Abstract #T106

# T106
Effect of a homolactic inoculant alone and in combination with a heterolactic inoculant on the fermentation and aerobic stability of high-moisture corn.
M. L. Smith*1, R. M. Savage1, E. Benjamim da Silva1, S. A. Polukis1, S. J. Dietz1, K. M. Pacer1, T. P. Karnezos2, L. Kung Jr.1, 1University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 2PMI Nutritional Additives, Shoreview, MN.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a homolactic inoculant alone and in combination with a heterolactic inoculant on the fermentation and aerobic stability of high-moisture corn. Four replicate piles of high-moisture corn (68% DM) were either untreated (CON) or treated with 165,000 cfu of homolactic acid producing bacteria/g of fresh material (HI; Purina FI Enhanced) or 600,000 cfu of homo- and heterolactic acid producing bacteria/g of fresh material (HI+LB; Purina SI Buchneri) (Land O’Lakes, Inc., Arden Hills, MN) and ensiled in 7.5 L silos for 30 and 90 d. The data were analyzed as a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement with the main effects of treatment (T) and d of ensiling (D), and their interaction (T × D), using the Fit Model procedure of JMP (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) and differences were reported as significant when P ≤ 0.05 using Tukey’s test. The aerobic stability (hr; T × D; P = 0.02) of HI+LB was greater after 30 (263) and 90 (240) d of ensiling when compared with CON (40 and 54) and HI (97 and 43). After 30 and 90 d of ensiling, yeast counts (log cfu/g; T × D; P < 0.01) were lowest for HI+LB (3.14 and 1.33) when compared with CON (5.31 and 4.55), with ethanol concentration (% DM; T × D; P < 0.01) of HI+LB (0.52) being lower than CON (0.80) after 90 d of ensiling. Lactic acid concentrations after 30 and 90 d varied across treatments, ranging from 0.68 to 1.41% DM (T × D; P < 0.01). Acetic acid (T × D; P < 0.01) and 1,2-propanediol (T × D; P < 0.01) concentrations (% DM) were increased for HI+LB (0.79 and 0.60) when compared with CON (0.16 and 0.02) and HI (0.26 and 0.09). Concentration of propionic acid (% DM; P < 0.01) was greatest for HI+LB (0.23) and lower for CON (0.18) and HI (0.19). High-moisture corn inoculated with HI+LB was more aerobically stable and had fewer yeasts as early as 30 d after ensiling, with the concentration of ethanol being lower at 90 d of ensiling when compared with CON.

Key Words: aerobic stability, high-moisture corn