Effects of inoculation with homolactic bacteria on the conservation of wheat silage stored in bunker-silos

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effects of a homolactic inoculant on the nutritional value, fermentation pattern, aerobic stability and dry matter (DM) loss of wheat silage stored in farm-scale bunker silos. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomised design, whereas treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial scheme: wheat silage without inoculant (WS) or treated with a homolactic inoculants (Lactobacillus plantarum plus Pediococcus acidilactici at 1 × 105 cfu/g; WSI), evaluated in three silo layers (bottom, middle and top layers) of a bunker silo. The WS silage had higher levels of acetic, propionic and butyric acids and greater fermentative DM losses. However, the homolactic inoculant (WSI) worsened the aerobic stability. As previously expected, silage stored at the top layer had lower density and higher DM losses. In conclusion, the homolactic inoculant decreased the formation of volatile fatty acids and fermentative losses, but led to worse aerobic stability of wheat silages stored in bunker silos.