In two experiments, we studied the characteristics of ensiling and aerobic stability of triticale (x Triticosecale spp.) ensiled with or without a homolactic bacterial inoculant (HBI). The first experiment used 60 vacuum-sealed 0.946 L glass jar mini-silos (GJ) to determine the effect of ensiling on pH, dry matter recovery (DMR) and temperature. Three GJ per treatment were opened on d 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14, 30, 105 and 123 of fermentation. Across all lengths of fermentation, inoculation decreased (P<0.05) average silage pH and temperature upon opening the mini-silos but did not influence (P>0.05) DMR versus the Non-HBI silage. Both silages had a similar (P>0.05) pH at the end of 123 d of fermentation. The second experiment compared the nutritional and fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability of triticale ensiled with or without HBI for 123 d in either 3L PVC mini-silos packed manually (PVC) or vacuum-sealed GJ. There was little difference (P>0.05) in silage nutrient content using PVC or GJ mini-silos, nor did inoculation affect these variables. Ensiling triticale decreased (P<0.05) its 30 h neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility, the lowest value being that of Non-HBI/ PVC silage, which differed (P<0.05) from the HBI/PVC silage, but these did not differ (P>0.05) from the GJ silages. Differences among silages were not found (P>0.05) in NDF at 240 h (uNDF240), total tract NDF digestion (TTNDFD) and rate of NDF digestion (NDFkd). Triticale ensiled well in GJ, however the amount of material ensiled may have been too small to detect differences due to inoculation.
Fresh whole plant spring triticale (x Triticosecale spp.) was field wilted and chopped prior to either being sprayed or not with a homolactic bacterial inoculant (HBI). Wilted triticale was ensiled for 120 d at 20 to 23 °C using 16 PVC mini-silos of 3 L capacity fitted with two-way mechanics to vent gas (which imposed aerobic stress (ASTS) when it remained open), and filled with about 2 kg of the crop containing 35% dry matter (DM) and 5.2% water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) in the DM. Four treatments of a 2x2 factorial were: 1) No HBI/vent closed; 2) HBI/ vent closed; 3) No HBI/vent open; 4) HBI/vent open. Upon opening the mini-silos, chemical composition, fermentation characteristics and in vitro 30 h neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility of the silages were determined. Relative to pre-ensiled forage, either sprayed or not with HBI, ensiling increased (P<0.05) contents of moisture, inorganic matter, fibrous fractions (acid detergent fiber (ADF) and lignin), and ether extract (EE), while decreasing contents of WSC and non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC). However, treatment had no consistent effect on content of silage nutrients. Of the two non-inoculated silages, the one subjected to ASTS was more than 20 percentage points lower (66 vs. 88 %) in DM recovery (DMR), whereas the HBI silage subjected to ASTS was protected from DM losses. Ensiling and ASTS during the 120 d fermentation decreased NDF digestibility, whereas inoculated non-ASTS silage was nearly as digestible (57.5) as the pre-ensiled forages (58.2 and 60.7%, without and with HBI). Inoculation tended to steer fermentation in a homolactic direction. On balance, HBI is recommended because of the benefits in the fermentation pattern, fiber digestibility and DMR, especially in the presence of ASTS.
Triticale (x Triticosecale spp.) silage initially inoculated or not with homolactic bacteria (HBI) was stored in 3 L capacity PVC mini-silos for 120 d. After opening four mini-silos per treatment, silages were mixed and exposed to air (AE) for 5 h. Then half of the non-inoculated silage and half of the inoculated silage were re-treated with a water soluble HBI or water, thus resulting in four combinations of experimental treatments (initial ensiling/re-ensiling): 1) noninoculated/ non-inoculated (N/N); 2) non-inoculated/HBI (N/HBI); 3) HBI/noninoculated (HBI/N); 4) inoculated/inoculated (HBI/HBI). Silages were re-ensiled for 120 d at a temperature of 20 to 23° C using four vacuum sealed, 0.946 L capacity glass mini-silos per treatment. Upon opening the mini-silos, silages were sampled and analyzed for nutritional and fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability (AS). Inoculation at the initial ensiling (treatments HBI/N and HBI/HBI) was key in preserving the protein fraction and improving fiber digestibility, while decreasing the pH and contents of fiber fractions, NH3-N and ethanol. The resulting silages were all aerobically stable and there were no differences among treatments. The benefits of inoculating at the initial ensiling carried through re-ensiling. Inoculation at re-ensiling was neither beneficial nor detrimental to any of the characteristics evaluated.
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