Abstract #82

# 82
The effects of a silage inoculant on aerobic stability and quality of grass/legume mixture fermented for 8 days and the impact on total mixed ration stability.
G. Copani*1, K. Witt1, I. Eisner1, V. Vrotniakiene2, J. Jatkauskas2, 1Chr. Hansen Animal Health & Nutrition, Hørsholm, Denmark, 2Institute of Animal Science of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Baisogala, Lithuania.

Sometimes, due to feed shortage, farmers need to open the silage bunker early. Silages are mixed with other feeds and formulated into a total mixed ration (TMR) satisfying the animal’s requirement. The aerobic stability (AS) of the silages will impact the quality of the TMR ration and subsequently the animal performance. Silage inoculants can be used for enhancing hygiene and AS of the silages. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a silage inoculant on hygiene, AS and subsequent impact on TMR stability after 8 d of silage fermentation. Wilted grass/legume mixture was ensiled into cylindrical bales (total n = 20, 500–600 kg/bale) and wrapped in 6 layers of plastic film. The Control bales (C; n = 10), with no inoculant, and the experimental bales, inoculated with SiloSolve FC (150,000 total cfu/g of forage) (FC; n = 10) containing 50:50 of Lactobacillus buchneri (DSM22501) and Lactococcus lactis (DSM11037), were stored outside for 8 d. Bales (n = 5/treatment (trt)) were tested for fermentation parameters, hygiene and AS. The AS, tracked for 8 d, was performed on unwrapped bales by monitoring the temperature increase inside the mass (until they reached +3°C above T ambient). The remaining bales (n = 5/trt) were used for TMR preparation. Three different TMRs were prepared after 1, 3, and 5 d of aerobic exposure of the bales, respectively. TMR temperature was monitored for 24 h. Data were analyzed in a randomized block design using the GLM procedure (SAS, 9.4), fixed effects of the model were trt, aerobic exposure duration and their first order interaction. Compared with C, FC treated bales reported higher acetate level (P < 0.05), lower yeast and molds (P < 0.01) and improved AS of the TMR after 3 and 5 d of aerobic exposure of the bales (P < 0.05) (no effect after 1 d), while no differences were observed on temperature of the silages before TMR preparation. These results demonstrate that use of SiloSolve FC improves silage hygiene and TMR stability after a short period of fermentation.

Key Words: aerobic stability, TMR stability, silage inoculant