Effect of acid based additive treatment of low dry matter grass crops on losses and silage quality in bunker silos

Abstract The large surface area of bunker silos imposes challenges with heating caused by plant respiration during initial ensiling. This study aimed to explore if application a formic- and propionic acid-based additive would improve grass silage quality, reduce losses, increase aerobic stability in silos. At each three harvests, every second tractor load was filled either untreated or acid treated precision chopped crop, ensiled two identical silos, 6?m?×?27?m 3.5?m high walls, without roof. Each both compacted packing machines. Initially, an 8.3?t farm worked for 10?min. followed 14.5?t wheel loader Silos were approximately half their capacity. Due showers all crop dry matter (DM) concentrations only 195, 186 213?g/kg, respectively. During unloading feeding, DM density respectively 7% 5% higher (P? Additive treatment reduced the proportion non-protein N total N, restricted fermentation lactic acetic acid, NH3-N-values, increased ethanol (P