Effect of invasive slug populations (Arion vulgaris) on grass silage. II: Microbiological quality and feed safety

Increasing slug contamination reduced the microbial quality of silages by increasing C. tyrobutyricum levels at both silage DM levels. Only silages without slugs and silages treated with the nitrite containing additive CHEM had non-detectable mean levels of C. tyrobutyricum. Increasing slug contamination increased LAB enumerations in silages. No microbes of risk to human or animal health were detected in anaerobic silages even at the highest slug contamination.