Effect of a propionic acid bacterial inoculant on fermentation and aerobic stability of whole-plant corn silage

摘要

The effects of a strain of Propionibacteriumshermanii, applied with and without lactic acidbacteria (LAB), on the fermentation and aerobicstability of whole-plant corn silage wasdetermined using laboratory-scale silos. Theaddition of LAB increased the rate offermentation, and all inoculated silages underwenta more efficient ensiling process thancontrol silage. Only silages made with P.shermanii had measurable levels of propionicacid in the 90-day silages. Corn silages madewith P. shermanii were more stable whenexposed to air than control or LAB-inoculatedsilages.