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Conference paper2014

The effect of silage additive on conservation of low dry matter corn-cob mix

Knicky, Martin; Spörndly, Rolf; Gertzell, Bengt

Abstract

Growing of maize has increased in Sweden during the last decade. Although maize is relatively easy to ensile, susceptibility of maize silage to aerobic deterioration is a problem . One of the alternatives is to harvest maize as corn-cob mix (CCM). The CCM crop posseses a similar ensiling property as whole crop maize therefore the use of silage additives is very common in consevartion of CCM. CCMcrop treated with the additive Safesil® (20% Na-benzoate, 5% Na-nitrite, 10% K-sorbate; AB Hanson & Möhring, Sweden) at the rate 2, 4, and 5 l per ton FW was compared with untreated control. Controlled air ingression into silos and low packing density provided challenged ensiling condition. The DM content of the crop, 29.4%, was much lower than what is common for CCM. All additive treated silages were found to have a lower pH, ammonia-N, propionic acid, acetic acid, 2.3 butanediol, and ethanol concentrations, but higher concentration of lactic acid than the untreated control. The reduced activity of yeasts resulted in improved aerobic stability and lower weight losses of additive treated silages compared to untreated silage. It is concluded that all additive treatments improved silage fermentation in terms of reduction of silage pH, ammonia-N and ethanol formations, and storage losses as well as  aerobic stability.

Published in

NJF Report
2014, Volume: 10, number: 6, pages: 97-98
Publisher: Nordic Association of Agricultural Sciences

Conference

NJF Seminar 475 Maize in a cooler climate - From seed to feed