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Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances

Year: 2009 | Volume: 4 | Issue: 5 | Page No.: 219-227
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Authors

S. Arbabi

T. Ghoorchi

S. Hasani

Keywords

Research Article

The Effect of Delayed Ensiling and Application of an Organic Acid-based Additives on the Fermentation of Corn Silage

S. Arbabi, T. Ghoorchi and S. Hasani
The main objective of this study was to determine the effects of organic acid-based additives on the fermentation and delayed ensiling of corn silage. Prolonged exposure to air can adversely affect the silage fermentation process. To investigate a possible method to overcome this problem, we found that when a buffered propionic acid-based additive, is applied to chopped, whole-plant corn exposed to air before ensiling, it will affect the subsequent fermentation. Chopped whole plant corn mixed with 4 different additives consist of propionic acid in addition to control treatment without any additive. Additives were: (1) propionic acid, (2) propionic acid (85%)+formic acid (15%), (3) calcium propionate and (4) propionic acid (80%)+formic acid (15%)+ammonia (5%). The 10 g kg–1 dry matter of each additives mixed with chopped corn forage in 3 different times (0 (immediately), 24, 48 h). Silages were assessed by the method of appearance evaluation and DM, pH evaluation. CP, NDF, ADF, TVFA, WSC, so that, the aerobic stability and DM degradation of each treatment were determined after 60 days. Silages that exposed to air for 24 h, before ensiling had better appearance quality than two other delaying time (0 and 48 h) in Filg's method and whole additives in this experiment had good effects on appearance quality in comparison with control group. All of silages containing buffered propionic acid-based additive, in method of DM, pH evaluation, were good and very good. These silages had lower (p<0.05) pH than control ones. Amount of dry matter of control silage which ensiled immediately was lower than other treated silages. NDF in control silages (without additive) was more than that in treated silages and amount of CP and TVFA increased with addition of additives especially those containing propionic acid (85%)+formic acid (15%) (p<0.05). WSC in control silage that wilted 48 h before ensiling was more than other samples (p<0.05). Buffered propionic acid-based additives increased aerobic stability in treated silages in comparison with untreated ones. Degradation of DM (in situ) for untreated silages that delayed ensiled was lower. Application of the additive containing propionic acid (80%)+ formic acid (15%)+ammonia (5%) resulted in highest degradation of dry matter among experimental additives. Generally, treatment with propionic acid-based additives prevented a decrease in DM degradation (in vitro).
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