Small Ruminant Research 121 (2014) 308313

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Small Ruminant Research

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Short communication

Aerobic exposure of lucerne silages and its impact on

preference and dry matter intake by goats
K. Gerlach , Y. Liao 1 , K.-H. Sdekum
Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 15, 53115 Bonn, Germany

a r t i c l e

i n f o

Article history:
Received 26 May 2014
Received in revised form 20 July 2014
Accepted 21 July 2014
Available online 27 July 2014
Keywords:
Aerobic exposure
Legume
Preference
Silage additive
Volatile organic compound

a b s t r a c t
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of aerobic exposure of lucerne (Medicago
sativa L.) silages on short-term dry matter intake (DMI) and preference by goats. Third-cut
lucerne was harvested at late-bud stage and, after eld-wilting, ensiled either untreated
(CON) or treated (TRE) with a chemical additive containing sodium nitrite and hexamine.
Each treatment was ensiled in a separate round bale. After 5 months, both round bales were
opened, each silage mixed thoroughly and exposed to air for 8 days (d). In 2-d intervals,
silages were sampled for chemical and microbiological analyses (yeasts, moulds and aerobic
mesophilic bacteria) and stored anaerobically in vacuum-sealed polyethylene bags for use
in feeding trials. For both silages, one preference trial was done with Saanen-type wethers
(n = 5), each one lasting 15 d. During the experimental phase, each possible combination of
two silages (n = 10) was offered to the goats as free choice for 3 h. Data were analyzed using
SAS with an analysis of variance, and correlation analysis between silage characteristics
and DMI.
At opening, concentrations of lactic, acetic, and butyric acids were 39, 25 and 2.5 g/kg DM
in CON (401 g DM/kg), and 31, 12 and <0.02 g/kg DM in TRE silages (385 g DM/kg). During
aerobic exposure, mould counts in CON increased, but silage temperature remained stable. The TRE silage heated (>3.0 C above ambient) on d8, possibly due to higher amounts
of water-soluble carbohydrates and increasing yeast counts. In both trials, goats showed
a strong avoidance for aerobically exposed silages. The 3-h DMI (n = 20) for d0-silage was
700 g (TRE) and 670 g (CON), it decreased on d2 (TRE) and d4 (CON) of aerobic exposure
(P < 0.001). On d8, there was a decline (P < 0.001) in DMI of 67% (CON) and 58% (TRE) compared to d0-silages. Aerobic exposure of lucerne silage strongly inuenced preference and
short-time DMI by goats, although silage temperature, fermentation products and microbial
variables changed only slightly.
2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
As a legume plant, lucerne possesses a high crude protein (CP) concentration but a low fermentable carbohydrate

Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 228 73 2281; fax: +49 228 73 2295.
E-mail address: kger@itw.uni-bonn.de (K. Gerlach).
1
Present address: Dr. Eckel GmbH, Im Stiefelfeld 10, 56651 Niederzissen, Germany.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2014.07.022
0921-4488/ 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

content (McDonald et al., 1991) and hence shows a high

buffering capacity. In addition, its tubular hollow stem can
inhibit complete removal of air during ensiling (McAllister
et al., 1998). Lucerne is therefore classied as forage that is
more difcult to ensile and the use of additives to improve
the fermentation process is often recommended (Albrecht
and Beauchemin, 2003), also to impair extensive protein
degradation and formation of non-protein nitrogen (NPN)
compounds during ensiling (Guo et al., 2008). On the other
hand, its high buffering capacity supports a stable rumen

