# Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria on Fermentation and Nutritional Value of BRS Capiaçu Elephant Grass Silage at Two Regrowth Ages

## TL;DR

This study examines how lactic acid bacteria affect the fermentation and nutritional quality of elephant grass silage harvested at different ages.

## Contribution

The study introduces new insights into how microbial inoculants influence silage quality at different regrowth stages of BRS Capiaçu elephant grass.

## Key findings

- Kera-Sil inoculant lowered silage pH compared to the control.
- Silage harvested at 105 days had higher NDF and lower digestibility.
- Commercial inoculants improved fermentation and nutritional parameters.

## Abstract

Ensiling is a widely used technique for preserving forage in ruminant production systems worldwide. In tropical climates, elephant grass stands out as a crop for silage production due to its high productivity. During the ensiling process, losses are inevitable; however, they can be minimized through proper crop management and the use of additives such as bacterial inoculants. Adopting these practices enables the production of higher-quality silage, which can positively impact animal performance.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of lactic acid bacteria inoculation on the fermentation profile and nutritional value of BRS Capiaçu elephant grass silages harvested at two regrowth ages. The treatments were arranged in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme, with five inoculants (I) and two regrowth ages (A, 90 and 105 days), in a completely randomized design, with three replicates. There were I × A interactions (p < 0.05) on pH, acetic acid, and water-soluble carbohydrates. The silage treated with Kera-Sil showed a lower pH compared with the control silage. The highest ammonia nitrogen content was recorded in the silage treated with Yakult®. There were I × A interactions (p < 0.05) on the dry matter (DM) content, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and in vitro digestibility of DM (IVDMD) and NDF (IVNDFD). Silages treated with Kera-Sil and Silo-Max at 90 days of regrowth showed a higher DM and higher IVDMD (p < 0.05). A higher NDF content and lower IVDMD and IVNDFD were recorded in silages produced with grass harvested at 105 days of regrowth (p < 0.05). The use of commercial microbial inoculants improved the fermentative and nutritional parameters of the silages.