<b>Microbiological profile and energy values of corn grain and high-moisture corn grain silage with added inoculants for swine</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v29i4.1005

Abstract

This study evaluated the counts of funghi, lactic bacteria and mesophilic aerobium microorganisms in high-moisture corn grain silage (HMCGS) with added inoculants, and determined the digestible and metabolizable energy values of corn and the HMCGS for swine. The HMCGS contained 0, 5 and 10 g of inoculant t^-1 (Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococus faecium, Pediococcus acidilactici, enzymes). In order to determine the microbial counts of HMCGS, specific methods were used and evaluated on the day of ensilage, at 50 and 100 days. The energy values was determine using 20 swines, alloted in a randomized block design with four replications. The treatments consisted of the HMCGS and corn grain, which substituted 20% of the reference ration. The treatment with 5 g of inoculant t^-1 showed the highest microbial counts in all periods. There was no difference (p > 0.05) between the digestibility and metabolization coefficients of gross energy. The digestible and metabolization energy values of corn grain and HMCGS variated between 4094 to 4271 kcal kg^-1, and 3826 to 3987 kcal kg^-1, respectively. The use of 5 g inoculant t^-1 provided the best microbial profile during the storage period of HMCGS. However, it didn’t influence the digestibility and metabolization coefficients of gross energy.