Effects of a Bacterial Silage Inoculant on Corn Silage Fermentation and Nutrient Digestibility

Abstract

Two type silage were prepared, the control had no additives and the other silage with a bacterial inoculant (BONSILAGE(R). Both of them were stored in 100 kg capacity plastic containers for two months and silage pH, organic acids and nutrient digestibility were investigated. In control and inoculated silage pH were 3.90 and 3.63 (P < 0.05), amount of lactic acid 16.75 and 22.45 9 kg(-1) DM (P < 0.05), acetic acid 49.48 and 51.65 g kg(-1) DM, and butyric acid 7.12 and 5.44 g kg(-1) DM (P < 0.05), respectively. Eight Morkaraman sheeps, 2 years old, were used to determine nutrient digestibility of corn silages. In control and inoculated silages, the degrees of digestibility of DM were 59.73, 68.53%, OM 64.10, 66.95%, CP 48.39, 50.30%, NDF 63.35, 66.11%, and ADF 55.33, 59.35%. In conclusion, corn silage fermentation and digestibility of DM and NDF were increased (P < 0.05) by the bacterial inoculation (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.