Effect of ensiling technology on protein degradation during ensilage

The object of this experiment was to examine the difference in fermentation pattern and protein breakdown when a crop is ensiled in large, round bales or precision-chopped and ensiled in a steel silo. Potential differences in effects of additives between bales and silos were also of interest. A second cut of a grass ley was cut with a mower-conditioner and wilted to ∼300 and 400 g dry matter kg−1. The crop was then ensiled in large, round bales or chopped and ensiled in small 25 L stainless-steel silos. The herbage was either ensiled without additive or with addition of Kofasil® Life, an inoculant, to supply 105 or 106 CFU g−1 fresh matter (FM) in 3.5 L water t FM−1, formic acid (6 L t FM−1), Proens™ (6 L t FM−1) or Kofasil® Ultra (4 L t FM−1). After 100 days, the silages were weighed, bales were inspected, and bales and silos sampled. All silages were well fermented without butyric acid or excessive amounts of ammonia. The inoculants increased the production of lactic acid and resulted in the lowest pH of the treatments. Chemical additives reduced fermentation and Kofasil® Ultra resulted in as high or higher pH than the control. Slightly less water-soluble N (WSN) was found in baled silage as compared to silage made in silos. Increasing the dry matter content and using additives, reduced proteolysis and formation of amino acids during ensilage.