K. Gerlach et al. / Small Ruminant Research 121 (2014) 308313

pH in order to optimize microbial activity (McBurney et al.,

1983) and feed intake often increases when lucerne is compared with other forages in ruminant diets (Bulang et al.,
2006).
Aerobic stability of lucerne silages has been reported to
be moderate to good (Kung et al., 1991; OKiely and Muck,
1992), but to our best knowledge no information is available on the impact of aerobic exposure after silo opening on
dry matter intake (DMI) by ruminants. Therefore, the aim
of this study was to determine the effect of aerobic exposure of two different lucerne silages on short-term DMI and
preference by goats.
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Preparation of silages
Lucerne (Medicago sativa L., third cut) cultivated at the research station
Frankenforst of the University of Bonn, Germany (7 12 E and 50 42 N) was
harvested on 08 August 2012 at late-bud stage and, after eld-wilting to
targeted DM concentrations of around 390 g/kg, ensiled either untreated
(CON) or treated (TRE) with a chemical additive containing sodium nitrite
and hexamine (hexamethylenetetramine) (Kofasil liquid, Addcon Europe,
Bonn, Germany; 3.5 l/t) which can be added for improvement of the
fermentation process. The preservative was applied at the baler intake
with a commercial spray applicator (Model SP Standard, SILA, Bitterfeld,
Germany) mounted above the pick-up assembly on the baler. Each treatment was ensiled in a separate round bale (diameter 1.3 m), tied with 2
revolutions of net wrap and wrapped with a minimum of four layers of
white stretch lm within two hours of being formed. After 5 months, both
round bales were unwrapped, measured to calculate their volume and
weighed for determination of density; afterwards each silage was completely homogenized and exposed to air on a heap (3 3 m) for 8 d. The
aerobic exposure periods of both silages were conducted simultaneously
and indoor with a continuous measurement of ambient temperature (data
logger 175-T1, Testo, Lenzkirch, Germany; 18.6 0.26 C). At the day of
opening (d0) and at 2-d intervals (d2, d4, d6 and d8 after opening) temperature of the material was measured in a depth of 20 cm at three different
points in the silage heap (middle, left, right; 1 m distance between measurement points) using a digital probe thermometer (TFA Dostmann,
Wertheim, Germany) at 8:30 each day, respectively; afterwards the silage
was homogenized completely. Aerobic stability was dened as the number of days the silage remained stable before rising more than 3 K above
the ambient temperature (Honig, 1990). For chemical analyses, a composite sample (1000 g) of each silage heap was taken at the respective
sampling days and frozen immediately (18 C). Another sample (50.0 g)
for determination of fermentation variables was taken and also frozen.
For subsequent use in the preference trials with goats, samples of the
homogenized silage heap from each day of the aerobic exposure (d0, d2,
d4, d6 and d8) were stored anaerobically in polyethylene bags (170 m,
400 600 mm; Innovapac, Durach, Germany), which were evacuated and
sealed with a chamber vacuum-packing machine (MAX-F 46, Helmut Boss
Verpackungsmaschinen, Bad Homburg, Germany). For each meal for each
goat a single bag was used which was lled with approximately 2 kg silage
(requirements + buffer = 60 bags per day and treatment). Bags were stored
in a dark and dry cooling chamber (6 C) until used in the preference
trial. Storage time of the silages in the vacuum bags ranged from 1 to
15 d depending on the day when fed. The time difference was randomly
allocated to treatments, as each treatment was fed at each day of the
preference trial.
2.2. Preference trials
For both silage treatments, a preference trial was conducted starting
directly after the aerobic storage period described above. A total of ten
Saanen-type wethers (German Improved White Goat breed, mean (SD)
body weight 91 (12.4) kg) were used which were divided into two groups
(ve goats per group) to conduct both trials concurrently. Two animals
shared an indoor pen of approximately 2 m 3 m bedded with straw.
To measure individual intake, goats were tied up for the duration of the
experimental feeding, with the possibility of lying down and accessing

