The Effects of Bacterial Inoculants on the Fermentation, Aerobic Stability and Feed Value of Rye (Secale cereale L.) Silages

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) inoculants and lactic acid bacteria+enzymes (LAB+E) inoculant on the fermentation, aerobic stability, and feed value of rye silages. Whole crop rye was harvested at dough stage. Biosil (Wuthenow, Germany), Silaprilis Pro (Timac Agro, USA) and Sil-All (Allteck, UK) were used as lactic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria+enzyme mixture inoculants. Inoculants were applied to silages at 6.00 log10 cfu/g levels. After the treatment, alfalfa was ensiled in 1.0-L special polyethylene vacuum bags. The bags were stored at 20±2°C under the laboratory conditions. Three bags from each group were sampled for chemical and microbiological analyses 2, 4, 8 and 75th days after ensiling. At the end of the ensiling period, all silages were subjected to an aerobic stability test for 5 days. In addition, in vitro dry matter, and organic matter digestibility of experiment silages were determined. The results showed that lactic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria+enzyme mixture inoculants increased characteristics of fermentation and aerobic stability of rye silages. Lactic acid bacteria+enzyme mixture inoculants decreased neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and celluloses content in the silages. Lactic acid bacteria+enzyme mixture inoculants increased in vitro dry matter digestibility, organic matter digestibility and metaboze energy of rye silages. Therefore, lactic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria+enzyme mixture inoculants might improve the fermentation properties and feed values of rye silages harvested at dough stage.