Silage

Question 1

Define Silage

Answer 1

material produced by controlled fermentation of a high moisture crop

Question 2

Define Ensilage

Answer 2

the name of the process through which silage is made

Question 3

List the most common crops that are preserved as silage.

Answer 3

Grasses
Legumes
whole cereals (maize)

Question 4

List the objectives of ensiling

Answer 4

1) Achieve anaerobic conditions (chopping, rapid silo filling, and consolidation and sealing
2) Discourage the activities of undesirable microorganisms.

Question 5

Name 1 desirable and 2 undesirable anaerobic microorganisms

Answer 5

desirable: Lactic acid bacteria

undesirable: clostridia
: Enterobacteria

Question 6

Name two categories of Lactic acid bacteria

Answer 6

Homofermentative

Heterofermentative

Question 7

Give the scientific names of three homofermentative bacteria

Answer 7

Lactobacillus plantarum
Pediococcus pentosaceus
Enterococcus faecalis

Question 8

Give scientific names of 2 heterofermentative bacteria

Answer 8

Lactobacillus brevis

Leuconostoc mesenteroides

Question 9

When is clostridia growth inhibited (DM and pH)?

Answer 9

DM:-severely restricted >30%
-completely restricted at 40%

pH: inhibited at 4.2

Question 10

Name two major groups of clostridia

Answer 10

Saccharolytic clostridia (ferment lactate + water-soluble carbs to butyrate)
Proteolytic clostridia (ferment AAs to acetate, butyrate, or amines/ammonia)

Question 11

optimum conditions for Enterobacteria to grow

Answer 11

pH 7

grows at early stages of fermentation

Question 12

what does dark color haylage and tobacco smell indicate in silage?

Answer 12

Air leak or exessive oxygen in silo

Question 13

what does rancid milk smell mean in silage

Answer 13

fermentation dominated by clostridia

Question 14

what does vinegar odor mean in silage

Answer 14

Fermentation dominated by bacteria which changes sugar to acetate

Question 15

what does Alcohol odor of silage mean?

Answer 15

Fermentation dominated by yeast.

Question 16

which yeasts are associated with silages

Answer 16

candida Saccharomyces

torulopsis

Question 17

What affects the extent of field losses

Answer 17

wilting length and weather conditions

Question 18

What leads to the main losses in WSC and protein?

Answer 18

hydrolyzation to amino acids

Question 19

best moisture content for Upright stave silos

Answer 19

62-65%

Question 20

best moisture content for Upright moisture limiting silos

Answer 20

45-55%

Question 21

best moisture content for Bunker “horizontal” silos

Answer 21

65-72%

Question 22

best moisture content for Bag silos

Answer 22

62-65%