A Review on Silage Additives and Enzymes

In order to understand how silage additives can help, one must first understand the ensiling process. Silage fermentation can be divided into 4 phases. The first phase is characterized by the presence of oxygen after forage is chopped and packed in the silo. Plant respiration continues for several hours (and perhaps days if silage is poorly packed) and plant enzymes (e.g., proteases) are active until oxygen is used up. During this phase, excess oxygen can lead to unwanted protein breakdown and excessive heating and growth of yeasts and molds that are undesirable. Oxygen can be eliminated by quick packing, even distribution of forage in the storage structure, chopping to a correct length and ensiling at recommended dry matters (DM) for specific storage structures. Oxygen must be eliminated before optimal fermentation can take place.