309

water and salt licks. Animal care and handling was done according to
ofcial German regulations (Anonymus, 2013).
Preference trials were carried out as previously described by Burns
et al. (2001) and conducted on side by Gerlach et al. (2013, 2014). During
an adaptation period prior to both experiments (Kyriazakis et al., 1990),
single meals of each aerobic exposure stage (d0d8) of both silages were
offered to allow the animal to associate the silage with postingestive
metabolic response, taste and smell produced by the forage. For both initial treatments, the adaptation period lasted 5 d (silages from ve stages of
aerobic exposure) and forages were offered in randomized order. During
the subsequent experimental phase, each possible 2-way combination of
the ve silages (n = 10) was presented. Each forage was offered in a plastic
feeding box (400 mm 340 mm 250 mm) and the silage pairs were presented side by side. The order of presentation of the pairs and the left-right
position of the silages in the pair were randomized in all trials. Goats had
free access to both feeding boxes so that free choice between both forages
could be guaranteed. As proposed by Buntinx et al. (1997), the weight
of the silages was then determined 30 min after offering and after 3 h to
calculate the initial preference and total DMI. During the trials goats had
a constant choice between two silages. This was guaranteed by putting
additional silage into the feeding box as soon as the weight fell below
300 g. Both trials lasted 15 days, consisting of 5 days for adaptation and
10 days for experimental measurements. Each day, the experimental meal
was offered for 3 h, starting at 07:45. Grass hay was offered for ad libitum
consumption at 15:30 and removed the following morning at 07:00. Its
concentrations (g/kg DM) of ash, CP, crude lipids (CL), acid detergent bre
(ADF), neutral detergent bre (NDF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) were
97.3, 122, 13.9, 421, 590, and 58.3, respectively, and the concentration of
metabolizable energy (ME, MJ/kg DM) was 7.98. For laboratory analyses,
a subsample (1000 g) of both silage treatments and each stage of aerobic exposure (d0d8) was taken out of the polyethylene bag and frozen
immediately at the end of each preference trial.
2.3. General analyses
Silage samples were freeze-dried in triplicate. The DM of the silages
was then estimated by oven-drying a duplicate subsample at 105 C
overnight. A correction of DM (DMcor ) for the loss of volatiles during
drying was conducted according to Weibach and Strubelt (2008)
using the following equation: DMcor = DM + (1.05 0.059 pH) total
volatile fatty acids (VFA, C2C6) + 0.08 lactic acid + 0.77 1,2propanediol + 0.87 2,3-butanediol + 1.00 total of other alcohols
(C2C4). All concentrations are expressed as g/kg.
Proximate analyses were done according to the German Handbook of
Agricultural Research and Analytic Methods (VDLUFA, 2012) and method
numbers are given. Ash and crude lipids (CL) were analysed using methods
8.1 and 5.1. Crude protein was determined by Dumas combustion (4.1.2,
FP328, Leco 8.1, Leco Instrumente, Mnchengladbach, Germany). Crude
protein fractions (NPN and true protein) were determined according to
Licitra et al. (1996). The concentrations of NDF (6.5.1; assayed with heat
stable amylase and expressed exclusive residual ash), ADF (6.5.2) and ADL
(6.5.3) were analysed sequentially using an Ankom 2000 Fiber Analyzer
(Ankom Technology, Macedon, NY, USA). The ADF was also analysed separately using the same method and is expressed exclusive of residual ash
(ADFom) for use in the formula for estimating the concentration of ME.
The Hohenheim gas test (method 25.1, VDLUFA, 2012) was conducted for measuring the 24 h in vitro gas production (GP, ml/200 mg
DM) and estimating the concentration of ME of the forages using the
equation of GfE (2008): ME (MJ/kg DM) = 7.81 + 0.07559 GP 0.00384
ash + 0.00565 CP + 0.01898 CL 0.00831 ADF, where ash, CP, CL, and
ADF are in g/kg DM and GP is in ml/200 mg DM.
2.4. Chemical analyses of fermentation variables
A subsample (50.0 g) of each silage with different aerobic exposure
was used for determination of lactic acid, pH, volatile fatty acids, alcohols
(methanol, ethanol, propanol, 1,2-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol, butanol),
acetone, NH3 -N and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC). Furthermore,
silages were analysed for two esters; ethyl lactate and ethyl acetate. Coldwater extracts were prepared by blending the frozen samples with a
mixture of 400 ml distilled water and 1 ml toluene, kept overnight in a
refrigerator and afterwards ltered using a folded lter paper (MN 615,
Macherey-Nagel, Dren, Germany). Determination of pH in the extract
was done potentiometrically using a calibrated pH electrode. The extract

