Experience of using a biological preservative in cereal-legume silage

The article presents the results of applying Biotrof®2+ biological preservative in cereal-legume silage production. The preservative based on Lactobacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium strains, increases the number of lactic acid bacteria in the green mass, activates lactic acid fermentation and subsequently suppresses the development of undesirable butyric acid and putrefactive microorganisms in the ensiled mass. The research objectives are assessment of the chemical composition, nutritional value, and mycotoxin amount in the green mass at ensilaging, as well as in the finished preserved feeds. The study has been carried out at the Peredovoy collective farm in the Vologda Region. As follows from the study, the preservative used in cereal-legume silage production has a positive effect on the energy value integrity and nutrient content of the silage. The metabolizable energy content in the finished feeds is 92% of the green mass before ensilaging, with a slight loss of crude protein in dry matter of 2.1%. The efficiency of the fermentation process is confirmed by a high lactic acid content of 77.3%. On the whole, if we take into account the organic acid content and pH level, the preserved feed quality can be classified as Quality Class I.