Rehydration of dry corn grain as an alternative for conservation purposes

Abstract

Glycerol, the main constituent of crude glycerin, has high energy efficiency and may provide energy to microorganisms in silage. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of including crude glycerin (CG) and a bacterial inoculant on the chemical composition, losses, fermentation profile, microbial population and aerobic stability of rehydrated corn grain silage. The dry corn grain (800 g kg-1 dry matter (DM)) was milled to 5 mm and rehydrated with water and glycerin to achieve 32.5% moisture content. Crude glycerin was added at 0, 75, 150 and 225 g kg-1 (natural matter (NM)), with or without bacterial inoculant. The experiment was randomized, and included three replicates in a factorial scheme, with or without bacterial inoculant, four crude glycerin levels and five fermentation periods. CG inclusion in silage decreased the nitrogenous and fibrous fractions, gas losses, DM recovery, and microbial growth. However, CG addition increased effluent and total DM losses. Treatment with 0 and 75 g kg-1 CG (NM) resulted in lower pH (4.6; 4.28) at 64 days of fermentation. Silage without CG remained stable to oxygen after 12 days. The bacterial inoculant did not influence the variables analyzed. We conclude that CG inclusion, bacterial inoculant or a combination of these additives is not recommended for this type of material. Nevertheless, rehydration with water (125 g kg-1 DM) is an alternative for storage of corn grain silage through the ensiling process.

Effect of rehydration with whey and inoculation with Lactobacillus plantarum and Propionibacterium acidipropionici on the chemical composition, microbiological dynamics, and fermentative losses of corn grain silage

“…The increase in the concentration of acids, mainly acetic and propionic acids, favors the beginning of the pH reduction inside the silo and directly influences the population dynamics of bacteria. Given this, homofermentative bacteria can emerge, which are more efficient in the production of lactic acid, promoting a faster drop in pH and ensuring favorable conditions for the conservation of the ensiled mass (Mombach, Pereira, Santos Pina, Pereira, & Bolson, 2018). In this way, Lactobacillus plantarum is characterized as an optional heterofermentative bacterial species with efficient lactic acid production, providing a reduction in pH.…”

Effect of cactus pear mucilage as a moistening additive for corn grain silage

“…Another additive often associated with low-protein silages, such as the corn grain silage, is urea, because it improves the protein value of the feed, besides acting effectively in moist silages ensuring the supply of substrate for the microorganisms throughout the storage process, minimizing fermentative losses, and increasing the aerobic stability (Zambom et al, 2014;Mombach et al, 2018). Thus, facing the need to produce better quality feed and reduce losses, it was hypothesized that corn grain silage moistening with cactus pear mucilage, combined with commercial urea, may be a viable strategy, as they are low-cost additives, easy to access and handle, and can conserve the material and improve quality by reducing losses and increasing the protein content and energy constituents of the silage.…”