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K. Gerlach et al. / Small Ruminant Research 121 (2014) 308313

Table 1
Chemical composition of untreated (CON) and additive-treated (TRE) lucerne silages during 8 days (d0d8) of aerobic exposure (g/kg dry matter unless
otherwise stated)1 .
Variable

Length of aerobic exposure (d)

0

Dry matter (g/kg)

Ash
Crude lipids
Crude protein
Neutral detergent bre2
Acid detergent bre3
Acid detergent lignin3
GP4 (ml/200 mg DM)
ME5 (MJ/kg DM)
Non-protein nitrogen (g/kg N)
NH3 -N6 (g/kg N)
pH
Lactic acid
Acetic acid
Methanol
Ethanol
1,2-Propanediol
Ethyl acetate (mg/kg DM)
Water-soluble carbohydrates

CON

TRE

CON

TRE

CON

TRE

CON

TRE

CON

TRE

385
117
30.9
180
482
388
105
36.6
8.0
664
108
5.2
39
25
2.4
5.6
0.4
198
8

401
127
26.9
198
453
362
98
37.3
8.4
648
91
5.5
31
12
2.4
4.3
0.2
90
45

423
120
23.6
176
490
395
105
35.6
7.9
655
106
5.5
32
18
1.3
2.2
0.1
73
16

387
122
25.6
189
474
375
97
36.3
8.2
670
106
5.5
35
17
1.4
2.6
0.1
43
40

409
116
21.7
184
470
389
104
35.9
7.9
701
107
5.3
39
23
1.6
2.4
0.1
49
19

411
121
30.2
185
456
373
105
35.2
8.1
665
101
5.4
35
19
1.2
2.0

44
33

433
118
30.0
173
467
395
104
36.9
8.0
661
101
5.4
32
19
0.6
0.9
0.2
0
13

424
117
31.6
177
470
385
94
38.0
8.3
637
99
5.5
30
15
0.7
1.0

0
39

418
124
27.3
162
507
404
103
36.0
7.7
629
128
5.5
38
22
0.8
1.2
0.1
0
11

446
129
26.0
198
453
362
98
37.3
8.4
648
101
5.4
35
16
0.5
0.5

0
36

1
Each value based on at least two analytical replicates. Concentrations of acetone, propanol, butanol, 2,3 butanediol and ethyl lactate were below detection
limit (0.02 g/kg, for ethyl esters 0.0002 g/kg) in all samples.
Concentrations of propionic acid, iso- and n-butyric acid, iso- and n-valeric acid and n-caproic acid were 0.5 g/kg in CON on d0; all remaining numbers
were below detection limit.
2
Analysed with heat stable amylase and expressed exclusive residual ash.
3
Sequentially determined.
4
24 h-gas production.
5
Metabolisable energy.
6
Ammonia concentration in total nitrogen.

