THE EFFECT OF CELLULASE AND HEMICELLULASE PLUS PECTINASE ON THE AEROBIC STABILITY AND FIBER ANALYSIS OF PEAS AND WHEAT SILAGES

The effect of applying increasing levels of cellulase and hemicellulas e plus pectinase (Celluclast(R) and Viscozyme(R), Novo, Denmark) to pe as and wheat silages was studied under laboratory conditions. The enzy mes were applied at 0.02, 0.1 and 0.2% each, corresponding to 0.3, 1.5 and 3.0 NCU (Novo cellulase units) of Celluclast, and 0.024, 0.12 and 0.24 FBG (fungal beta-glucanase units) of Viscozyme per gram of fresh crop. All treatments were enriched with a lactic acid bacteria inocul um, applied at 10(4) colony-forming units per gram of forage. The foll owing parameters of final silages (45 days) had a significant (P < 0.0 5) linear regression on log (enzyme concentration +1): pH, residual su gars, lactic acid, NDF (neutral detergent fibre) and ADF (acid deterge nt fibre). When enzyme levels increased from 0 to 0.2%, the NDF and AD F contents decreased from 355 and 317 to 303 and 255 g kg(-1), respect ively, in the pea silages, and they decreased from 568 and 357 to 522 and 340 g kg(-1), respectively, in the wheat silages. Enzyme treatment s resulted in enhanced aerobic deterioration in both pea and wheat sil ages. This was evident from higher yeast and mould counts, more intens ive CO2 production and visible mould growth during exposure to air for 5 days.