T h e effect of applying commercial lactic acid bacteria inoculants at ensiling on the aerobic stability of silages was studied under laboratory conditions. T h e silages used were wheat, hedysarum, corn and various sorghum cultivars at various stages of maturity. T h r e e inoculants were used, two containing Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium and Pediococcus acidilactici (HIM F, Medipharm, USA and SiI-All, Alltech, U K ) and one containing Ent. faecium (Lacticil, M74, Medipharm, Sweden). T h e inoculants were applied a t 0.5 x lo6 cfu g-'. Silages with no additives served as controls. After treatment, the chopped forages were ensiled in 1.5 1 anaerobic jars; there were six jars per treatment. After ensiling for 45 d, the silages were tested for aerobic stability in a test in which CO, production was measured along with chemical and microbiological parameters.T h e inoculated silages that spoiled upon aerobic exposure faster than the controls were those of wheat and of the sorghum cultivar FS5 at the milk stage of maturity. This was evident from intensive CO, production and development of yeasts and moulds. Regression analysis indicated that aerobic deterioration of inoculated silages was associated with high levels of residual water-soluble carbohydrates and lactic acid and lack of volatile fatty acids. Aerobic spoilage of inoculated silages was attributed mainly to yeast activity.

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Aims: The purpose of this work was to study the effect of temperature on the ensiling process and aerobic stability of corn and wheat silages. Methods and Results: The crops were ensiled in 1á5 l anaerobic jars, with and without an inoculant, at room or elevated temperatures (37±41°C). After two months of ensiling, the silages were subjected to an aerobic stability test at room and elevated (33°C) temperature. The results indicate that ensiling at elevated temperatures resulted in higher pH values, less lactic acid and higher losses. The silages which were stored at elevated temperatures were more susceptible to aerobic spoilage than those stored at room temperature, especially when the test was performed at elevated temperature. Conclusions: High temperatures are detrimental to both the ensiling process and the aerobic stability of silages. Signi®cance and Impact of the Study: The ®ndings of the current study suggest that in a warm climate, special care should be taken during silage making and storage in order to avoid heating as much as possible. In addition, in a warm climate, silages are more susceptible to aerobic deterioration and therefore, special care should be taken during unloading.

The effect of applying Lactobacillus buchneri, alone or in combination with Lactobacillus plantarum, at ensiling, on the aerobic stability of wheat and corn silages was studied in 50-l plastic containers. Treatments comprised control (no additives), L. plantarum, L. buchneri and a combination of L. plantarum+L. buchneri. After 3 months of storage, the wheat silages treated with L. buchneri had higher acetic acid contents than the control or L. plantarum-treated silages, and were free of mold, whereas the top layers of the control or L. plantarum-treated silages were moldy. In an aerobic stability test the L. buchneri-treated silages were stable, whereas those treated with L. plantarum deteriorated. In the corn silages the effects of L. buchneri were not as clear and the top layer was moldy in all silages. However, L. buchneri also improved the aerobic stability of the corn silage, as indicated by lower yeast numbers, less CO(2) production and stable pH. It is concluded that L. buchneri has a potential as a silage additive that protects the silage upon aerobic exposure. The 50-l plastic containers can serve as an appropriate model to test silage additives before conducting full-scale farm experiments.