In Vitro Study of the Effect of Ensiling Length and Processing on the Nutritive Value of Maize Silages

Simple Summary Ensiling whole plant maize is a widely used procedure to preserve forage for feeding dairy cows. The ensiling process is extended for 2 to 12 months, but it has been suggested that a long ensiling length increases the starch availability by protein solubilisation. Other ways oof processing maize silages by dehydration or pelleting may stabilise the nutritive value and facilitate transportation, despite its increased costs. Therefore, three ensiling lengths (3, 6, and 9 months) and three processing forms (fresh, dried, and pelleted) of maize silage were compared in terms of their effects on in vitro rumen fermentation and digestibility. No major differences of ensiling lengths were detected in the chemical composition of silages, but microbial fermentation was reduced when extended to 9 months. Both dehydration and pelleting increased the pH of maize silage in 0.7 units compared to fresh silage. However, the response in fermentation to processing maize silages depends on the ensiling length and only manifested in the 3 month samples. Both dehydration and pelleting tended to reduce the methane concentration in the gas produced from fermentation, indicating both a more efficient fermentation and a lower potential of greenhouse gas emissions than the use of fresh silage. The effect of the ensiling length (3, 6, or 9 months), and the processing by dehydration (D) or dehydration and pelleting (P) with respect to the fresh silages (F) were studied in vitro on three maize cultivars in three incubation runs to study the effect of these factors on the nutritive value of maize silage. Gas production pattern, in vitro true digestibility (IVTD), methane concentration (6 and 12 h), ammonia, and volatile fatty acid concentration (VFA) at 12 h were measured. The moisture and pH of F averaged 676 g/kg and 4.09, respectively, and were not affected by the ensiling length, but moisture was reduced, and the pH increased in D and P with respect to F (p < 0.05). The ensiling length did not affect the chemical composition, but differences among the processing forms were detected in a higher acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) proportion in P than D, and D than F (p < 0.001). Silages opened at 9 months showed the lowest gas production (p < 0.05), and those that opened after 3 months showed the highest IVTD. The effects of processing on nutrient utilisation only manifested on 3 month silages, with the volume of gas production and IVTD being lower in D than F. However, processing tended (p = 0.064) to reduce the methane proportion at 12 h, indicating both a more efficient fermentation and a lower potential of greenhouse gas emissions compared to the fresh silages. Extending the length of ensiling to 9 months reduced the fermentation of maize silage. The processing increased the dry matter and buffered the feed as well as contributed to an increase in fermentation in 3 month silages.