Effects of inoculation with homolactic bacteria on losses and quality of wheat silage in different layers in bunker-silo

摘要

This aim of this study was to determine the effects of a homolactic inoculant containing Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici (IxlO5 chi g"1 FM) on the fermentative osses and chemical composition of wheat silages across different layers of large-scale bunker silos. Whole crop wheat (40% of dry matter (DM)) was harvested at soft dough stage and packed into two bunker silos (30 t per silo). At ensiling, two treatments (control vs inoculant) and 3 silo layers (bottom= 0 to 40 cm vs middle= 40 to 80 cm vs top= 80 to 120 cm layer) were factorially arranged, with 12 replicates per layer. Chemical composition was determined by standard wet chemistry methods, whereas silage density was measured with a 5 cm diameter corer. Dry matter loss during storage was measured using tracer bags containing 1.5 kg of fresh chopped forage. As expected, silage located at the upper layer had lower DM density and higher DM loss. On the other hand, the homolactic inoculant decreased silage pH and DM loss in all silo layers. Inoculated silage had lower concentrations of ash, crude protein and ether extract compared with the control silage. Poorer preservation in the top layer reflected in lower in vitro DM digestibility. In conclusion, the homolactic inoculant reduced the DM loss during anaerobic storage of wheat silage.