Silage quality deteriorates with Clostridium spp. contamination, and if consumed, such silage jeopardises herd health and productivity. Minimising its occurrence reduces economic and animal welfare risks. The study investigated the influence of environmental and technological determinants on the Clostridium genus’ occurrence in silage. Analyses were conducted on 305 silage samples directly collected from farms located in all Polish provinces. Cultures and isolates were evaluated phenotypically and examined for occurrence of Clostridium spp., particularly C. perfringens and C. botulinum using PCR techniques. The results were statistically analysed using the ᵡ² test for continuous and Student’s t-test for non-continuous values. The most influential effect on Clostridium spp. occurrence is exerted by factors potentially associated with primary production, like the type of fertilisation and the contamination level of the ensiled feed material. Clostridium spp. was detected in 232 (76%) samples, and C. perfringens strains, predominantly toxinotype A, in 79 (26%). C. botulinum occurrence was not detected. Deterioration of silage by clostridia could be prevented by a properly conducted ensiling process with the addition of starter cultures, but the presence of spores mainly depends on primary production and the extent of contamination of the feed material.

The aim of the study was to present cases of botulism in animals found in Poland in 2019–2021. The analytical laboratory diagnosis and difficulties that occurred in the interpretation of the results are described. From 2019 to 2021, samples of serum, intestinal content, liver, spleen, kidney, faeces, wet feed, dry feed, ensilage, water and mixed samples of internal organs associated with 10 suspected animal botulism cases were sent to the National Veterinary Research Institute. Samples were analysed using a mouse bioassay and culture methods in combination with ntnh and bont gene detection. Among the ten putative botulism cases, only four (40%) were confirmed in the laboratory on the basis of the detection of botulinum toxin (BoNT) or the ntnh or bont genes. The remaining six (60%) were determined as probable despite observable characteristic clinical signs. The diagnosis of botulism in animals is a very difficult task, made so by the heterogeneity of Clostridium botulinum strains and possible loss of toxinogenicity during laboratory processing or the potential degradation of toxins. Laboratory diagnosis is a complex and problematic process which should utilise different prescribed methods for specific types of sample.

The role of silage feeding in the origin of an epizootic of encephalitic listeriosis in a sheep flock was investigated by use of a new direct Listeria-selective isolation and enumeration medium, in combination with serotyping and phage typing. The silage contained high numbers (about 10(6) cells/g) of a L monocytogenes strain indistinguishable with respect to serovar and phagovar from that isolated from the brains of sick sheep. These results provided unambiguous bacteriologic evidence of the epidemiologic link between silage consumption and listeriosis in ruminants.

In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus there was realized comparative evaluation of chemical composition and nutritive value of silages produced on the basis of millet (Panicum) and maize (Zea mays), their productive action and economic efficiency of ensilage fodders in diets of young stock of cattle. Data of chemical analysis showed the benefits of millet silage. The content of crude protein, crude fat, carotene, calcium and phosphorous was higher in millet silage. The analogous situation was in the analysis of biochemical indexes and energy value of dry matter. As a result of application of millet silage in diets of young stock of cattle made it possible to obtain 3,7 kg of body weight gain, while the expenses of forage per 1 kilogram of of weight gain lowered on 0,34 centner of fodder units, or 3,6%. Prime cost of 1 centner of fodder units in a diet in experimental group was on 57,3% lower than in a control one. Thus, use of millet silage in diets of heifers made it possible to lower the cost of fodders per 1 kilogram of weight gain on 63,2%, and prime cost of 1 kilogram of weight gain – on 19,8%.

Japanese millet (Echinochloa frumentacea) growing and yielding capacity was estimated in single and mixed sowings cultivated on sod-podzolic light loamy soils in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus; as well as comparative evaluation of silage quality and determination of digestibility of nutrients. Field experiment with forage crops was realized in threefold replication in accordance with the following scheme: Japanese millet (100%); Japanese millet (70%) + vetch (Vicia) (30%); Japanese millet (70%) + lupine (Luoinus) (30%); Japanese millet (70%) + pea (Pisum) (30%); Japanese millet (70%) + soybean (Glycine max) (30%). Research results showed that mixed sowings of Japanese millet with bean cultures made it possible to obtain higher yields than single sowings on 5,9-15,6%. Silage made of Japanese millet with bean culture contained higher amount of crude protein on 2,73-3,98% in comparison with silage which was produces only from Japanese millet. Silage produced from Japanese millet mixture with high protein crops had high energy and protein value: 0,90-0,92 fodder units; 9,47-9,59 mJ of metabolic energy per 1 kg of dry matter and 102-103 g of digestible protein per 1 fodder unit

Usage of preservatives Kormoplus 1 and 2 lets us produce the silage of a highest quality and raise dry substance integrity at 8,7%, protein - at 12-9,4%. The researches determined that cereal silage, prepared with supplement Kormoplus 1 and 2, lets us raise digestibility of dry substance at 5,5% and 3,7%, organic substance - at t 5,5 and 4,0%, fiber- at 16,5 and 15,0% and raise nitrogen sediment at 17,4 and 20,8%. These forages didn't have any negative influence at health and biochemical performance of cow blood

The comparative analysis of application of cereal ensilage produced with addition of microbial and enzymatic preserving agents Axphast Gold and Biotrof on fodder digestibility, hematological indexes and cicatrical digestion of cattle rearers was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. Cattle feeding with the analysed silage rendered positive effect on digestibility of the forage dry matter, which was on 2% higher the control index, organic matter - on 2,4%, nitrogen-free extractive substances - on 2,84%, fat - on 0,58%, protein - on 2,3%, cellulose - on 2,1%. Use in feeding of ensilaged forages from the cereal perennial grasses preserved by the microbial- enzymatic preparation produced by company Biota rendered the positive influence on use of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus. There was also noted the increasing of the content of volatile fatty acids in paunch of young cattle silage fed with Axphast Gold that testified of more effective utilization of forage

Complex analysis of maize (Zea mays) yielding capacity and content of nutritive substances in silage and green mass depending on the phase of crop development and sowings damage due to frost was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. Yielding capacity of green mass in the analyzed sowings of hybrid maize Beliz on sod-podzolic light loamy soils was 75,1 n/ha at the stage of grain formation. Insufficient amount of positive temperatures at the beginning of vegetation stage was compensated by means of favourable weather conditions for growth and development of maize in July-September. In proportion to maize crops maturity there was stated the appropriate lowering of green mass. Taking place frosts lowered moisture content in crops. Yielding capacity of maize top biomass after cold spell was from 45,7 up to 44,8 c/ha. For the obtaining of the optimal amount of nutritive elements in the conditions of Vitebsk region of Belarus it was proposed to realize crop harvesting at the stage of milky-wax ripeness. The best composition of nutritive elements in silage was at the stage of milky-wax ripeness