QUANTITATIVE CHANGES OF EPIPHYTIC LACTIC- ACID BACTERIA ON FORAGE IN THE COURSE OF HARVEST AND ENSILAGE

Quantitative changes of epiphytic micro-organisms on forage in the cou rse of harvest as well as during the ensilage process were studied. In further investigations the quality of silages made of mowed and of ch opped plant material respectively was compared. The results of the stu dy revealed that the method of harvest did not significantly affect th e counts of aerobic bacteria, clostridia, yeasts and molds. On the oth er hand an immediate increase in numbers of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) during the harvesting procedure was observed. Chopping enhanced the r ecovery of LAB during the important early stage of fermentation and ca used a more rapid decline in pH compared to the corresponding mowed ma terial. The higher metabolic activity of the LAB in the chopped materi al resulted in an improved ratio of silage acids as well as in a reduc ed loss of dry matter and net energy during silage preservation. More intensive mechanical treatment brought about favourable microbial cond itions for a desirable fermentation and a successful silage preservati on: The favourable effect of the release of juice and cell contents fr om the ruptured plant material apparently exceeded the advantage of th e compact consolidation during ensilage.