Effects of Bacterial Inoculants and Cutting Height on Fermentation Quality of Barley Silage

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of bacterial inoculation (Lactobacillus plantarum) and cutting height on the chemical composition, fermentation characteristics and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) in whole crop barley silage. Barley forage (Youngyang hybrid) was harvested at about 27% of dry matter (DM) level at two different cutting height (5 vs. 15 cm). And it was chopped to 5 cm length and treated with or without L. plantarum. Four replicates of each treatment were ensiled into 10 L mini silo (3 kg) for 100 days. After 100 days, bacterial inoculation decreased (p=0.001) DM content, while increased cutting height increased (p=0.002) DM in uninoculated silage. Crude protein (CP) concentration was decreased by increasing height in uninoculated silage (8.84 vs. 8.16) but increased in inoculated silage (8.19 vs. 8.99). Both neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (p<0.011) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (p<0.004) were decreased by increasing cutting height of forage at harvest. The IVDMD and ammonia-N was increased (p=0.001) by increasing cutting height and inoculation, respectively. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was increased (p=0.002) in inoculated silage, but yeast count was decreased (p=0.026) in uninoculated silages. It is concluded that increased cutting height of forage at harvest could be useful to make a fibrous portion with increase of dry matter digestibility of silages.

Effects of hybrid and bacterial inoculation on fermentation quality and fatty acid profile of barley silage

“…The chemical compositions of the fresh barley forages and of silages ensiled for 100 days are similar to those reported in previous studies using the same hybrids (Lee et al 2014;Kim et al 2015). Park et al (2008) reported higher concentrations of DM and CP in their fresh forages relative to those of the hybrids in this study, presumably reflecting differences in soil type, fertilization and maturity at harvest.…”

“…The chemical compositions of the fresh barley forages and of silages ensiled for 100 days are similar to those reported in previous studies using the same hybrids (Lee et al . ; Kim et al . ).…”

Effect of Fermented Concentrate on Ruminal Fermentation, Ruminal and Fecal Microbiome, and Growth Performance of Beef Cattle

“…The pH was significantly lower in the TRT group than that in the CON diet (p < 0.05). This finding is consistent with results of previous studies reporting that the addition of the homofermentative LAB lowers the pH during silage fermentation [35,36]. pH and acetic acid levels are used as indicators to confirm fermentation stability in fermented feeds [37].…”