An assessment of the potential of a lactobacilli inoculant as a silage additive

Abstract

The trial reported here forms part of a long term research project at Newcastle investigating the suitability or a bacterial inoculant (Pioneer Hi-bred Int. Inc. brand 1177) for U.K. silage production. In designing the feeding experiment, note was taken of previously conducted trials with both beef animals (Hooper et al. 1988) and sheep (Hooper et al. 1984; Hooper and Armstrong, 1987). Results to date have indicated nutritional advantages to those silages prepared with the inoculant when compared to control silages produced from the same material but without any additive treatment. This response to inoculation in terms of higher apparent digestibility coefficients and higher intake levels when fed on an ad libitum level have generally been associated with quantified improvements in silage quality, though this has not always been the case. The inoculant used in this experiment though of the same bacterial composition as used previously, was applied as a liquid additive rather than in a granular formulation.