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Cited by 136Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive PhysiologyAnimal Nutrition and PhysiologyMycotoxins in Agriculture and Food

The Effect of Lactobacillus buchneri 40788 on the Fermentation and Aerobic Stability of High Moisture Corn in Laboratory Silos

Open access
Taylor, C.C., Kung, L.·2002·Journal of Dairy Science
DOI 10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(02)74222-7
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Abstract

The production of antifungal compounds during fermentation could be a useful mechanism to improve the aerobic stability of fermented feeds when they are exposed to air. High moisture corn (26% moisture) was ground and inoculated with various amounts of Lactobacillus buchneri 40788, a heterolactic acid bacteria, and ensiled in laboratory silos. Inoculation with L. buchneri 40788 from 1 x 10(5) to 1 x 10(6) cfu/g of corn had minor effects on the end products of fermentation during the early stage of ensiling (< or = 14 d). However, after 49, 92, and 166 d of ensiling, increasing the application rate of L. buchneri 40788 applied to corn increased the concentration of acetic acid when compared to untreated corn. Addition of L. buchneri 40788 had few other effects on the end products of fermentation. Dry matter recovery and aerobic stability were measured after 92 and 166 d of ensiling. At these times, dry matter recovery was not different among treatments, and numbers of yeasts and molds tended to decrease as the application rate of L. buchneri 40788 increased. Aerobic stability (number of h prior to a 2 degrees C rise in temperature after exposure to air) was markedly improved by the addition > or = 5 x 10(5) cfu/g of L. buchneri 40788. Combining L. buchneri 40788 with L. plantarum did not impart better aerobic stability than when L. buchneri 40788 was applied alone to corn. Addition of L. buchneri 40788 did not affect the rate of fermentation in high moisture corn, but after prolonged storage higher application rates increased production of acetic acid and markedly improved aerobic stability.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

In laboratory silos, inoculating high-moisture corn with *Lactobacillus buchneri* 40788 at ≥5 × 10⁵ cfu/g increased acetic acid during prolonged storage and markedly improved aerobic stability, while adding *L. plantarum* did not improve stability over *L. buchneri* alone. The provided full text is a high-moisture corn silo study, not the whole-plant barley/dairy-cow title in the bibliographic record.

Key findings

  • After 166 d of ensiling, acetic acid increased progressively with *L. buchneri* 40788 application: control 0.36%, LB1 0.56%, LB2 0.89%, LB3 1.11%, LB4 1.19%, and LBLP 0.75% (P < 0.05).
  • Aerobic stability at 92 d was 47 h for untreated high-moisture corn, 79 h for LB1, 333 h for LB2, 400 h for LB3, 371 h for LB4, and 306 h for LBLP; at 166 d, untreated corn heated after 84 h, LB1 lasted 208 h, and LB2, LB3, and LB4 remained stable for the entire 450-h monitoring period, while LBLP lasted 427 h.
  • Dry matter recovery did not differ among treatments at 92 or 166 d (92 d: 97–99%; 166 d: 98–99%), and molds at 166 d were lower in LB3 and LB4 than in control (<2.00 vs. 2.23 log₁₀ cfu/g).
  • Inoculation had minor effects on fermentation end products at ≤14 d; by 49 d, acetic acid was greater in LB3, LB4, and LBLP (average 0.77%) than in control (0.41%, P < 0.05).

Methods

  • High-moisture corn harvested at about 73% DM was ground and treated with water (control) or *L. buchneri* 40788 at 1 × 10⁵, 5 × 10⁵, 6.6 × 10⁵, or 1 × 10⁶ cfu/g plus enzymes, or *L. buchneri* 40788 at 5 × 10⁵ cfu/g plus *L. plantarum* at 1 × 10⁵ cfu/g plus enzymes.
  • Corn was ensiled in mini silos (5 cm diameter × 20 cm height) opened at 7, 14, and 49 d and macro silos (27 cm diameter × 36 cm height) opened at 92 and 166 d, packed to 600 kg DM/m³ and stored at 20–27°C.
  • Analyses included DM, pH, water-soluble carbohydrates, ammonia-N, lactic acid, VFA, ethanol, yeast/mold/lactic acid bacteria counts, and aerobic stability defined as hours before a >2°C rise above ambient after air exposure; data were analyzed by GLM for a completely randomized 6 × 6 factorial (inoculation × days) with Tukey’s test, P < 0.05.

