can be explained by the greater concentration of water-soluble carbohydrates at the early maturity (one-third ML) soon after ensiling (2, 3, 6 and 10 d after ensiling) compared with advanced maturities (two-thirds ML and BL). The increased water-soluble carbohydrate concentrations in the less mature corn silage provided nutrients for bacteria to grow and produce primarily lactic acid (6, 10, and 57 d after ensiling) and some acetic acid (2, 3, 6, and 10 d after ensiling) which reduced the pH of corn silage more than at the advanced maturities. There was a slight change in silage fermentation characteristics when corn silage was inoculated with Pioneer 1132 inoculant in experiment 1. The inoculated corn silage had increased temperature, lactate and acetate concentrations, and lower water-soluble carbohydrate and pH levels compared with uninoculated corn silage. Dry matter recovery tended to be greater for processed corn silage in experiment 1, and greater for unprocessed corn silage in experiment 2. It appears that when fermentation was greater (increased temperature and lactate concentration 57 d after ensiling) the dry matter recovery was lower.

Acetic Acid↗

PubMed1976

Nutritive value of potato-based silages for dairy bulls.

Diet acceptability, nutrient digestibility, and nitrogen and energy partition were measured in growing Holstein bulls to compare corn silage with three potato-based silages which consisted of (fresh basis): 1) 50% potatoes, 20% hay; 2) 60% potatoes, 20% hay, 20% whole oats; 3) 50% potatoes, 25% hay, 25% whole oats. The 50% potato 50% hay silage dry matter was consumed at 3.0% of body weight per day which was greater than for any of the other three silages. Consequently, daily consumption of each nutrient was generally higher for this silage even though it was lower in content of many nutritional components. Except for ether extract, the digestion coefficients for the 50% potato 50% hay silage were higher than for the other three silages. The addition of whole oats to the potato-based silage tended to depress apparent digestibility of the nutritional components below those for corn silage. Both nitrogen and energy utilization were higher for the 50% potato 50% hay silage than for any of the other three experimental silages. Efficiency of use of absorbed nitrogen was higher for the oat-containing potato-based silages than for corn silage while the oat-containing silages were comparable to corn silage in energy efficiency. The 50% potato 50% hay silage was equal or superior to corn silage in dry matter intake, overall overall digestibility, nitrogen and energy balance for growing Holstein bulls.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2000

Crop processing and chop length of corn silage: effects on intake, digestion, and milk production by dairy cows.

Effects of corn silage crop processing and chop length on intake, digestion, and milk production were evaluated. Corn silage treatments were harvested at one-half milkline stage of maturity (65% whole-plant moisture content) and at 0.95-cm theoretical length of cut without processing (control) or 0.95-, 1.45-, or 1.90-cm theoretical length of cut with processing at a 1-mm roll clearance. Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows averaging 71 d in milk at trial initiation were in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design with 28-d periods; one square was comprised of ruminally cannulated cows for rumen measurements. Corn silage treatments were fed in total mixed rations containing 50% forage (67% corn silage and 33% alfalfa silage) and 50% corn and soybean meal based concentrate (dry matter basis). Dry matter intake (25.9 vs. 25.3 kg/d) and milk (46.0 vs. 44.8 kg/ d) and fat (1.42 vs. 1.35 kg/d) yields were higher for the processed corn silage treatments compared with the control corn silage. Within the processed corn silage treatments, there were no chop length effects on intake, milk production, or milk composition. Chewing activity was not different among the four corn silage treatments averaging 12 h/d. Total tract digestion of dietary starch was lower for control corn silage (95.1%) compared with fine, medium, and coarse processed corn silage treatments, which averaged 99.3%. Total tract digestion of dietary NDF was reduced for fine-processed corn silage compared with control corn silage and coarse-processed corn silage (28.4% vs. 33.9 and 33.7%, respectively). Processing corn silage improved dry matter intake, starch digestion, and lactation performance. Under the conditions of this study and with theoretical lengths of cut ranging from 0.95 to 1.90 cm, length of chop effects were minimal in processed corn silage.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Production of lactating dairy cows fed alfalfa or red clover silage at equal dry matter or crude protein contents in the diet.

