Effect of Biological and Biochemical Silage Additives on Final Nutritive, Hygienic and Fermentation Characteristics of Ensiled High Moisture Crimped Corn

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different biological and biochemical additives on the final nutritive quality, fermentation process and concentration of mycotoxins of ensiled high moisture crimped corn. We created four variants for the experiment: control (UC), A1, and A2 (biological stimulators with the active principle of lactic acid bacteria) and variant B (combined additives with the active principle of lactic acid bacteria, benzoate sodium and active enzymatic complex of cellulases). After 6 months of storage in laboratory conditions, we determined in experimental silages the content of dry matter ranging from 608.9 to 613 g kg-1. The significantly lower content of crude fibre was detected in silages with additives. In silages ensiled with additives we detected the highest content of nitrogen-free extract in variant B (834.3 g kg-1 of DM, P < 0.05). A similar effect was determined also in the content of starch; significant differences were detected in variants A1 and B (P < 0.05) compared to the control variant. We detected a significantly (P < 0.05) higher content of total sugars in trial silages; the highest content was in variant A2 (6.1 g kg-1 of DM). In the trial variants we determined significantly the lowest content of acetic acid in variant B (2.82 g kg-1 of DM). In case of butyric acid, whose content in the control variant was 0.22 g kg-1 of DM, we detected the lowest content in variant A1 conserved with homo- and heterofermentative species of lactic acid bacteria. The lowest content of ammonia was determined in silages of variant B (0.074 g kg-1 of DM). We found lower concentrations of DON and FUM (P > 0.05) after the application of biological and biochemical silage additives. In concentration of T-2 toxin we detected a significantly (P < 0.05) lower value in variant A1. In concentration of AFL we found significant differences between variants A1 and B, as well as in concentration of OT between untreated control variant (UC) and variants conserved by additives. Application of silage additives influenced the nutritive and hygienic quality of the conserved fodders.