Effects of L. plantarum Application on Chemical Composition, Fermentation Indices and Fatty Acid Profiles of Barley Silage

Abstract

This study was conducted to know effects of forage cutting height and inoculants applicationon chemical composition, fermentation characteristics and fatty acid profile of barley silage. Barley forage(Yuyeon hybrid) was harvested at two different cutting heights(5 vs. 15cm) andapplied with or without Lactobacillus plantarum, and ensiled for 0, 2, 7, 28, 49 and 100days. On 0 to 49-d of ensiling, higher cutting height resulted rapid drop (p<0.05) in pH caused byhigher lactate content. Crude protein (p<0.01) content of 100-d silage was decreased byinoculation, but increased by higher cutting height. However, neutral detergent fiber and aciddetergent fiber contents were decreased (p<0.05) by both inoculation and cutting height. In vitrodry matter digestibility was improved by higher cutting height (p=0.01), while yeast and moldcounts were reduced (p<0.0001). The C18:3n-3 content in barley silage was decreased (p=0.001)by inoculation, but increased (p=0.034) by higher cutting height. The DNA analysis indicated L. plantarum dominating fermentation in inoculated silages. The results showed that higher cuttingheight can improve silage quality in terms of increasing crude protein content and digestibilityas well as reducing yeast and mold counts in barley silage.