Effects of a bacterial inoculant on chemical composition and fermentation parameters of corn silage ensiled in a laboratory silo

The use of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as microbial inoculants in order to increase bacterial fermentation and decrease the pH of silage which in turn inhibit the growth of undesirable microbes and provide stable ensiling conditions has been well documented (McDonald, 1991). Although corn silage is used as major forage for dairy cattle at most commercial farms in Iran no information is available regarding the suitability of LAB for their use as inoculants in preparing corn silage. The objective of this study was therefore to determine the effects of the addition of a bacterial inoculant on chemical composition and fermentation characteristics of corn forage ensiled in 2 kg laboratory silos.