Limitations

  • The paper does not state a limitations section.
  • Evident from the text: results are from laboratory mini and macro silos only; no farm-scale silo, animal intake, milk yield, or nutritive-value measurements for dairy cows are reported in the provided text.
  • Evident from the text: all *L. buchneri* treatments also contained enzymes, so the enzyme contribution cannot be separated from the inoculant effect.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(02)74222-7

Cites

20 of 20 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 15 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    Adding L. buchneri 40788 had few other effects on the end products of fermentation.

    “Addition of L. buchneri 40788 had few other effects on the end products of fermentation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    At 92 d of ensiling, the LBLP combination had lower yeast numbers than the control.

    “However, the combination of LBLP had lower (P < 0.05) numbers of yeasts than did C.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    At 92 and 166 d of ensiling, dry matter recovery did not differ among the treatments.

    “At these times, dry matter recovery was not different among treatments”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Adding L. buchneri 40788 did not change the rate of fermentation in high moisture corn.

    “Addition of L. buchneri 40788 did not affect the rate of fermentation in high moisture corn”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Inoculating high moisture corn with L. buchneri 40788 at 1 × 10^5 to 1 × 10^6 cfu/g had only minor effects on the end products of fermentation during the early stage of ensiling (≤ 14 d).

    “Inoculation with L. buchneri 40788 from 1 × 10 5 to 1 × 10 6 cfu/g of corn had minor effects on the end products of fermentation during the early stage of ensiling (≤ 14 d).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 17
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 9

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    At 49 d of ensiling, ammonia-N was higher and water-soluble carbohydrates lower in the LB3, LB4, and LBLP silages than in the control.

    “Ammonia-N was higher (P < 0.05) and WSC was lower (P < 0.05) in these”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    At 166 d of ensiling, low numbers of molds were detected and were lower in LB3 and LB4 than in the control, while yeast numbers were unaffected by L. buchneri 40788 treatment.

    “Although numbers of yeasts were not affected by treatment with L. buchneri 40788, low numbers of molds were detected after 166 d of ensiling and were lower in LB3 and LB4 than in C.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    At 92 d of ensiling, untreated high moisture corn remained stable for 47 h after exposure to air, while treatments with ≥5 × 10^5 cfu/g were more stable (average 352 h).

    “Untreated HMC remained stable for 47 h after exposure to air.Treatments with application rates of L. buchneri 40788 that were ≥5 × 10 5 cfu/g were more (P < 0.05) stable (average of 352 h) than C (47 h).”
    • Also stated in: § DISCUSSION · plain
      “After 92 d, untreated HMC spoiled 47 h after exposure to air.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    At 166 d of ensiling, untreated high moisture corn heated after 84 h of exposure to air, whereas LB1 treatment improved aerobic stability to 208 h.

    “Untreated HMC heated after 84 h of exposure to air.Treatment with LB1 improved (P < 0.05) the aerobic stability of HMC (208 h) when compared to C”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    At 166 d of ensiling, pH was higher and lactic acid concentration lower for LB4 than for the control.

    “After 166 d of ensiling, the pH was higher (P < 0.05) and lactic acid concentration was lower (P < 0.05) for LB4 when compared to C in HMC (Table 6).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    At 92 d of ensiling, acetic acid concentration was numerically greater in L. buchneri 40788-treated corn than in the control but statistically greater only for corn treated with LB4.

    “The concentration of acetic acid was numerically greater in HMC treated with L. buchneri 40788 when compared to C, but was only statistically greater (P < 0.05) for corn treated with LB4.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    At 92 d of ensiling, pH was highest and lactic acid concentration lowest in the treatment with the highest L. buchneri 40788 concentration (LB4).