was ltered through a Minisart syringe lter (pore size 0.45 m; Sartorius,
Gttingen, Germany) for lactic acid determination by HPLC (RI-detector,
Shimadzu Deutschland, Duisburg, Germany) according to Wei and Kaiser
(1995). Volatile fatty acids and alcohols were determined by gas chromatography (ame ionisation detector, Shimadzu Deutschland, Duisburg,
Germany) as described by Wei (2001). Analysis of ethyl esters as well as
acetone, propanol, methanol, and butanol was done according to Wei
and Sommer (2012). The lower detection limit for volatile fatty acids and
alcohols was at 0.02 and for esters at 0.002 g/kg. The NH3 -N concentration was analysed colorimetrically based on a modied Berthelot reaction
(Krom, 1980) using a continuous ow analyzer (Skalar Analytical, Breda,
Netherlands). Concentration of WSC was determined by anthrone method
according to von Lengerken and Zimmermann (1991).
2.5. Microbiological analyses
Each silage was sampled on d0, d2, d4, and d8 of aerobic exposure
for determination of the microbial status. A composite sample (500 g)
was taken using sterile gloves and polyethylene bags, then sealed anaerobically, cooled immediately and sent directly to a laboratory (Wessling
Laboratorien, Altenberge, Germany), where all microbiological analyses
were conducted, starting the next morning. Aerobic mesophilic bacteria,
yeasts and moulds were determined according to VDLUFA (2012; method
28.1.128.1.4). All microbial counts were log10-transformed to obtain lognormal distributed data and presented on a wet weight basis. The values
below detection level were assigned as value corresponding to half of the
detection level to calculate the averages (Tabacco et al., 2009).
2.6. Statistic analysis
All data were analyzed using SAS 9.2 (SAS , 2002). Both preference
trials were tested by analysis of variance after averaging DMI of each forage (averaged across each combination, n = 5). The analysis of variance
only included terms for animal and forage. Within the forage treatments,
means were separated using the minimum signicant difference (MSD)

from the WallerDuncan k-ratio t-test (k = 100) (Burns et al., 2001). Furthermore, correlation coefcients between silage composition and DMI
were calculated. Signicance was dened at P < 0.05.

3. Results
3.1. Chemical composition
Silage weights measured at silo opening were 560 and
605 kg and densities were 127 and 133 kg DM/m3 for CON
and TRE, respectively. Chemical composition of both silages
at opening and during aerobic exposure is presented in
Table 1. The biggest difference between both silages at
opening was seen in the concentration of WSC (8.0 and
44.6 g/kg DM for CON and TRE) and ME (8.0 and 8.4 MJ/kg
DM for CON and TRE). Concentrations of NPN were high in
both silages (664 and 648 g/kg N for CON and TRE).
3.2. Microbiological analyses and temperature
Silage CON had some visible moulded parts in the
outer layer which were removed and discarded. Results of
microbiological analyses are shown in Table 2. Temperatures of both silages (expressed as difference to ambient)
remained stable during aerobic exposure (d0d6). Forages
only heated on d8 with a slight increase (+3.0 K) in CON and
a strong increase in TRE (+13.8 K), for the latter concurrent
with an increase in yeast and aerobic bacteria population.
Yeast counts exceeded orientation values for grass silages

K. Gerlach et al. / Small Ruminant Research 121 (2014) 308313

311

Table 2
Counts (log colony forming units, cfu/g) of yeasts, moulds and aerobic mesophilic bacteria in untreated (CON) and additive-treated (TRE) lucerne silages
during 8 days of aerobic exposure..
Length of aerobic exposure (days)

Silage treatment

Yeasts

CON
TRE
CON
TRE
CON
TRE

Moulds
Aerobic mesophilic
bacteria
1

2.40
2.40
6.79
3.30
6.04
2.40

2.40
2.40
3.60
3.74
2.70
3.98

3.81
7.26
5.45
4.18
6.54
1

5.93
6.40
7.38
6.28
6.00
6.43

Not evaluable as overgrown with swarming bacteria (germ group 1, Proteus spp.).

