Physical and management factors, such as compaction and sealing, greatly influence the outcome of forage conservation. This study aimed to determine the effects of compaction, delayed sealing and aerobic exposure after ensiling on maize silage quality and on formation of volatile organic compounds. Whole‐crop maize (277 g/kg dry matter [DM]) in 120‐L plastic silos was compacted at either high or low density, and sealed immediately or with delay at 2 days or 4 days post‐filling (six replicates each). After ensiling for at least 175 days, the silages were exposed to air for 6‐day intervals and sampled at 2‐day intervals. A delay in sealing caused an increase in yeast counts and a decline of up to 65% in water‐soluble carbohydrates before ensiling. Sealing the silos after 4 days caused DM losses of up to 11%. Delayed sealing promoted the formation of ethyl esters at silo opening. A 4‐day delay in sealing resulted in the lowest aerobic stability. Aerobic exposure led to considerable changes in silage composition, a loss in feed value and, finally, spoilage. This study indicates that maize silage quality is adversely affected by low compaction, delayed sealing and aerobic exposure.
Forage choice and intake by ruminants depend on various factors. This study aimed to determine the effects of compaction, delayed sealing and aerobic exposure on forage choice and short‐term dry‐matter intake (DMI) of maize silage by goats. Whole‐crop maize (277 g/kg dry matter [DM]) in 120‐L silos was compacted at either low (194 kg DM/m3) or high (234 kg DM/m3) density, and sealed immediately at day 0 or with a delay at day 2 or day 4 post‐filling, making a total of six treatments. After ensiling for at least 175 days, silages were exposed to air for 6 days. In 2‐day intervals, silages were sampled for chemical analyses and were vacuum‐stored for use in preference trials. During the experimental phase, each possible two‐way combination of the aerobically exposed silages (days 0, 2, 4 and 6 post‐opening) of the treatments and lucerne hay was offered as free choice to goats (n = 5) for 3 hr. Exposing silages to air for >4 days post‐opening caused strong avoidance and lowest intakes. Under the conditions of the study, aerobic exposure after ensiling had a more pronounced effect on silage preference and short‐time DMI than compaction and delayed sealing. Increasing fibre fractions, a deteriorating microbial status and poor silage sensory properties, probably caused by a combination of different fermentation products, can be considered for decrease in preference.
A model for the prediction of the silage quality was tested in several large farms in northeast Germany. The model uses data and information on the fresh grass and the application of silage additives at ensiling to evaluate the “ensilability.” During clamp filling, the model analyses information on the filling performance, activity of compacting machines and hermitic covering of the clamp and evaluates the “ensiling technique.” Both “ensilability” and “ensiling technique” are assessed as “good,” “medium” or “bad” and pooled in “silage evaluation grades” 1–5. In the present model version, the predicted silage net energy lactation (NEL) and crude protein (CP) content is between 3% (for the best grade 1) and 15% (for the weakest grade 5) lower than the fresh grass NEL and CP content. In our experiments, all the grass silage production systems were characterized by “good” “ensilability” and “ensiling technique.” Under those circumstances, the experimental results indicated a closer numerical relation between fresh grass and measured silage NEL and CP content than between predicted silage and measured silage NEL and CP content. The results reveal that the model prediction calculation should be changed compared to the present version. If “ensilability” and “ensiling technique” are evaluated as “good,” the predicted silage NEL and CP content should be forecasted in a range between 0% and 3% decrease compared to fresh grass.
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