Determination of silage and feed value characteristics of high moisture corn grain

This thesis is designed to improve the ensiling property of high moisture corn grain. For this purpose, high humidity corn was harvested in three different dry matter (65,32%, 70,77% and 75,31%) and coarsely grounded and used in the experiment. Experimental material high moisture grain corn (HMGC), respectively; (no additive: control), 2% urea, 106 cfu/g Lactobacillus plantarum (LP)+Lactobacillus buchneri (LB) and 106 cfu/g Lactobacillus buchneri (LB) were added and ensiled for 60 days. At the end of this period, the nutrient composition, silage fermentation properties, silage microbiology, aerobic stability, in vitro gas production and digestibility properties of the silages were determined. Harvesting high moisture corn silage at different DM significantly affected the nutrient composition and silage quality of the silages (P<0.05; P<0.01). Increasing the dry matter level decreased the crude protein (CP) content and increased the starch and cell wall components significantly (P<0.05; P<0.01). The silages reduced the number of lactic acid (LA), lactic acid bacteria (LAB), yeast and mold. Increasing the DM level of silages improved aerobic stability. Addition of urea to high moisture grain corn silage increased the HP content of the silages and decreased the starch content (P<0.05). The addition of urea also decreased the LAB, yeast, mold, lactic acid (LA), propionic acid (PA), ethanol, in vitro gas production, OMD and ME content of the silages. On the other hand, urea increased the pH, ammonia nitrogen (NH3N) and acetic acid (AA) content of silages, negatively affecting aerobic stability. Addition of LP+LB and LB to high moisture corn silage had a significant effect on the nutrient composition of silages (P<0.05; P<0.01). Addition of LAB to silages decreased pH, yeast and mold counts in silages, and increased LAB count, LA, PA and ethanol content. The addition of LAB also improved aerobic stability by increasing the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2). According to the data obtained from the research, 70% of the optimum DM dose was found in the structure of high moisture grain corn silage. It was concluded that LAB inoculant is the most suitable additive for nutrient composition, silage microbiology, fermentation, nutrient digestion, aerobic stability. The most effective LAB inoculant was the LP+LB combination. This was followed by LB and 2% urea.