The effects of air and heat stress on the aerobic stability of silage treated with a chemical additive

The chemical additive Safesil (active ingredients: sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and sodium nitrite; Salinity, Sweden) was evaluated for its effects on the fermentation and aerobic stability of corn silage. Whole plant corn samples were harvested at 40% DM, chopped, processed, and treated with 1) no additive (control), 2) Safesil (2 L/t), or 3) Safesil (3 L/t). Silos (7.5 L; forage density of 224 kg of DM/m3) from each treatment were stored at either 22 ± 2 or 30 ± 2°C and subjected to no air stress or a 2-h weekly air stress. After 100 d of ensiling, 5 replicate silos were opened for each treatment. Data were analyzed by ANOVA as a 3 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with main factors of additive, storage temperature, air stress, and their interactions. Silages were analyzed for numbers of yeasts, fermentation end products, and aerobic stability. Both application rates of Safesil resulted in silages with lower numbers of yeasts (P < 0.01) compared with control silage (3.96 vs.