Influence of Microbial Inoculants for Corn Silage on Fermentation Characteristics and Nutrient Composition in Vitro, and on Production Responses in Lactating Cows

The effect of three commercial microbial inoculants for corn silage on fermentation and silage composition were evaluated in laboratory silos. Treatments were control and three microbiai inoculants: Nordica Corn Silage Inoculant, AgMaster Corn Silage Inoculant, and Pioneer Silage Inoculant. The Nordica treated silage had the lowest pH among all treatments through day 4. The pH of AgMaster and Pioneer treated silages were higher than that of Nordica, but lower than that of control through day 2. The pH was similar between treatments after day 21. Lactobacillus counts of Nordica treated silage were highest through day 2. Lactic acid concentration was not affected by inoculant in first few days. AgMaster and Pioneer treated silages had higher lactic acid, acetic acid, and isobutyric acid concentrations than control and Nordica on day 35. Silage composition was altered slightly by microbial inoculants with control silage being higher in crude protein and lower in NDF and ADF than treated silages at day 35. Nordica Bactensil 2000 treated corn silage did not improve milk production, milk composition and ruminal fermentation in a lactation trial