Two Latin square trials, using 21 or 24 multiparous lactating Holstein cows, compared the feeding value of red clover and alfalfa silages harvested over 2 yr. Red clover silages averaged 2 percentage units lower in crude protein (CP) and more than 2 percentage units lower in neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber than did alfalfa silage. In trial 1, diets were formulated to 60% dry matter (DM) from alfalfa, red clover silage, or alfalfa plus red clover silage (grown together); CP was adjusted to about 16.5% by adding soybean meal, and the balance of dietary DM was from ground high moisture ear corn. Nonprotein N in red clover and alfalfa-red clover silages was 80% of that in alfalfa silage. Although DM intake was 2.5 and 1.3 kg/d lower on red clover and alfalfa plus red clover, yield of milk and milk components was not different among diets. In trial 2, four diets containing rolled high moisture shelled corn were formulated to 60% DM from alfalfa or red clover silage, or 48% DM from alfalfa or red clover silage plus 12% DM from corn silage. The first three diets contained 2.9% soybean meal, and the red clover-corn silage diet contained 5.6% soybean meal; the 60% alfalfa diet contained 18.4% CP, and the other three diets averaged 16.5% CP. Nonprotein N in red clover silage was 62% of that in alfalfa silage. Intake of DM was about 2 (no corn silage) and 1 kg/d (plus corn silage) lower on red clover. Yield of milk and milk components was not different among the first three diets; however, yields of milk, total protein, and true protein were higher on red clover-corn silage with added soybean meal. Replacing alfalfa with red clover improved feed and N efficiency and apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and hemicellulose in both trials. Net energy of lactation computed from animal performance data was 18% greater in red clover than alfalfa. Data on milk and blood urea and N efficiency suggested better N utilization on red clover.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2003

The effect of treating alfalfa with Lactobacillus buchneri 40788 on silage fermentation, aerobic stability, and nutritive value for lactating dairy cows.

Lactobacillus buchneri 40788 and enzymes (beta-glucanase, alpha-amylase, xylanase, and galactomannase) were applied to chopped alfalfa (39% DM) to study their effects on the fermentation and nutritive value of the silage. Alfalfa was treated with nothing, or L. buchneri 40788, for a final application rate of 1 x 10(5), 5 x 10(5), or 1 x 10(6) cfu/g of fresh forage and ensiled in laboratory silos for 2, 4, 8, and 56 d. Treatment with L. buchneri 40788 had few effects on the end products of fermentation through 8 d of ensiling. However, after 56 d of ensiling, treated silages had a higher pH (4.55 vs. 4.38) and higher concentrations of acetic acid (6.40 vs. 4.24%), propionic acid (0.18 vs. 0.06%), and ammonia-N (0.35 vs. 0.29%) when compared to untreated silage. Lactic acid was also numerically lower in treated (3.51%) than untreated (4.12%). Silages treated with the moderate and highest dose of L. buchneri 40788 also resulted in greater recoveries of DM than did untreated silage. Alfalfa (43% DM) was also untreated or treated with a commercial application of L. buchneri 40788 (4 x 10(5) cfu/g, a commercial dose) in farm-scale bag silo. Holstein cows were fed a diet comprised of 32% untreated or treated alfalfa silage, 11% corn silage, 5% chopped alfalfa hay, and 52% of concentrate (DMB) for a 6-wk treatment period. Dry matter intake and milk composition were unaffected by treatment, but cows fed silage treated with L. buchneri 40788 produced 0.8 kg more milk than did cows fed untreated silage. Treated silage had a higher concentration of acetic acid (5.67 vs. 3.35%) but lower lactic acid (3.50 vs. 4.39%) than untreated silage. When exposed to air, the total mixed ration containing treated alfalfa silage remained stable for 100 h, whereas the ration containing untreated silage spoiled after 68 h. Treating alfalfa silage with L. buchneri 40788 increased the concentration of acetic acid, and when the silage was combined into a total mixed ration and fed to lactating cows, it improved the aerobic stability of the ration and increased milk production.

Acetic Acid↗

PubMed1980

Feeding value of a high oil variety of sunflowers as silage to lactating dairy cows.

