Rapid acting lactobacillus strains and their use to improve aerobic stability of silage

Abstract

A method for treating silage to enhance the aerobic stability by increasing the fermentation and stabilization of silage by inhibiting growth of microorganisms selected from yeasts, molds and spore-forming bacteria and permitting earlier aerobic exposure is disclosed. The method comprises treating silage or feed with a composition comprising Lactobacillus buchneri strain LN7125, or Lactobacillus brevis strain LB5328, or Lactobacillus brevis strain LB7123, and mixtures or a mutant thereof which retains the silage preservative activity of LN7125, LB5328, or LB7123, or the antimicrobial components produced thereby. The strains of Lactobacillus buchneri and Lactobacillus brevis disclosed in the invention have been purified and isolated and have been found to improve aerobic stability of silage allowing earlier aerobic exposure post ensiling than is presently practiced

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sealed storage unit containing a fermented silage composition comprising:
 a silage quality preserving amount of the bacteria  Lactobacillus buchneri  LN7125, or  Lactobacillus brevis  LB5328, or  Lactobacillus brevis  LB7123, and mixtures thereof, silage, and a suitable carrier, wherein said composition is characterized by having dry matter loss of the silage reduced in seven days after the composition is made, and wherein said sealed storage unit opened after seven days of anaerobic fermentation results in a silage mixture having increased aerobic stability as compared to the aerobic stability of a silage without said bacteria as measured by dry weight loss.   
     
     
         2 . The sealed storage unit containing the fermented silage composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition contains from about 10 1  to about 10 11  viable organisms per gram wet weight of silage. 
     
     
         3 . The sealed storage unit containing the fermented silage composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition contains from about 10 2  to about 10 7  viable organisms per gram wet weight of silage. 
     
     
         4 . The sealed storage unit containing the fermented silage composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition contains from about 10 3  to about 10 6  viable organisms per gram wet weight of silage. 
     
     
         5 . The sealed storage unit containing the fermented silage composition of  claim 1  wherein the silage is opened at twenty-nine (29) days. 
     
     
         6 . The sealed storage unit containing the fermented silage composition of  claim 1  wherein the silage is opened at twenty-eight (28) days. 
     
     
         7 . The sealed storage unit containing the fermented silage composition of  claim 1  wherein the silage is opened at fourteen (14) days. 
     
     
         8 . The sealed storage unit containing the fermented silage composition of  claim 1  wherein the silage is opened at seven (7) days. 
     
     
         9 . The sealed storage unit containing the fermented silage composition of  claim 1  wherein the carrier is liquid. 
     
     
         10 . The sealed storage unit containing the fermented silage composition of  claim 1  wherein the carrier is solid. 
     
     
         11 . The sealed storage unit containing the fermented silage composition of  claim 1  further comprising calcium carbonate, starch, or cellulose.