Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-1983

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Animal Science

Major Professor

K. M. Barth

Committee Members

J. B. McLaen, M. J. Montgomery

Abstract

Objectives of this research were to study the effect of microbial and chemical fermentation aids during the fermentation process in experimental silos and during aerobic deterioration in feed bunks of corn silage. Specific parameters studied were: lactic acid and other volatile fatty acids, dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent solubles, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber-nitrogen, pH, and temperature at various sampling times. The four experimental corn silage treatments were: (1) an un-treated control silage; (2) treated with Silabac, a live Lactobacillus plantarum and acidophilus preparation; (3) treated with Culbac, a killed Lactobacillus preparation; and (4) treated with Crop Cure, sodium diacetate. Chopped whole corn plants (28.8% dry matter), treated or untreated, were placed in 205 liter (55 gallon) steel drums lined with polyethylene bags. During the ensiling period, silage samples were collected on days, 0, 1, 3, 6, 18, 27, and 36 and temperatures of the ensiling mass were recorded continuously during this period. On day 36 of the ensiling period, silages were placed in open bunks to study changes during aerobic deterioration. Samples were taken at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 hours and temperatures were also recorded during the period. All samples taken during the ensiling process were analyzed for volatile fatty acids and other nutrients, and pH. Silage samples taken during aerobic deterioration were analyzed for pH and various nutrients. Lactic acid production was higher in all treated silages when compared to the control silage on all sampling days, but was significantly higher (P<.05) on days 3 and 27 during the ensiling period. There were no significant differences (P>.05) in acetic, propionic, and isobutyric acids due to treatment. However, acetic acid concentration of the Culbac and Crop Cure treated silage was higher than the control and Si 1 abac treated silage at the end of the ensiling period. Final pH of all treatments during the ensiling period was below 4.0 and was not significantly different (P>.05) due to treatment. Changes in dry matter, crude protein, and neutral deter-gent solubles during the ensiling period were not significantly different (P>.G5) due to fermentation aids. There were no significant differences (P>.Q5) in neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber-nitrogen due to treatment. Temperatures recorded during the ensiling period were similar for all treatments and were not significantly different {P>.05) due to treatment. Temperature in the control silage changed from 24.4 C at the beginning of the ensiling period to 30.1 C by the third day to 20.2 C at the end of the study (44 days). During aerobic deterioration, the pH of treated and un-treated corn silage were similar, except at hour 48 when the pH of the Crop Cure treated corn silage was significantly higher (P<.05) than that of all other silages. The pH of the control changed from 3.82 at the beginning of aerobic deterioration to 6.36 by the end of the study (60 hours). There were no significant differences (P>.05) in dry matter content and neutral detergent solu-bles due to treatment during aerobic deterioration. Crude protein on a percent dry matter basis was significantly lower (P<.05) in the Culbac and Crop Cure treated corn silage compared to the control and silabac treated corn silage at 24 hours during aerobic deterioration. However, at 36 hours the crude protein content of the Crop Cure and Silabac treated corn silage was significantly lower (P<.05) than the control and Culbac treated corn silage. There were no significant differences (P>.05) in neutral deter-gent fiber and acid detergent fiber-nitrogen due to treatment. In all silages, acid detergent fiber-nitrogen increased during aerobic deterioration by approximately 30%. Temperatures recorded during aerobic deterioration were not significantly different (P>.05) due to treatment. The temperature of the control silage increased from 20.6 C at the beginning of aerobic deterioration to 39.2 C at the end of the study (60 hours).

Download
Files over 3MB may be slow to open. For best results, right-click and select "save as..."

Share

COinS