Management factors affecting preservation quality of grass silage: laboratory evaluation and on-farm case study
Silage quality significantly influences livestock production costs and environmental impacts. This study assessed the fermentation quality, preservation losses, aerobic stability and microbial quality of grass silages under varying management practices, including compaction methods and additive tre...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Scientific Agricultural Society of Finland
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Agricultural and Food Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journal.fi/afs/article/view/156983 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850280272827777024 |
|---|---|
| author | Marcia Franco Katariina Manni Arto Huuskonen Marketta Rinne |
| author_facet | Marcia Franco Katariina Manni Arto Huuskonen Marketta Rinne |
| author_sort | Marcia Franco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Silage quality significantly influences livestock production costs and environmental impacts. This study assessed the fermentation quality, preservation losses, aerobic stability and microbial quality of grass silages under varying management practices, including compaction methods and additive treatments. In laboratory-scale, timothy and meadow fescue mixture was ensiled in 12-litre silos using three compaction methods (normal, loose, and normal followed by additional delayed compaction) and five additive treatments (control, homofermentative inoculant, heterofermentative inoculant, salt-based additive, and formic and propionic acid-based additive). Silage samples from three farms with aerobic stability issues were also analysed. In laboratory scale, chemical preservatives enhanced aerobic stability and minimized fermentation losses more effectively than biological inoculants. Heterofermentative inoculants increased acetic acid production, enhancing stability, while homofermentative inoculants had minimal impact on most parameters. Farm silages exhibited varied quality, with poor microbial quality linked with fast aerobic deterioration. Effective silage management practices, including oxygen limitation, proper compaction, and appropriate preservative application, are crucial to preventing spoilage and ensuring silage quality.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dd6e307b03b64265b0a43cc7d260c78e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1459-6067 1795-1895 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Scientific Agricultural Society of Finland |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agricultural and Food Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-dd6e307b03b64265b0a43cc7d260c78e2025-08-20T01:48:49ZengScientific Agricultural Society of FinlandAgricultural and Food Science1459-60671795-18952025-04-0110.23986/afsci.156983Management factors affecting preservation quality of grass silage: laboratory evaluation and on-farm case studyMarcia Franco0Katariina Manni1Arto Huuskonen2Marketta Rinne3Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) Silage quality significantly influences livestock production costs and environmental impacts. This study assessed the fermentation quality, preservation losses, aerobic stability and microbial quality of grass silages under varying management practices, including compaction methods and additive treatments. In laboratory-scale, timothy and meadow fescue mixture was ensiled in 12-litre silos using three compaction methods (normal, loose, and normal followed by additional delayed compaction) and five additive treatments (control, homofermentative inoculant, heterofermentative inoculant, salt-based additive, and formic and propionic acid-based additive). Silage samples from three farms with aerobic stability issues were also analysed. In laboratory scale, chemical preservatives enhanced aerobic stability and minimized fermentation losses more effectively than biological inoculants. Heterofermentative inoculants increased acetic acid production, enhancing stability, while homofermentative inoculants had minimal impact on most parameters. Farm silages exhibited varied quality, with poor microbial quality linked with fast aerobic deterioration. Effective silage management practices, including oxygen limitation, proper compaction, and appropriate preservative application, are crucial to preventing spoilage and ensuring silage quality. https://journal.fi/afs/article/view/156983silage additive, compaction, aerobic stability, formic acid, lactic acid bacteria |
| spellingShingle | Marcia Franco Katariina Manni Arto Huuskonen Marketta Rinne Management factors affecting preservation quality of grass silage: laboratory evaluation and on-farm case study Agricultural and Food Science silage additive, compaction, aerobic stability, formic acid, lactic acid bacteria |
| title | Management factors affecting preservation quality of grass silage: laboratory evaluation and on-farm case study |
| title_full | Management factors affecting preservation quality of grass silage: laboratory evaluation and on-farm case study |
| title_fullStr | Management factors affecting preservation quality of grass silage: laboratory evaluation and on-farm case study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Management factors affecting preservation quality of grass silage: laboratory evaluation and on-farm case study |
| title_short | Management factors affecting preservation quality of grass silage: laboratory evaluation and on-farm case study |
| title_sort | management factors affecting preservation quality of grass silage laboratory evaluation and on farm case study |
| topic | silage additive, compaction, aerobic stability, formic acid, lactic acid bacteria |
| url | https://journal.fi/afs/article/view/156983 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marciafranco managementfactorsaffectingpreservationqualityofgrasssilagelaboratoryevaluationandonfarmcasestudy AT katariinamanni managementfactorsaffectingpreservationqualityofgrasssilagelaboratoryevaluationandonfarmcasestudy AT artohuuskonen managementfactorsaffectingpreservationqualityofgrasssilagelaboratoryevaluationandonfarmcasestudy AT markettarinne managementfactorsaffectingpreservationqualityofgrasssilagelaboratoryevaluationandonfarmcasestudy |