The by-products used were sugar beet pulp (SBP) or wheat gluten feed (WGF), with or without the use of various silage additives, i.e., either anaerobic fungal isolate from ruminant rumen (AF), rumen fluid , or lactic acid bacteria. The aim was to investigate the effects on the chemical composition, fermentation properties, gas production rate (GP) as an indicator of digestibility, and aerobic stability of the silage.

Overall, sufficient preservation observed in all silages. Silage with wheat gluten feed primarily increased the crude protein content while maintaining low ammonia-nitrogen levels, whereas mixed silage with sugar beet pulp energy content increased in-vitro gas production . The use of fresh anaerobic mushroom isolate further improved preservation and increased the energy content of pure corn silages. The use of fresh rumen fluid showed positive effects on silage quality, such as lower ammonia-nitrogen concentrations in all silages, while heat-inactivated mixed rumen fluid lowered the pH of the silage. The use of lactic acid bacteria supported the preservation of the corn silage but had no effect on its chemical composition or on in-vitro gas production.

In summary, mixed ensiling with by-products is a good option for improving the value of drought-damaged maize. Mixed ensiling of maize with by-products represents a promising adaptation strategy to summer droughts, especially in combination with anaerobic fungal isolates. These promising results from the laboratory trial need to be tested in further field trials. Regarding the anaerobic fungal isolate and rumen fluid, it also needs to be clarified whether their use is legally permissible and feasible in practice.

Further details on this experiment can be found in the freely available journal article: Science Direct - Mixed ensiling with by-products and silage additives significantly valorizes drought-impaired whole-crop corn