Intake, digestibility and aerobic stability of barley silage inoculated with mixtures of Lactobacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium

The effect of ensiling barley treated with two bacterial inoculants containing mixtures of Lactobacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium (1.0 × 105 cfu g−1 as fed silage) on the nutritional value and aerobic stability of barley silage was examined. Inoculants differed in the strains they contained and were originally selected by Pioneer Hi-Bred International for use with corn or alfalfa silage, SILA-BAC® (1174), or with grass silage (X2637). Concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates were higher (P < 0.05) in inoculated than in control silages. Although inoculants appeared to increase the numbers of lactic acid producing bacteria (LAB) at ensiling, post-ensiling numbers (cfu g−1) of yeasts and molds were lower (P < 0.05) in inoculated than in control silages. Lactic acid concentrations and pH were similar among the silages and variations m the growth of yeast and mold populations could not be explained by differences in the production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) among silages. Inoculation of barle...