<b>Corn grain processing improves chemical composition and fermentative profile of rehydrated silage

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of the rehydration and ensiling of corn grain with two geometric mean diameters (GMD) of 0.55 and 1.83 mm obtained by the diameter of the sieved used on the fermentation characteristics and chemical composition of the silage. The experimental design was completely randomized with two treatments and six replications, as follows: rehydrated fine-corn grain silage (RFS) and rehydrated coarse-corn grain silage (RCS). Ground corn was rehydrated with water to achieve moisture levels close to 350 g kg-1. There was no effect on the dry matter recovery, though the recovery rate was high, with values greater than 97% in both silages. The particle size influenced the fiber content, with lower values in the RFS. The acetic and lactic acid concentrations were higher in the RFS, but the pH of the silages did not change. Oxygen exposure changed the pH of silages to 4.25 and 4.38 for RFS and RCS, respectively. After opening the silos, the silages showed high aerobic stability after 90 hours, which resulted in lower deterioration and lesser loss of quality. The geometric mean diameter of corn grain affects the silage fermentative profile and nutritional value.

Effect of cactus pear as a moistening additive in the production of rehydrated corn grain silage

“…Da Silva et al (2018aSilva et al ( , 2018b, Rezende et al (2014) and Silva et al (2016) observed in their water-rehydrated corn silages (without additive) a shorter AS time than those observed in the current study. Therefore, the results of the current study suggest that corn grain silages rehydrated with cactus pear are more stable when exposed to air compared to corn grain silages rehydrated with water, very likely due to heterolactic fermentation, which has been widely reported in the literature for silages containing cactus pear (Pereira et al, 2020;Sá et al, 2020;Santos et al, 2020).…”

“…Therefore, these silages need a longer storage time in the silo to ensure an adequate fermentative process (Carvalho et al, 2017). Carvalho et al (2017); Da Silva et al (2018a) and Da observed the same problems mentioned above in their research. Thus, it is necessary to seek alternatives that improve not only the fermentative characteristics, but also the AS of these silages.…”

“…(2011) during the corn grain ensiling process, proteolysis occurs, which results in the degradation of the protein matrix that surrounds the starch granules, explaining the increase in rumen degradability. Therefore, the use of cactus pear as a corn grain moistening additive, intensifies the grain fermentative process when compared to the results found in the literature for water-rehydrated corn grain silage (Arcari et al ., 2016; Carvalho et al ., 2017; Da Silva et al ., 2018 a , 2018 b , 2019; Ávila et al ., 2019). In addition, the corn grain silage rehydrated with cactus pear presents increased degradability in the first 30 days of the fermentative process, which is important because it allows silos to be opened and the silage to be used earlier when compared to water-rehydrated corn silage.…”

“…(2017); Da Silva et al . (2018 a ) and Da Silva et al . (2019) observed the same problems mentioned above in their research.…”

Okara or soybean grain added to the rehydrated corn grain silage for cattle: digestibility, degradability and ruminal parameters

“…Thus, rehydrated corn silage has become an interesting alternative to replace ground corn, reduce production costs and improve efficiency in the use of starch. Rehydration of corn grains consists of returning the dry grain (87 -90% DM) to adequate moisture (30 -35%) for the fermentation process in the silo (Silva et al, 2018). This technique allows flexibilization of the ensiling process, and benefits producers who do not have corn harvesting equipments, area for cultivation or adequate structure for storing dry grain.…”