R. Bras. Zootec.17/jul/2026;55:e20250176.

Forragicultura

Effects of commercial inoculants on tropical corn silage, rehydrated grain, and snaplage

Marcus Vinicius Santa Brígida Cardoso , Gabrielli Fernanda da Costa , Aníbal Coutinho do Rêgo , Thiago Fernandes Bernardes

DOI: 10.37496/rbz5520250176

ABSTRACT

Three experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of the following commercial inoculants: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, and L. buchneri (LP+LB) at 2.5 × 105 CFU g⁻¹; as well as L. rhamnosus, L. buchneri, and L. diolivorans (LB+LD) at 2.5 × 105 CFU g⁻¹; and the same inoculants at double dosage (2LB+2LD) at 5.0 × 105 CFU g⁻¹. In Exp. 1, corn silage was uninoculated and inoculated with LP+LB and LB+LD and stored in 5-L jars for 15, 30, 45, and 90 d. In Exp. 2, reconstituted corn grain and, in Exp. 3, whole-ear corn silage (snaplage) were uninoculated and inoculated with LP+LB, LB+LD, and 2LB+2LD and stored for 60 d. The fermentation products, microbial counts, and aerobic stability (AS) were assessed. In Exp. 1, the LP+LB inoculant reduced (P = 0.03) the pH at 30 d. The LP+LB inoculant resulted in a higher (P<0.001) LAB count at 90 d. The lactic acid (LA) concentration was higher at 45 and 90 d (P<0.001). The LB+LD inoculant resulted in higher acetic acid (AA) and propionic acid (PA) content at 45 and 90 d (P<0.001). Inoculation reduced (P = 0.02) losses. In Exp. 2, LA was higher (P = 0.001) in silages inoculated with LP+LB and LB+LD than in the other treatments. Higher (P<0.001) AA and PA were observed with the 2LB+2LD inoculant compared with the other silages. In Exp. 3, lower pH (P = 0.001) and higher LA (P = 0.001) were observed with the LP+LB inoculant than in the other treatments. Inoculation with 2LB+2LD resulted in higher (P<0.001) AA and PA than the other treatments. In corn silage, inoculation with LB+LD enhanced fermentation from day 45, promoting higher acetic and propionic acid concentrations and greater AS. The AS of rehydrated corn grain and snaplage was improved by LB+LD, but only when the double dose was applied.