An Enzyme Additive for Corn Silage: Effects on Silage Composition and Animal Performance

Whole-plant corn was harvested at the soft dough stage of maturity, was left untreated or was treated with an enzyme additive containing cellulase and hemicellulase, and was ensiled in bag or mini silos. Silage fermentation was not markedly altered by treatment, regardless of silo type; however, enzyme treatment reduced NDF and ADF contents of silage and reduced in vitro NDF digestibility after 196 d of storage in mini silos. For corn silage stored in bag silos, enzyme treatment had no effect on fibrous components; however, for ruminal continuous cultures, a diet containing treated silage decreased the acetate to propionate ratio. Nutrient digestion was not different in lambs fed untreated or treated corn silage, but N retention was greater in lambs fed the latter. Treatment of corn silage with the enzyme additive had no effect on DMI, milk production, milk composition, or feed efficiency when silage was fed at 43% (DM basis) of the total mixed diet of the dairy cows. Enzyme treatment had minimal effects on silage fermentation, inconsistent effects on fibrous components of silage, and improved N retention in lambs but had no effect on production of dairy cows.