Aims To (i) measure the aerobic stability- and describe the characteristics, during aeration, of high-moisture maize (HMM) treated with various additives, and (ii) describe the microbial characteristics of fermented liquid feed (FLF) added HMM.
Methods and Results Four treatments were prepared with each of three HMM samples: (i) The HMM as is (CONTROL); and the control added (ii) acids (ACID); (iii) heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (HETERO); or (iv) homofermentative lactic acid bacteria (HOMO). After ensiling, aerobic stability was measured (Aim 1) and FLF prepared (Aim 2). The ACID treatment improved the aerobic stability of samples 1 and 3 from 9 to 14 h in the CONTROL to 67–115 h. All additives improved aerobic stability of sample 3 from 32 h in the CONTROL to 104–168 h. No proliferation of Enterobacteriacaea was detected during incubation of FLF.
Conclusion The microbial profile during aeration- and impact of additives on the aerobic stability of HMM depended on the characteristics of the samples. No blooming of Enterobacteriaceae was observed in FLF containing c. 20 g HMM 100 g−1.
Significance and Impact of the Study The impact of silage additives on aerobic stability of HMM should be tested in samples with varying characteristics. Inclusion of HMM could be a way of improving biosafety of FLF.
