THE USE OF ADDITIVES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF GRASS SILAGE

📄 Project Abstract

Panicum maximum, a traditional forage grass was subjected to lactic fermentation to produce silage. Ensiling was carried out on P. maximum alone or supplemented with sucrose, common salt or lactic acid bacteria. P. maximum with sucrose, sucrose and salt; sucrose salt and LAB; and sucrose and LAB produced good silage with low pH and good physical/chemical properties. Control fermentation (without any additives or LAB innoculant), P. maximum with salt and LAB; and with only salt or LAB produced silage of poor quality and high pH values. Microbiological analysis showed a rapid elimination of E. coli from all silages and a much slower reduction in the populations of Bacillus and yeasts. A rapid increase was observed in the LAB population, P. maximum with sucrose alone or in combination with other additives showing a higher sustained increase in LAB count than silage treated with other additives and the control silage. There was a complete absence of moulds in the P. maximum treated with su...