A quantitative model of the ensilage process in lactate silages

A model of the ensilage process is presented which can be used to predict silage quality in lactate silages. The model simulates the major microbial and biochemical processes during ensilage, including aerobic respiration, hydrolysis of hemicellulose. growth and death of lactic acid bacteria and their production of lactic and acetic acids, reduction in pH, change in soluble sugar content, increase in osmotic potential, and proteolysis. The model is designed to operate on mixtures of grasses, legumes, or whole-plant corn. Parameters for the model are developed from published silage experiments and pure-culture bacterial studies. The model gives reasonably accurate predictions of key silage quality parameters, but further experimental work is needed on growth of lactic acid bacteria and on plant-enzyme proteolysis. Predicted final pH depends primarily on the pH at which bacterial growth and death rates are equal. Initial bacterial concentration affects the time to rapid pH change, while maximum bacterial growth rate affects the rate of decline thereafter.