Whole-plant sunflowers (oilseed) were chopped and stored as silage and compared to corn silage as the sole forage to 20 lactating Holsteins in a switch-back design of three 5-wk periods. Cows fed sunflower silage produced less milk (22.4 vs. 20.5 kg/day) but similar amounts of 4% fat-corrected milk. Cows fed sunflower silage had greater fat, less protein, and less total solids in milk. Cows consumed 4.0 kg/day less dry matter from sunflower silage than from corn silage. Oleic and linolenic increased, and myristic and palmitic fatty acids decreased in milk fat from cows fed sunflower silage. Cholesterol in serum (mg/dl) was 321 and 160 for cows fed sunflower silage and corn silage. Cows fed sunflower silage had higher molar percentage of acetate, isobutyrate, isovalerate, and a wider acetate propionate ratio with concomitant lower molar percentage of propionate, butyrate, valerate, and less total acids in rumen fluid than cows fed corn silage. Rumen fluid pH was 6.98 and 6.83 for cows fed sunflower silage and corn silage. Acceptable quality silage can be made from whole oilseed sunflowers. For maximum milk production, sunflower silage should not be fed as the only forage to dairy cows.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1991

Rumen fill and digesta kinetics in lactating Friesian cows given two levels of concentrates with two types of grass silage ad lib.

Four lactating Friesian cows with permanent cannulas in the rumen and proximal duodenum were given early (EC)- or late (LC)-cut grass silage ad lib., each with either 3 or 9 kg concentrate dry matter (DM)/d in a 4 x 4 Latin square design starting about 10 weeks after calving. Feed was offered twice daily at 08.30 hours and 15.30 hours. Periods lasted 5 weeks and measurements were made in the last 15 d. The higher amount of concentrates increased total DM intake but reduced silage DM intake and the fractional rate of degradation of silage-fibre DM. Later cutting date of silage had no effect on DM intake or the fractional rate of degradation of silage-fibre DM but reduced potential degradability of silage fibre. Dilution rate of CoEDTA in rumen fluid was greater during the day (eating period) than during the night (resting period). Dilution rates measured at the duodenum were lower than those measured in the rumen, but neither was affected by diet. Silage-particle passage rates were measured by use of ytterbium-labelled silage fibre (Yb-fibre) and chromium-mordanted faecal particles (Cr-faeces) and samples were taken at the duodenum and in the faeces. Values for slower rate constant (k1) and transit time were higher and for faster rate constant (k2) were lower for Yb-fibre than for Cr-faeces, but differences in total mean retention time were inconsistent. Values for k1 for both markers and k2 for Yb-fibre only were similar at both sampling sites, but values for k2 for Cr-faeces were lower in the faeces. No diet effects were established with Yb-fibre but, with Cr-faeces, k1 was reduced by more concentrates and EC-silage. Daily mean weights of wet digesta, liquid, neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) and indigestible NDF in the rumen were greater with LC-silage but were unaffected by the amount of concentrates whereas weight of rumen DM was increased by the amount of concentrates only. Maximum rumen fill occurred at 18.00 hours with all diets. Particle-size distribution of rumen contents did not vary markedly during the day. Mean particle size was generally greater with LC-silage than EC-silage. Very small particles, passing through the 0.3 mm screen, constituted about half the rumen DM. It is concluded that rumen fill could have limited intake of LC-silage but not EC-silage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed2002

The effect of treating whole-plant barley with Lactobacillus buchneri 40788 on silage fermentation, aerobic stability, and nutritive value for dairy cows.

Chopped barley forage was ensiled untreated or treated with several doses (1 x 10(5) to 1 x 10(6) cfu/g of fresh forage) of Lactobacillus buchneri 40788 in laboratory silos and untreated or treated (4 x 10(5) cfu/g) in a farm silo. Silage from the farm silos was fed to lactating cows. In the laboratory silo, the effects of inoculation on fermentation and aerobic stability were also compared to silage treated with a commercial inoculant and a buffered propionic acid additive. Inoculation with L. buchneri 40788 decreased the final concentrations of lactic acid but increased concentrations of acetic acid and ethanol in silage from laboratory and farm silos. Silages stored in laboratory silos did not heat after exposure to air for 7 d and were then mixed with alfalfa silage and a concentrate to form total mixed rations (TMR) that were further exposed to air. The TMR containing silages treated with L. buchneri 40788 or a buffered propionic-acid-based additive took longer to heat and spoil than the TMR containing untreated silage or silagetreated with the commercial inoculant. Silage stored in a farm silo and treated with L. buchneri 40788 had fewer yeasts and molds than did untreated silage. Aerobic stability was greater in treated silage alone and in a TMR containing treated silage. Dry matter intake (18.6 kg/d), milk production (25.7 kg/d), and milk composition did not differ between cows fed a TMR containinguntreated or treated silage. These findings show that L. buchneri can improve the aerobic stability of barley silage in laboratory and farm silos and that feeding treated silage had no negative effect on intake or performance.

