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Microbial Activities in Alfalfa and Orchard Grass Ensiled Under Certain Conditions in Experimental Silos

Dairy Husbandry Research Branch, USDA, Beltsville, Md.

ABSTRACT

It is generally recognized that microorganisms are active in silage and that lactic acid bacteria perform a useful role in the preservation of the forage through the production of acids (1, 2, 11, 14). The lactic acid bacteria obviously are on the forage at the time of ensiling (1, 3), but they are present in such small numbers (8) that their usefulness in silage depends on favorable conditions for their growth and prolonged activity.

Control of bacterial activity in silage by the addition of mineral acids (the A.I.V. method) to arrest bacterial development (16) has been only partially successful (6) and not recommended by some because it is economically impractical. Similarly, the use of various additives in silage as selective inhibitors of destructive bacterial action is opposed and advocated by various investigators, and their usefulness generally must depend on basic studies under various conditions.

The effect of the addition of carbohydrates in various forms, such as molasses and milk by-products, on the bacterial flora of silage has been studied by various investigators (2, 7, 18).

¹ Present address: University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio.