DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-093-1-0158

IMPACT OF ENSILING TIMING AND INOCULANT USE ON FERMENTATION DYNAMICS AND AEROBIC STABILITY IN WHOLE-PLANT MAIZE SILAGE

Vrotniakiene, V.¹, Jatkauskas, J.¹, Camargo Do Amaral, R.², Lybek Witt, K.², Cappellozza, B. L.², Eisner, I.²

¹ Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, R. Žebenkos 12, Baisogala, 82317, Lithuania

² Novonesis, Animal Biosolutions Business Unit, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

Atypical ensiling conditions, such as delayed ensiling and inadequate sealing, frequently occur in practice and may impair silage quality. This study evaluated the effects of a 24 h delay before ensiling, sealing conditions during the delay, and inoculation with Lentilactobacillus buchneri and Lactococcus lactis on maize silage quality. Whole-plant maize (Zea mays L.; 36% dry matter) was ensiled for 60 days in 3.0 L laboratory containers with or without a commercial inoculant. Forage was ensiled immediately or after a 24 h delay, during which it was either covered or uncovered. Treatments were replicated five times, Delayed ensiling significantly impaired fermentation, increased dry matter losses, and reduced aerobic stability and hygienic quality (p < 0.01). Inoculation reduced temperature rise during the delay (by 8.1–8.2 °C; p < 0.01), lowered silage pH, decreased ammonia-N, alcohols, and butyric acid, and increased lactic and acetic acid concentrations (p < 0.01). Inoculated silages also showed lower dry matter losses during fermentation and aerobic exposure and reduced yeast and mold counts (p < 0.01). Minimizing aerobic exposure and using LAB-based inoculants can mitigate the negative effects of delayed ensiling.

Keywords: aerobic exposure, ensiling challenge, Lentilactobacillus buchneri, Lactococcus lactis, maize silage

pages: 158-159, Published: 2026, online: 2026