When you see steam rolling off of silage at load-out, is it reason to panic, or just another day? According to the silage experts at Novonesis, it could be either.
They said silage heating occurs for one of two reasons – either retained heat from ensiling and fermentation, or aerobic spoilage. As packed silage ferments, microorganisms consuming residual oxygen produce heat, plus plant respiration also increases temperature. These are normal processes that could result in that steamy silage.
But poorly packed silage can lead to high porosity that allows for an ongoing supply of oxygen. This invites aerobic bacteria to consume oxygen in the “spaces” among silage particles. The result is aerobic spoilage that will degrade the crop quality and potentially deliver dangerous substances if animals consume it.
The Novonesis experts recommend the “bucket test” to determine whether heat in silage is hazardous or harmless. Steps include:
- Gather a sample of 10-20 pounds of the hot silage of concern in a bucket.
- Insert a thermometer into the center of the sample.
- Set the bucket at room temperature indoors and out of direct sunlight, and protect it from being disturbed overnight.
- Check the temperature again the next morning.
If the silage temperature is higher than room temperature the next day, the silage is aerobically unstable and spoiling.
If, however, the silage temperature matches ambient temperature, the silage is aerobically stable and safe to feed.
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