The effect of silo type and dry matter content on the maize silage fermentation process and ensiling loss

To compare the fermentation process and ensiling losses in experimental silos and farm bunker silos (BS) and determine the correlation with the dry matter (DM) content at harvesting, maize forage was chopped and ensiled in four farms. Using similar harvesting and ensiling systems, one BS and 12 experimental silos were prepared in each farm; the latter consisted of three S100 silos (100 1 capacity with effluent discharge valve and no airtight sealing), three S500 pilot-scale silos (500 1 capacity with effluent discharge valve and airtight sealing) and six S002 micro-silos (2 1 capacity with airtight sealing and no effluent discharge valve). DM content of maize forage at harvesting varied from a minimum of 29.0% to a maximum of 38.3%, with important differences both among farms and among plots within the same farm (three plots per farm). Chemical characteristics of maize silage harvested in BS and in experimental silos were similar, but some differences in fermentation quality were obser...