    “After 92 d of ensiling the pH was highest (P < 0.05) and concentration of lactic acid lowest (P < 0.05) in treatments with the highest concentration of L. buchneri 40788 (LB4, Table 5).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    At 166 d of ensiling, high moisture corn treated with ≥5 × 10^5 cfu/g of L. buchneri 40788 alone did not heat during the 450 h monitoring period, and the LBLP treatment was stable for 427 h.

    “The three high treatments of L. buchneri 40788 alone, remained stable for the entire monitoring period of 450 h.”
    • Also stated in: § RESULTS · plain
      “Treatment with LBLP was stable for 427 h.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    At 166 d of ensiling, silages treated with LB2, LB3, and LB4 had higher ammonia-N concentrations than the control.

    “Silages treated with LB2, LB3, and LB4 had higher (P < 0.05) concen-”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Yeasts are a primary cause of spoilage in most ensiled feeds exposed to air, and inhibiting them is crucial to improving aerobic stability.

    “Yeasts are a primary cause of spoilage in most ensiled feeds exposed to air (Woolford, 1990) and inhibition of these organisms is crucial to improving aerobic stability.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Woolford, 1990 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    L. buchneri strain 40788 produces acetic acid by a pathway that converts lactic acid to acetic acid, ethanol, and 1,2-propanediol.

    “In contrast, L. buchneri (strain 40788) produces acetic acid via a novel pathway that converts lactic acid to acetic acid, ethanol, and 1,2-propanediol (Oude Elferink et al., 2001).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Oude Elferink et al., 2001 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    In this study, accumulation of acetic acid through anaerobic degradation of lactic acid depended on the initial application rate of L. buchneri 40788 and on the length of storage before silos were opened.

    “In the current study accumulation of acetic acid via the anaerobic degradation of lactic acid was dependent on the initial rate of application of L. buchneri 40788 and the length of storage time before opening silos.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Lactobacilli require a relatively high amount of metabolic water for growth and reproduction, which may be limiting in high moisture corn.

    “One possibility for these findings is that lactobacilli require a relatively high amount of metabolic water for growth and reproduction (Lanigan, 1963), which may be limiting in HMC.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lanigan, 1963

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Recommendations generally suggest a final minimum application rate of 1 × 10^5 cfu of homolactic acid bacteria per gram of forage to improve silage fermentation.

    “In general, recommendations suggest a final minimum application rate of 1 × 10 5 cfu of homolactic acid bacteria per gram of forage for improving the fermentation of silage (Muck and Kung, 1997).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Muck and Kung, 1997

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Acetic acid is strongly antimycotic and has been shown to inhibit yeasts.

    “Acetic acid is highly antimycotic (Woolford, 1975) and has been shown to inhibit yeasts (Moon, 1983).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Woolford, 1975 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Moon, 1983 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Heterolactic fermentation typically converts glucose and fructose to lactic acid, acetic acid, and a variety of other end products.

    “Typically, heterolactic fermentation converts glucose and fructose to lactic acid, acetic acid, and a variety of other end products (McDonald et al., 1973).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites McDonald et al., 1973 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    A microbial inoculant improved the aerobic stability of high moisture corn after 138 d but not after 202 d of storage.

    “Sebastian et al. (1996) reported that a microbial inoculant improved the aerobic stability of HMC after 138 d but not after 202 d of storage.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sebastian et al., 1996 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Marked improvements in aerobic stability have been reported when silages were inoculated with L. buchneri 40788.

    “Marked improvements in aerobic stability have been reported when silages were inoculated with L. buchneri, 40788 (Driehuis et al., 1999;Kung and Ranjit, 2001).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Driehuis et al., 1999 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Kung and Ranjit, 2001 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    High moisture corn treated with L. buchneri 40788 remains stable for long periods, and prolonged storage may allow a lower application rate because acetic acid concentrations rise with time.

    “Our study suggests that HMC treated with L. buchneri 40788 remains stable for long periods of time and prolonged storage may allow for a lower application as concentrations of acetic acid increased with time.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Propionibacteria convert lactic acid and glucose to acetic and propionic acids but have generally been ineffective in other silages because they grow slowly and are acid intolerant.

