The effect of a cellulase preparation derived from Trichoderma viride on the chemical changes during the ensilage of grass, lucerne and clover

Perennial ryegrass, lucerne and clover were each treated with formic acid (4.5 litre t−1 crop) and a commercial cellulase preparation derived from Trichoderma viride (4 g kg−1) and ensiled in triplicate in test‐tube silos, capacity 80 g. The crops were minced, finely chopped or coarsely chopped before ensiling and the test‐tubes were held at 0, 15, 35 or 50°C. All the silages were well preserved and the grass silages, with and without cellulase treatment, contained residual water‐soluble carbohydrates. Treatment with the cellulase preparation resulted in more cellulose being hydrolysed in the grass silages than in the legume silages. The greatest losses of cellulose in each crop occurred in the minced silages held at 15 and 35°C.