ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of processor type on fermentation
profile, corn silage processing score, and physically effective NDF of whole-plant
corn silage samples. A data set composed of 3,900 whole-plant corn silage samples
was obtained from Rock River Laboratory (Watertown, WI). All samples were collected
from 2013 to 2016 by the Chr. Hansen team under specific protocols to label samples
as shredlage (SHRD) only if confirmed by farmers or custom harvesters. A total of
309 and 3,591 samples were labeled as SHRD and nonshredlage (CONV), respectively.
Samples had been previously analyzed for corn silage processing score, physically
effective NDF, and predicted ruminal in vitro NDF digestibility at 30 h (using near-infrared
spectroscopy). In addition, 2,394 samples (272 SHRD and 2,394 CONV) had previously
been analyzed via wet chemistry for fermentation profile. Loss of DM during fermentation
was calculated with a predictive equation. Data were analyzed using Proc Glimmix in
SAS with type of processor (SHRD vs. CONV) as a fixed effect. Statistical significance
and trends were declared at P ≤ 0.05 and 0.05 < P < 0.10, respectively. The pH was less (P = 0.01; 3.90 vs. 3.97) for SHRD than CONV, which was related to greater (P = 0.001; 4.89 vs. 4.34% of DM) lactic acid concentrations. Concentrations of acetate,
propionate, butyrate, and ethanol did not differ (P > 0.10) and averaged 2.27, 0.35, 0.36, and 0.57%, respectively. Recovery of DM was
improved (P = 0.05; 2.42 vs. 2.73%) for SHRD, but the difference is of minor importance. Corn
silage processing score was 4.6 percentage units greater for SHRD than for CONV silages
(P = 0.001; 68.1 vs. 63.53% starch passing through a 4.75-mm sieve). In contrast, physically
effective NDF and predicted ruminal in vitro NDF digestibility were (P = 0.001) 1.8 and 1.6 percentage units greater for CONV. Our results suggest that
harvesting whole-plant corn silage as SHRD improved kernel breakage while maintaining
adequate fermentation patterns compared with CONV.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
February 19,
2018
Received:
December 27,
2017
Footnotes
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
