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Corn Silage Preservation with Anhydrous Ammonia, Live Culture Microbial, or Organic Acid-Based Additives¹

Department of Dairy Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061-6999
Virginia Forage Research Station, Middleburg 22117

ABSTRACT

Chopped whole corn plants were ensiled with anhydrous ammonia or one of two commercial additives in ten 2.4 x 6.1 m upright concrete silos at the Virginia Forage Research Station at Middleburg. The five treatments were: two silages harvested at full and late maturity with no additives, full maturity silage with Silabac (a live lactobacillus culture) added at .05%, full maturity silage with anhydrous ammonia (Cold-Flo Process) added at approximately .28%, and a late maturity silage with Silosyn II (an organic acid-based additive) at .1%. Additions were based on wet forage weights. Feeding comparisons were obtained from silages as prepared and fed without further supplementation. Digestion of dry matter (yearling steers) was reduced in the microbial-treated silage. Digestibility of fibrous components was reduced in the late harvested silages (more mature corn). Enrichment with ammonia increased apparent digestibility of nitrogen. Mean dry matter intakes were 2.50, 2.45, 2.35, 2.30, and 2.27% of body weight (230 to 270 kg crossbred heifers) for ammonia-treated, acid-treated, full maturity, late maturity, and microbial-inoculated silages. Dry matter recoveries ranged from 89 to 92% and were not influenced by additives. Enrichment of corn silage harvested at 36 to 40% dry matter with ammonia increased silage pH, ammoniacal and total nitrogen, and digestion of total nitrogen. Measures of total and lactic acid production and structural plant components of treated silages were not significantly different from controls.

¹ Mention of a proprietary name or supplier is for the benefit of readers and does not imply approval or endorsement by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Application of the commercial products in this study does not infer approval or superiority of these products to the exclusion of similar products.

² Virginia Forage Research Station, Middleburg, VA.