Abstract

RUIZ, B.O. et al. Enzyme and inoculant effects on corn silage composition. Arch. zootec. [online]. 2009, vol.58, n.222, pp.163-172. ISSN 1885-4494.

Treating silages with fibrolytic enzymes and bacterial inoculants has been shown to improve digestibility, fermentation and aerobic stability of a variety of forages. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of three additives on chemical composition and fermentation characteristics of silage from seven different hybrids: DK641™, Eagle 238W™, Golden Harvest EX313™, Golden Harvest H9403™, Pioneer 32R25™, Pioneer 31G98™, and Producers 725™. Corn plants were planted in experimental plots (1 ha each) in Chihuahua, Mexico and harvested at stage of maturity of 1/3 of milkline. Whole corn plants were cut and subsamples were chopped and ensiled in mini silos (1.3±0.1 kg) for 42 d. Treatments were control: CT: 20 ml distilled water; SA: 0.0065 g Sill All™ 4x4 (L. plantarum, P. acidilactii, E. faecium, and B. salivarus); BS: 0.182 g Bio-sile™ (L. plantarum and P. pentosaceus) and FB: 0.31 g Fibrozyme™ (xylanases and T. viride). Silage samples were analyzed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose (CE), hemicellulose (HE), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), pH and lactic acid (LA). Inoculation with SA and BS increased content of NDF of silage of hybrids 31G98 and DK641 (p<0.05). Addition of SA increased CP of silages from H9403, 238W and EX313 (p<0.05). However, FB decreased NDF concentration of 31G98, H9403 and 238W, lowered pH of DK641 and EX313 and increased concentration of LA content of EX313 and increased concentration of LA content of EX313 (p<0.05). No effect on DM and OM digestibility was observed for FB, but when BS and SA were added a significant difference (p<0.05) was observed for the hybrids DK641, 32R25 and Producers 725. These show that when applied at ensiling certain inoculants and fibrolytic enzymes can improve various chemical characteristics of corn silage, however, effects vary depending of the particular corn hybrid.

Keywords : Additives; In vitro digestibility.

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