Acetic Acid↗

PubMed2003

Comparison of grass and legume silages for milk production. 1. Production responses with different levels of concentrate.

Silages prepared from pure stands of ryegrass, alfalfa, white clover, and red clover over two successive year were offered to lactating dairy cows in two feeding experiments. Proportional mixtures of all cuts prepared in a yr were used to ensure that the forage treatments were representative of the crop. Additional treatments involved mixtures of grass silage with either white clover silage or red clover silage (50/50, on a DM basis). Silages were prepared in round bales, using a biological inoculant additive, and wilting for up to 48 h. Although the legumes were less suited to silage-making than grass, because of their higher buffering capacity and lower water-soluble carbohydrate content, all silages were well-fermented. A standard concentrate was offered at a flat-rate (8 kg/d in yr 1, and 4 or 8 kg/d in yr 2). All of the legume silages led to higher DM intake and milk yields than for the grass silage, with little effect on milk composition. Intake and production responses to legumes were similar at the two levels of concentrate feeding and with forage mixtures they were intermediate to those for the separate forages. An additional benefit of the clover silages, particularly red clover silage, was the increase in levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly alpha-linolenic acid, in milk. Legume silages also led to a lower palmitic acid percentage in milk. The efficiency of conversion of feed N into milk N declined with increasing levels of legume silage. White clover silage led to a higher N-use efficiency when the effect of N intake level is taken into account.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

PubMed2006

NutriDense corn grain and corn silage for dairy cows.

Twenty multiparous Holstein cows, 4 of them surgically fitted with ruminal cannulas, were used in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square to compare the effects of whole-plant silage and grain produced from NutriDense (ND), leafy NutriDense (LND), or a conventional yellow dent (YD) hybrid on ruminal fermentation, total tract nutrient digestibility, and performance of lactating dairy cows. On a DM basis, diets contained 30.6% corn silage and 27.7% corn grain provided from the 3 hybrids according to the following combinations: 1) YD grain and YD silage, 2) YD grain and LND silage, 3) ND grain and YD silage, and 4) ND grain and LND silage. The average concentrations of crude protein, neutral and acid detergent fiber, and ether extract of LND silage and ND grain were higher, but the contents of nonfibrous carbohydrates and starch were lower than those of their YD counterparts. Although DM intake was similar among treatments, feeding ND grain, LND silage, or both reduced the intakes of nonfibrous carbohydrates and starch but increased the intake of ether extract. Apparent digestibility of starch in the total tract was highest for the diet that contained LND silage and YD grain, whereas the amount and percentage of ether extract that were apparently digested in the total tract was increased and tended to be increased, respectively, by the addition of ND grain, LND silage, or both to the diets. Ruminal fermentation parameters were unaffected by treatments except for the concentration of ammonia nitrogen in the ruminal fluid, which tended to be increased by the feeding of ND grain, LND silage, or both. Production of milk, crude and true protein, fat, lactose, and total solids did not differ among diets. Concentration of milk urea nitrogen increased when the ND grain, LND silage, or both were fed to the cows. Results indicate that ND grain and LND silage were similar to the conventional grain and silage for the feeding of lactating dairy cows.

Ammonia↗

PubMed1997

Timothy grass or alfalfa silage for cows in midlactation: effect of supplementary barley.

Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows averaging 104 d of lactation were used in a trial with a split-plot design to evaluate the nutritive value of two silages, timothy grass or alfalfa, both treated with formic acid and stored in plastic bag silos. Silages were offered for ad libitum intake either alone or with 17 or 34% (dry matter basis) dry-rolled barley. Both silages contained similar amounts of acid detergent fiber (ADF) (27.5 and 26.7% for timothy grass and alfalfa, respectively). After 110 d of storage, alfalfa silage contained higher amounts of organic acids and NH3 N but had lower soluble N. Total dry matter intake (DMI) and silage DMI were similar between cows fed both silages. Increased barley proportion decreased silage DMI (19.2 to 14.2 kg/d). Apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter was unaffected by treatment. The digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and ADF was higher for the timothy grass silage than for alfalfa silage and was unaffected by the barley percentage added to either silage. Milk yield was lower (23.9 to 22.6 kg/d) for cows fed the highest proportion of barley. The 4% fat-corrected milk yield was unaffected by treatment. Percentages of fat, protein, and total solids in milk were higher for cows fed diets with the higher barley content. Milk fat and protein yields were similar among treatments. Urea in blood was lower for cows fed timothy grass silage than for cows fed alfalfa silage (4.68 vs. 6.23 mg/100 ml). These results suggest that timothy grass silage and alfalfa silage, when stored at a similar ADF content, have comparable nutritive value for midlactation cows.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2001

The effect of a dry or liquid application of Lactobacillus plantarum MTD1 on the fermentation of alfalfa silage.

Alfalfa was wilted to 30 and 54% dry matter and was untreated or treated with Lactobacillus plantarum MTD1 applied either as a liquid or dry inoculant to determine whether form of inoculation affected silage fermentation. In silages with 30% dry matter, both forms of inoculation resulted in silages with more lactic acid and a lower pH than in untreated silage after 2 d of ensiling. In addition, both forms of inoculation resulted in silages with lower concentrations of acetic acid between 8 and 45 d of ensiling than in untreated silage. The ammonia-N content was also lower in silages that had been treated with both forms of inoculation during the early and intermediate stages of ensiling, but not after 45 d of ensiling. In silages containing 54% dry matter, dry and liquid inoculation produced a more rapid decrease in pH from d 4 to 14 when compared with untreated silage, but the effect was greater when the inoculant was applied in water. In contrast to findings from 30% silages, the inoculated silages with 54% dry matter had lower concentrations of ammonia-N than untreated silage from d 8 to 45, and both forms of inoculation were equally effective. The results of this study agree with previous research that shows that microbial inoculation can improve the fermentation of alfalfa silage. However, this report shows that a microbial inoculant was more effective when applied in a liquid- rather than a dry-form to alfalfa with a high DM content.

Acetic Acid↗

PubMed2006

A meta-analysis of the effects of Lactobacillus buchneri on the fermentation and aerobic stability of corn and grass and small-grain silages.

The results of adding Lactobacillus buchneri to silages from 43 experiments in 23 sources reporting standard errors were summarized using meta-analysis. The effects of inoculation were summarized by type of crop (corn or grass and small grains) and the treatments were classified into the following categories: 1) untreated silage with nothing applied (LB0), 2) silage treated with L. buchneri at < or = 100,000 cfu/g of fresh forage (LB1), and 3) silage treated with L. buchneri at > 100,000 cfu/g (LB2). In both types of crops, inoculation with L. buchneri decreased concentrations of lactic acid, and this response was dose-dependent in corn but not in grass and small-grain silages. Treatment with L. buchneri markedly increased the concentrations of acetic acid in both crops in a dose-dependent manner. The numbers of yeasts were lower in silages treated with LB1 and further decreased in silages treated with LB2 compared with untreated silages. Untreated corn silage spoiled after 25 h of exposure to air but corn silage treated with LB1 did not spoil until 35 h, and this stability was further enhanced to 503 h with LB2. In grass and small-grain silages, yeasts were nearly undetectable; however, inoculation improved aerobic stability in a dose-dependent manner (206, 226, and 245 h for LB0, LB1, and LB2, respectively). The recovery of DM after ensiling was lower for LB2 (94.5%) when compared with LB0 (95.5%) in corn silage and was lower for both LB1 (94.8%) and LB2 (95.3%) when compared with LB0 (96.6%) in grass and small-grain silages.

Acetic Acid↗

PubMed1990

Effects of dry matter concentration and ammonia treatment of alfalfa silage on digestion and metabolism by heifers.

