Elephant grass silage inoculated with cellulolytic fungi isolated from rumen

ABSTRACT The objective was to evaluate the inoculation with Aspergillus terreus and/or Trichoderma longibrachiatum on fermentation, chemical and microbiological composition of elephant grass ‘Cameroon’ silage (Cenchrus purpureus). Treatments were A. at 105 colony forming units (CFU)/g (AT15), T. CFU/g (TL20), a mixture both (MIX), control group without (CONTR). design completely randomized seven replicates. MIX most stable, while CONTR, AT15, TL20, had lower dry matter losses. There no effect in silages. Only (4.40) pH above minimum 4.2 for humid (4.05). Bacteria from Diplococcus genus identified opening TL20 CONTR After air exposure, population rods, Lactobacillus, total lactic acid bacteria higher theTL20 MIX. inclusion increases mater loss pH. more efficient maintaining populations after opening; therefore, this strain has potential as an additive silage.