Microbial Feed Additives to Improve Forage Quality

A sustained supply of green fodder is a major challenge to economic gains from livestock. As an alternative to green forage, corn, oats, and grasses can be conserved by ensiling under oxygen-free environment. The process involves microbial and enzymatic conversion of plant cell wall polysaccharides and soluble carbohydrates into lactic acid which lowers the pH, preserves nutrients, and inhibits undesirable microorganisms. Epiphytic lactic acid bacteria present naturally on plants or inoculated from outside serve as starter cultures to shorten the duration of process and control fermentation improving the quality of forages preserved by ensiling.