Alfalfa was harvested as second-cutting regrowth herbage, ensiled either at low DM (direct-cut) or high DM (wilted), untreated or treated with .82 or .66% anhydrous NH3 (percentage of DM), respectively, and offered to four Holstein heifers. Silages low in DM had more gross energy and more NDF in DM than silages high in DM. Ammonia treatment increased total, soluble, rumen-insoluble, and NH3 N fractions in treated silages compared with those fractions in untreated silages. Ammonia treatment of low DM silage reduced digestible energy intake but increased intake of high DM silage. Digestibility of DM was lower by heifers fed low than high DM silages, but hemicellulose digestibility was higher. Tissue N retention was lower by heifers fed low than high DM silage. Dry matter and cell solubles digestibilities decreased for NH3-treated silages compared with digestibilities for untreated silages. Digested DM contained more digested NDF and cellulose for NH3-treated silages compared with untreated silages. Retained N was higher for heifers fed NH3-treated alfalfa than untreated alfalfa, particularly for the low DM silages. Wilting alfalfa was more effective in improving nutrient use by heifers than treatment with NH3, which improved preservation of plant protein through ensiling.

Ammonia↗

PubMed1999

Effect of feeding silages from corn hybrids selected for leafiness or grain to lactating dairy cattle.

Three corn hybrids were harvested as silage and fed to lactating dairy cows to determine performance and digestibility differences between hybrids. Corn hybrids were a grain type, a generic blend, and a leafy type. Starch content of the grain, blend, and leafy silage hybrids was 26.1, 23.8, and 23.5%, respectively. In vitro digestible dry matter of the leafy hybrid silage (69.2%) was higher than the grain (66.8%) or blend (66.7%) hybrid silage. Sixty-two Holstein cows (39 primiparous and 23 multiparous) were fed diets containing (dry matter basis) 40.6% of one of the corn silages, 10.2% alfalfa haylage, 23.5% corn grain, 7.4% whole-fuzzy cotton-seed, 13.8% protein concentrate, and 4.5% vitamin and mineral mix. Cows were assigned to their silage treatment diet 3 d after parturition and remained on the diet until wk 22 of lactation. Dry matter intake, milk yield, and milk components did not differ for cows fed the grain, leafy, or generic blend silage diets for either parity group. Digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, and neutral detergent fiber, and rate of passage were not different across the silage diets for either parity. Multiparous cows receiving the blend silage diet lost more weight throughout the 22-wk study than did cows on the leafy or grain silage diets. Primiparous cows receiving the blend silage diet spent more time eating than cows on either the grain or leafy silage diet. Time spent chewing did not differ among hybrids. Corn hybrid at 40% of dietary dry matter as silage did not have a major impact on dairy cattle performance in this trial.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

PubMed1998

Influence of lactobacillus spp. from An inoculant and of weissella and leuconostoc spp. from forage crops on silage fermentation

Lactobacillus spp. from an inoculant and Weissella and Leuconostoc spp. from forage crops were characterized, and their influence on silage fermentation was studied. Forty-two lactic acid-producing cocci were obtained from forage crops and grasses. All isolates were gram-positive, catalase-negative cocci that produced gas from glucose, and produced more than 90% of their lactate in the D-isomer form. These isolates were divided into groups A and B by sugar fermentation patterns. Two representative strains from the two groups, FG 5 and FG 13, were assigned to the species Weissella paramesenteroides and Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides, respectively, on the basis of DNA-DNA relatedness. Strains FG 5, FG 13, and SL 1 (Lactobacillus casei), isolated from a commercial inoculant, were used as additives to alfalfa and Italian ryegrass silage preparations. Lactic acid bacterium counts were higher in all additive-treated silages than in the control silage at an early stage of ensiling. During silage fermentation, inoculation with SL 1 more effectively inhibited the growth of aerobic bacteria and clostridia than inoculation with strain FG 5 or FG 13. SL 1-treated silages stored well. However, the control and FG 5- and FG 13-treated silages had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher pH and butyric acid and ammonia nitrogen contents and significantly (P < 0. 05) lower lactate content than SL 1-treated silage. Compared with the control silage, SL 1 treatments reduced the proportion of D-(-)-lactic acid, gas production, and dry matter loss in two kinds of silage, but the FG 5 and FG 13 treatments gave similar values in alfalfa silages and higher values (P < 0.05) in Italian ryegrass silage. The results confirmed that heterofermentative strains of W. paramesenteroides FG 5 and L. pseudomesenteroides FG 13 did not improve silage quality and may cause some fermentation loss.

Journal Article↗