A Preliminary Investigation into the Role of Yeasts in the Ensiling Process

The activities of six unidentified yeasts isolated from silage were monitored in a defined environment prepared to simulate a grass silage. Lactic acid and acetic acid contents of the silages were higher when yeasts were included in the inoculum used and the yeasts appeared to be beneficial to preservation. The yeasts also contributed to the small quantities of ethanol which were detected. Where a yeast was used as the sole inoculum the pH of the silage remained high, but lactic acid and acetic acid as well as ethanol were present in the resulting silages.