Evaluation of two biodegradable coatings on corn silage quality

Abstract

This experiment was performed to assess two different biodegradable coating formulations for the preservation of corn silage quality. Soy-and casein-based biodegradable coatings were evaluated for their ability to exclude oxygen and preserve corn silage. Experiments were conducted under natural conditions outdoors. The effect of the coating composition on silage quality was compared with the quality of silage covered with a plastic (0.15 mm) (positive control) and uncovered (negative control) after 4 and 8 week periods. The results showed that the two biodegradable coatings offered the same level of silage protection during the overall experiment (8 weeks). As compared with the negative control, the two formulations prevented deterioration associated with air infiltration (heating, mold growth and dry matter losses) and limited the decrease in nutritive value. Also, the pH of the coated silage was significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) than the negative control after 4 weeks of storage. Silage coated with the biodegradable coatings was able to maintain the pH below 4.5 during the first 4 weeks of storage. The decline in lactic acid concentration seems to have been initiated by the lactate-utilizing yeasts, responsible for the increase in the silage pH. No visual growth of mold was observed in silage sealed with biodegradable coatings. This study showed that biodegradable coatings were able to protect the quality of silage during 4 weeks but the biodegradable coatings were not as good as plastic at preserving silage after 8 weeks of storage.

Productivity, milk composition and milk quality of cows fed maize silage covered with oxobiodegradable film

“…Similar relationships were reported by Denoncourt et al (2006), who covered ensiled maize with biodegradable film based on soy protein, calcium caseinate, carboxymethylcellulose, zein and palmitic acid.…”

“…However, the management of worn-out polyethylene films is a problem. Alarmingly, worn-out silage wrap is going to illegal dumping sites, being buried or burned, while the released components of polymer plastics are a serious environmental threat (Rymarz and Klecan, 2001;Majdiuk, 2002;Rutkowska et al, 2002;Denoncourt et al, 2004aDenoncourt et al, , 2004bŚwiątkowski and Walczak, 2004;Borreani and Tabacco, 2005;Laffin et al, 2005;Denoncourt et al, 2006Denoncourt et al, , 2007Borreani et al, 2014;Borreani and Tabacco, 2015). One alternative to standard coating is biodegradable film produced on the basis of natural origin polymers (chitosan, cellulose, starch, soy or whey protein, and others) or synthetic macromolecular compounds that provide food for microorganisms.…”

“…One alternative to standard coating is biodegradable film produced on the basis of natural origin polymers (chitosan, cellulose, starch, soy or whey protein, and others) or synthetic macromolecular compounds that provide food for microorganisms. The use of biodegradable materials for silage making is conditional on efficient protection of ensiled material from oxygen and on maintaining the high nutritive value of the feeds at feeding (Świątkowski and Walczak, 2004;Denoncourt et al, 2004aDenoncourt et al, , 2004bDenoncourt et al, , 2006Denoncourt et al, , 2007.…”

Health status of cows fed maize silage covered with oxo-biodegradable foil

“…The incineration of the foil causes release of toxic polymeric components (dioxins, furans, phosgene), which poses a serious threat to living organisms (Rymarz and Klecan, 2001;Majdiuk, 2002;Rutkowska et al, 2002;Denoncourt et al, 2006Denoncourt et al, , 2007Gach et al, 2010). Gach et al (2010) report that in Poland, the foil wrapping used in silage production is poorly handled in excess of 70% cases after being used, therefore its components should not be substances harmful to the environment.…”

“…Polymers used in the production of biodegradable films are obtained by natural means (chitosan, cellulose, starch, soy or whey protein and others), biotechnological synthesis of macromolecular weight compounds (MMWCs) or by the manufacture of products containing biodegradable fillers or modifiers (natural polymers), possessing their own biodegradability capabilities (Majdiuk, 2002). However, the basic conditions to be met when using biodegradable materials for covering the raw material for the purposed of producing silage, is the effective protection against air (oxygen), maintaining high feed quality during feeding and producing silage that is safe for animal health (Denoncourt et al, 2006(Denoncourt et al, , 2007Gach et al, 2010). The results of the study carried out by Grabowicz et al (2015) showed that the modified, low-density, polyethylene (oxo-biodegradable) foil, similarly to standard foil, protected maize from air access during fermentation and after opening of the tank, and the time of oxo-biodegradation was adjusted to the rate of silage removal from the silo.…”