Effects of bacterial inoculation of high-moisture ear corn on its aerobic stability, digestion, and utilization for growth by beef steers.

High-moisture ear corn (HMEC) was treated with specific bacterial inoculants and evaluated for its aerobic stability and utilization for growth by beef steers. Immediately after harvest, HMEC (65% DM) was ensiled in tower silos after being either untreated (control) or treated with the following inoculants: 1) Ecosyl (E); 2) Ecosyl plus Serratia rubidaea (E + SR); and 3) Ecosyl plus Streptococcus thermophilus (E + ST). A portion of HMEC was frozen immediately (-20 degrees C) and subsequently treated with eight bacterial inoculants before ensiling in laboratory silos; the fermented material was then exposed to air for 7 d for assessment of aerobic deterioration. The eight inoculants included the three used in the tower silos and four additional ones: Streptococcus thermophilus, Bacillus subtilis (BS), Serratia rubidaea, and a mixture of Ecosyl + B. subtilis (E + BS). The growth trial was conducted for 112 d with 32 crossbred steers (average BW 296 kg). A digestion trial was conducted, according to a 4 x 4 Latin square design, using an additional four steers (average BW 367 kg). In both trials, steers were fed the same four diets containing inoculated (E, E + SR, and E + ST) or control HMEC. Upon exposure to air, Ecosyl-treated ensiled HMEC had the least increase in pH compared with other single inoculants; all inoculant treatments lessened (P less than .05) the increase in sample temperature compared with control. During aerobic exposure, treatment of HMEC with BS seemed to reduce the disappearance of water-soluble carbohydrates, whereas Ecosyl seemed to reduce lactic acid. Despite evidence of improved aerobic stability with Ecosyl and BS, inoculation of HMEC did not (P greater than .10) improve BW gain or feed efficiency; however, all inoculants reduced (P less than .05) digestibility of ADF.