Microbiology of Ensiling

Alternatives need to be addressed for reducing losses in elephant grass (EG; Pennisetum purpureum) silages. Furthermore, smallholders lack information on the nutritional aspects of dairy farms. The aim of this study was to evaluate total mixed ration silage (TMR) combining fresh EG and concentrate ingredients, creating the following treatments: (i) EG silage (control); (ii) EG, corn and soya bean meal; (iii) EG, corn, soya bean meal and molasses; (iv) EG, citrus pulp and soya bean meal; and (v) EG, citrus pulp, soya bean meal and molasses. Five replicates of each treatment were ensiled in 15‐L plastic jars. The fermentation profile, chemical composition, microbial counts and aerobic stability were assessed. Three contrasts were tested, as follows: (i) control vs. TMR; (ii) TMR with corn vs. TMR with citrus pulp; and (iii) TMR with molasses vs. TMR without molasses. Variables were analysed through the PROC MIXED procedure of the SAS at the 5% level. The TMR had better fermentation profile, lower effluent production and longer aerobic stability compared to control. When the effect of corn was compared to citrus pulp among the TMR, silages with citrus pulp showed lower fermentation losses, non‐protein nitrogen and effluent production. The aerobic stability also improved with citrus pulp. Molasses did not affect the fermentation profile. Overall, lactic acid was the primary acid in all TMR. Nitrogen source (e.g., soya bean meal) can be used without compromising the fermentation process. TMR with citrus pulp showed better results than corn. TMR may be an alternative to optimize the use of EG on smallholdings.

Section: Tmr With Molasses Vs Tmr Without Molassesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Total mixed ration silage containing elephant grass for small‐scale dairy farms

Gusmão

Danes

Casagrande

et al. 2018

“…However, according to Spoelstra, Courtin, and Van Beers (1988), aerobic bacteria can occasionally damage maize silages. It is possible that tropical-grass silages do not heat up, for the following reasons: (i) during their metabolism, aerobic bacteria do not produce heat as efficiently as yeasts and fungi (Pahlow, Muck, & Driehuis, 2003) and (ii) higher water content requires more energy for heating. TOMAZ ET AL.…”

Section: Aerobic Stabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of sward height on the fermentability coefficient and chemical composition of Guinea grass silage

Tomaz

Araújo

Sanches

et al. 2018

There is a high correlation between sward height and pasture sward structure. Therefore, in tropical grasslands, taking sward height into account has been a much better strategy in rotational stocking management than considering pre‐defined days of growth. Similarly, sward height could be used to determine the moment when tropical grasses present the best ensilability parameters. This study aimed to identify the sward height at which Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça (Guinea grass) provides the highest fermentability coefficient (FC) and to define the combination of additives that best improves the chemical composition of silage. Two trials were carried out in Selvíria, MS, Brazil, from 2015 to 2016. The first year was used to identify the highest FC, and the second year was used to identify the best combination of eight additives (citrus pulp [CIP], homofermentative and heterofermentative LAB, their combinations and control). Statistical analyses were performed using SAS (p < .05), and one contrast was defined as silage with CIP vs. silage without CIP. The height of 130 cm resulted in the highest FC (31.01). Silages inoculated with CIP had better quality than silages without CIP, due to the high crude protein (8.3 vs. 7.3% DM), DM recovery (98.6 vs. 93.3% DM), low pH (3.92 vs. 4.91) and NH3‐N values (2.49 vs. 14.73% total N). Sward height is a consistent parameter for determining the time of ensiling Guinea grass, and the inclusion of CIP is necessary to raise the silage quality.

“…Li and Ma (2014) reported that the stimulating effect of Mg increases with the increment of its concentration from 192 to 480 lg/ml, so Mg must have played an important role in the growth of LAB during the early stage of ensiling. In addition, Mn also can increase the growth rate of LAB because it plays a role in detoxifying peroxides (Pahlow, Muck, Driehuis, Oude Elferink, & Spoelstra, 2003). However, Haag et al (2015) reported that maize silage ensiled with MnSO 4 (1 and 3 lg/g FM) had a low production of lactic acid in the first days, which was attributed to the fact that higher concentration of Mn can be toxic to LAB.…”

Section: Fermentation Profile and Chemical Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of maize meal and limestone on the fermentation profile and aerobic stability of smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss) silage

Niu

Zheng

Zuo

et al. 2018

Chemical‐compositional characteristics of crops are crucial factors affecting the fermentation profile and aerobic stability of silages. To evaluate the effects of starch content and buffering capacity, fresh smooth bromegrass was ensiled alone (control), with 9% maize meal (MM), or with a mixture of 9% maize meal and 1.5% limestone (MX) on a fresh matter basis in sealed plastic bags. After 1, 3, 14 and 56 days of ensiling, triplicate bags of each treatment were opened for chemical and microorganism analyses, and then the samples ensiled for 56 days were placed in polyethylene containers to evaluate their aerobic stability. During the early days of ensiling, the mixtures of maize meal and limestone favoured lactic acid bacteria growth, lactic acid production and decrease in pH values. After 56 days of ensiling, the MX‐treated silages had significantly higher (p < .05) lactic acid, ammonia‐N and buffering capacity compared with the silages treated with other additives. The aerobic stability of MM‐treated silages was significantly lower (p < .05) than that of the control silages, but the MX‐treated silages showed higher (p < .05) aerobic stability than the other groups. The changes of organic acids and pH in the MX‐treated silages were also delayed, which inhibited the growth of aerobic bacteria and yeasts. These results indicate that maize meal improved the fermentation profile of smooth bromegrass silage but had a negative effect on its aerobic stability; however, limestone played important roles in both accelerating fermentation and the improvement of aerobic stability.