AGRONOMIJAS VĒSTIS - Latvijas Lauksaimniecības universitāte

AGRONOMIJAS VĒSTIS (Latvian Journal of Agronomy), No.10, LLU, 2008M74, and Lactococcus lactis SR3.54), (L group). The inoculant (dosage 5x10 5 cfu/g fresh herbage)was applied using a commercial pump "HP-20". During the ensilage, samples of grass werecollected to determine their chemical composition. Five additive-free bales and five inoculatedbales were weighed after wrapping and after 82 days of storage for measuring DM losses.Baleswere opened after 82 days samples were taken and the fermentation quality(fermentation acids,ammonia N, pH), chemical composition (standard methods (AOAC, 1995) and the aerobic stabilityof the silages were measured. Aerobic stability was measured by changes in silage temperaturefollowing exposure to air for 10 days.Ten dairy cows of the Lithuanian Black-and-White breed were used in the experiment. Athree-week pre-experimental period was used in which untreated silage was offered ad libitumtogether with the compound feed. The compound feed (consisting of 75% barley, 10% wheat, 15%soybean meal and vitamin-mineral concentrate 4923 Optima Dairy Extra) was fed to cowsindividually according to the milk yield (280g for 1 kg milk). In the experimental period (100 days)each group consisting of five cows was fed its respective silage ad libitum twice a day. The weightof the offered silage and refusals was determined once a week and the amount of compound feedwas recorded at each meal. The milk yield was recorded every two weeks and aliquat milk samplesfrom the morning and evening milk were bulked and the content of fat and protein was analysed.The data was analysed by one-way ANOVA, and the mean comparison by Fisher’PLSD.Results and DiscussionThe activity of the inoculant was evidenced in this experiment by higher total acids by 18.3 gkg -1 (P