Particle size, bacterial inoculation and storage length of corn silage

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of fineness of grind and bacterial inoculation on fermentation profile, microbial counts, aerobic stability, N fractions, and starch digestibility of high-moisture corn. Experiment will consist of 24 treatments with 4 replicates per treatment (total of 96 mini-silos). Treatments will be a combination of 2 fineness of grind (finely- and coarsely-ground), and 3 microbial inoculants (distilled water, homofermentative and heterofermentative microbial inoculants), and 4 fermentation lengths (7, 15, 30 and 120 d). Furthermore, a 0 d treatment will be prepared for analysis of N fractions and starch digestibility (in situ). Treatments will be ensiled in vacuum sealed plastic pouches containing 2 kg of forage. Silos will be weighed at closing and opening to estimate DM loss. After silo opening, subsamples will be used to determine dry matter concentration, pH, organic acids, alcohols, ammonia-N, mold and yeast counts, aerobic stability, CP, soluble CP, starch, and starch digestibility. Fresh samples for each particle size will be analyzed in duplicate for characterization. (AU)