    “These bacteria convert lactic acid and glucose to acetic and propionic acids, but they have been generally ineffective in other silages because they are slow growing and acid intolerant (Weinberg et al., 1995).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Weinberg et al., 1995 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Air entering a silage mass can negatively affect feed quality, and this is especially true for high moisture corn because it is high in starch, low in moisture, and less extensively fermented than typical forage crops.

    “The entry of air into a silage mass can have negative effects on feed quality (Woolford, 1990).This is especially true for high moisture corn (HMC) because it is high in starch, low in moisture, and is less extensively fermented relative to typical forage crops.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Woolford, 1990 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    High moisture corn should be treated with L. buchneri 40788 to achieve ≥5 × 10^5 cfu/g and probably ensiled for more than 45 d to obtain improvements in aerobic stability.

    “Based on data from the current study, HMC should be treated with L. buchneri 40788 to achieve ≥5 × 10 5 cfu/ g and probably should be ensiled for more than 45 d for improvements in aerobic stability.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The observed increases in acetic acid and improvements in aerobic stability are attributable to L. buchneri 40788 rather than to the enzyme mixture (β-glucanase, α-amylase, xylanase, galactomannase) that was included in every inoculated treatment but not in the control.
22 of 22

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The observed increases in acetic acid and improvements in aerobic stability are attributable to L. buchneri 40788 rather than to the enzyme mixture (β-glucanase, α-amylase, xylanase, galactomannase) that was included in every inoculated treatment but not in the control.

    “2) L. buchneri 40788 applied to achieve a final application rate of 1 × 10 5 cfu/g of fresh corn and β-glucanase (63,636 IU/t of fresh corn), α-amylase (31,818 IU/t), xylanase (34,545 IU/t), and galactomannase (5818 IU/t) (Lallemand Animal Nutrition, Milwaukee, WI) (LB1)”
1 of 1

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Control application volume conflicts with the stated rate

    Minor

    The control treatment used 300 ml of water for 150 kg of corn, or 2 ml/kg. That differs from the stated 0.5 ml/kg rate for all treatments.

    Reported 0.5 · recomputed 2

  • Seven-day mold counts contradict the discussion

    Minor

    The discussion says molds were undetectable after seven days, but Table 2 reports numerical mold counts for five of the six treatments at seven days.

2 of 2

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Hoffman, 1997, Quantification of milk yield losses associated with feeding aerobically unstable high moisture corn, J. Dairy Sci., 80, 234
  2. Muck, R. E. 1996. A lactic acid bacteria strain to improve aerobic stability of silages. Pages 42–43 in U.S. Dairy Forage Res. Center 1996 Res. Summaries. Madison, WI.
  3. SAS User's Guide: Statistics, Version 7 Edition. 1998. SAS Inst., Inc., Cary, NC.
  4. Whitlock, 2000, Effect of level of surface-spoiled silage on the nutritive value of corn silage diets, J. Dairy Sci., 83, 110

Cited by

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Related

Authors
Taylor, C. C., & Kung, L.
Affiliations
University of Delaware (US)
Corresponding author
Kung, L.
ORCID
Kung, L.
Venue
Journal of Dairy Science
Publisher
American Dairy Science Association
Published
2002-06
Volume
85
Issue
6
Pages
1526-1532
ISSN
0022-0302 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(02)74222-7
OpenAlex
W2133400667
Semantic Scholar
3638565d17d275abae9c06c000cda967bad02674
Cited by
136
References
20
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 6
FWCI
4.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Dairy Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
University of Delaware
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Nutrition and Physiology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Mycotoxins in Agriculture and Food
Keywords
high-moisture corn, aerobic stability, silage fermentation, inoculation rate, acetic acid production, dry matter recovery, molds and yeasts, Lactobacillus plantarum, antifungal agents, silage additives
MeSH terms
Aerobiosis, Zea mays, Fermentation, Food Handling, Food Microbiology, Food Preservation, Fungi, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Lactobacillus, Silage, Time Factors, Yeasts, Colony Count, Microbial, Acetic Acid

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