以下是对青贮饲料常见问题、产生的原因及建议措施的汇总。
PROBLEM | PROBABLE CAUSE | MANAGEMENT ISSUE | RECOMMENDED ACTION(S) |
---|---|---|---|
High pH | • Slow fermentation • Yeast growth • Bacillus growth | • If silage is not heating, feedout rate needs to be increased and/or a TMR treatment should be used • If silage is butyric, feedout rate must be carefully controlled • Performance is likely to be compromised due to lost energy in silage | • Review all silage management practices, including harvest timing, chop length, speed of fill and pack rate • Use a forage-specific bacterial inoculant |
Silage heating | • Yeast growth • Bacillus growth • Acetobacter growth | • Feedout rate needs to be increased and/or a TMR treatment should be used | • Review all silage management practices, including harvest timing, chop length, speed of fill and pack rate • Use a forage-specific bacterial inoculant |
Moldy silage | • Mold contamination from the field • Molds allowed to grow due to presence of air (oxygen) in silage structure | • Large diseased areas in the field at harvest • Delays during filling (bands of mold, fill lines) • Poor sealing (mold at top or on sides) • Slow feedout (mold across silage face) | • Discard moldy silage • Review fill rate and packing • Use a forage-specific bacterial inoculant to inhibit spoilage |
Extremely low pH | • “Wild” lactobacilli naturally present in the silage resulting in slow initial fermentation | • Carefully feed silage to avoid health problems in animals | • Review fill rate and packing • Use a forage inoculant with a good homolactic LAB |
High ammonia | • Some lactic bacteria (Enterococcus, Streptococcus faecium) break down protein and can cause higher ammonia levels in otherwise well-preserved silage • Can also result from clostridial silage or from enterobacteria • Over-application of fertilizers (signs include very high crude protein) | • Carefully feed silage • If silage is butyric, limit inclusion in the ration • If silage is not butyric, watch the level of nonprotein nitrogen (NPN) in the ration | • Properly apply fertilizers • Avoid soil inclusion • Harvest drier forage • Use a forage inoculant with a good homolactic LAB |