DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-093-1-0096

ENSILING WITH A NOVEL LENTILACTOBACILLUS BUCHNERI SUBSP. SILAGEI STRAIN 30673 ENHANCES AEROBIC STABILITY OF MAIZE SILAGE THROUGH YEAST SUPPRESSION

Borkowska, A.¹, Jones, P. B.¹, Smith, P.¹, Leggett, M.¹

¹ Volac International Ltd, Aberavon Road, Port Talbot, SA12 7DJ, United Kingdom

Maize silage is susceptible to aerobic spoilage during feed-out due to its high starch and residual sugar content leading to DM and feed quality losses. Heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria can be employed to improve silage stability during air exposure. This study evaluated the effects of a novel Lentilactobacillus buchneri subsp. silagei strain NCIMB 30673, on fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability of maize silage. Whole-crop maize at 37% DM was ensiled either untreated or inoculated at 1.0 × 10⁵ CFU/g and stored for 28 or 99 days. At 28 days, both treatments achieved stable pH. The inoculated silage showed enhanced fermentation with higher lactic and acetic acid concentrations however both treatments exhibited high yeast levels, resulting in lower aerobic stability. After 99 days, treated silage exhibited a more pronounced impact on fermentation, characterised by increased acetic acid concentration, reduced yeast populations, and significantly improved aerobic stability compared with the control. These results demonstrate that L. buchneri subsp. silagei NCIMB 30673 effectively enhances aerobic stability of whole plant maize silage through yeast suppression, making it a promising candidate as silage inoculant.

Keywords: aerobic stability, inoculant, Lentilactobacillus buchneri subsp. silagei, yeast suppression

pages: 96-97, Published: 2026, online: 2026