Influence of lactic acid bacteria and maturity stage of corn on the digestibility of silage in sheep

Corn of variety Noveta was harvested with dry matter content of 26.8%, 32.0 % and 39.0% and ensiled in laboratory silos. Lactic acid bacteria were adde d to silages with 32.0% DM (Lactobacillus plantarum or Enterococcus faecium , 10(5) KFU per g fresh matter). Each of five silages were fed to 9 castrated male sheep (initial body weigh t: 88.7 +/- 4.5 kg) for 20 days (12 days adaptation period, 8 days collecti on period). Besides from 1.1 kg DM of corn silage sheep consumed 104 g DM s oy bean meal to meet the protein requirements. Neither maturity not lactic acid bacteria have had a significant influence (p > 0.05) on digestibility of organic matter (68.6 - 70.2%) and crude nutr ients as well as energy concentration (5.9 - 6.1 MJ NEL per kg DM) of silag es.