Controlled trial demonstrates that bacterial inoculation improves fermentation and reduces methane production in limpograss silage, suggesting a viable forage preservation strategy.
Key Points
To determine the effects of a dual-strain bacterial inoculant on the fermentation profile, nutritive value, bacterial community, and in vitro gas production of limpograss silage.
Treated limpograss forage with a commercial inoculant containing Lactococcus lactis and Lentilactobacillus buchneri (SiloSolve FC) alongside an untreated control.
Evaluated nutrient retention, fermentation characteristics, microbiology, and in vitro gas and methane production after ensiling.
Inoculant application selectively reduced the abundance of undesirable bacteria associated with spoilage without altering the overall bacterial community.
Inoculated silage tended to decrease in vitro total gas and methane production relative to untreated control silage.