Effect of biological and biological-enzymatic additive on fermentation in red clover

Red clover is often ensilaged in foothills areas of the Slovak Republic. Due to frequent rainfall during the first mowing (the second half of May) conservation may present a problem. Therefor it was aim of this work to verify the effectivity of biological and biological-enzymatic additives in the conservation of clover at different wilting levels of the forage. The experiments were carried out with tetraploid red clover (Trifolium pratense, variery Kvarta). Forage after cut wilted 48 hours (23.1 % dry matter) and 72 hours (40.5 % dry matter). Three different groups of sillage were examined: K - non-treated control El - treated with a biological additive consisting of Lactobacillus plantarum (DSM 3676, 3677) and Propionic bacterium (DSM 9576, 9577) - application dose 2 litres additive per a ton of feed. E2 - treated with a biological enzymatic additive consisting of Lactobacillus splantarum (DSM 3676, 3677), Propionic bacterium (DSM 9576, 9577) and enzymatic component (complex of cellulases, hemicellulases and glucosooxidases) - application dose 2.1 litres additive per a ton of feed. Following wilting the matter was cut, homogenized and filled into 1.7-litre glass fermentors, placed in a dark room at 25 deg C . Silage weight losses were determined at regular 21-day intervals by the gravimetric method. After 180 days the experiment was terminated and the parameters were determined in the samples nutrient contents and basic parameters of fermentation process. From results follows, that the increase of dry matter contents in the ensilaged matter became reflected in increased pH (4.41 compared to 4.37) and sugar levels in the silage (35.6 to 27.7 g/kg d.m.), decreased lactic, acetic and butyric acid levels (49.4 - 6.7 - 0.3 to 60.5 - 11.5 - 0.2 g/kg d.m.) as well as in the share of NH3-N on total nitrogen and alcohol (69.8 -3.3 to 85.6 - 6.1 g/kg d.m.). The best quality of fermentation was observed in silages with the highest dry matter levels. Application of both additives caused an obvious decrease in dry matter losses, pH, acetic acid, alcohol and ammonia nitrogen levels. Both additives also had a visible effect upon lactic acid level that was higher as in control silages. Between silages statistically significant differences were stated. Positive effect of enzymatic component in experimental variant E2 was manifested on degradation of crude fiber only in silage with low level of dry matter (control 237.8, variant E2 228.4 g/kg d.m., P < 0.01). The treatment of red clover with biological and biological-enzymatic additives became manifested in a decrease of losses and improvement of the fermentation process in all investigated silages. The treatment effect was more pronounced insilages with a lower dry matter content.