(VDLUFA, 2012; no values for legume silages specied) on

d4 and d8 in TRE but remained below these values in CON.
Counts of moulds and aerobic mesophilic bacteria were
higher than orientation values on d8 for both CON and
TRE.

additive treatment reduces proteolysis and NH3 -N production (Rooke and Hateld, 2003). In a meta-analysis,
ammonia-N in silages has shown to adversely affect milk
protein yield and N efciency in ruminants (Huhtanen
et al., 2008), while the effects on DMI are ambiguous
(Forbes, 1995). Ethyl acetate was found in both treatments while ethyl lactate was below detection limit. This
is contrary to the occurrence of ethyl esters in different
grass silages (Gerlach et al., 2014) where ethyl acetate
was not detectable while concentrations of ethyl lactate
ranged between 66 and 120 mg/kg DM. Nevertheless, when
applying the model for prediction of total ester concentration based on the ethanol content as proposed by Wei
and Auerbach (2013) for grass silages, a good coincidence
of measured and estimated values was given (r2 = 0.95,
P < 0.05), showing its possible suitability also for lucerne
silages.
As expected from literature (OKiely and Muck, 1992),
aerobic stability was good and amounted to a length of
approximately 6 d. There were only few changes in chemical composition with the strongest alteration being the
decrease in ethanol, ethyl acetate and methanol concentrations. This might be caused by oxidation by aerobic
microorganisms but could be more likely a result of
volatilization (Daniel et al., 2013). A stronger heating on
d8 was observed in TRE despite a better hygienic quality at opening. Instead, higher concentrations of remaining
WSC might have attributed to increasing yeast counts during aerobic exposure in TRE by serving as growth substrate
for the spoilage organisms. Also OKiely and Muck (1992)
stated that yeast counts at the start of aerobic conditions
were not the sole factor governing aerobic stability in
lucerne silage. Due to the commonly higher pH value at
silo opening also Bacilli ssp. could be considered as spoilage
inducing instead of yeasts. As fungi seemed to be of special relevance during the aerobic exposure with increased

3.3. Animal preference and dry matter intake

Results of both preference trials are given in Table 3. In
both cases, goats showed a strong avoidance for aerobically
exposed silages. The 3-h DMI for d0-silage was 698 g (TRE)
and 672 g (CON), it decreased on d2 (TRE) and d4 (CON)
of aerobic exposure (P < 0.001). On d8, there was a decline
(P < 0.001) in DMI of 67% (CON) and 58% (TRE) compared to
d0-silages.
Concentrations of ethanol and methanol were positively correlated to preference when expressed as 3 h-DMI
(r = 0.78 and 0.76, P < 0.05). Other silage characteristics did
not have a signicant correlation to DMI (data not shown).
4. Discussion
4.1. Silage quality and changes during aerobic exposure
Fermentation quality of silages was assessed with the
DLG scheme (DLG, 2006). Based on concentrations of acetic
and butyric acids and pH value, both treatments were classied as very well fermented. Concentrations of NPN
and NH3 -N were slightly lower in TRE than in CON, but
still on a relatively high level when comparing with data
from commercial silos. Luchini et al. (1997) reported NPN
concentrations between 550 and 623 g/kg N for different
lucerne silage storage systems. A stronger reduction in
NPN was achieved by Guo et al. (2008) when using different chemical additives for ensiling lucerne in comparison
to the untreated control. A rapid acidication caused by

Table 3
Dry matter intake (DMI) of untreated (CON) and additive-treated (TRE) lucerne silages with different lengths of aerobic exposure shown by ve goats,
n = 20.
Silage treatment

Length of aerobic exposure (d)

0

DMI (g/30 min)

DMI (g/3 h)
DMI (g/30 min)
DMI (g/3 h)
ad
1

2
a

CON
TRE

277
672a
266a
698a

Means in a row with different superscripts in a row differ (P < 0.05).

Minimum signicant difference (Waller Duncan k-ratio t-test).

4
b

202
569a
195a,b
567b

6
c

140
427b
229b
564b

MSD1

8
c,d

102
392b
113c
503b

51
223c
55d
292c

60
131
52
100

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K. Gerlach et al. / Small Ruminant Research 121 (2014) 308313

counts in both treatments on d4 and d8 (Table 2), the risk of

production and accumulation of mycotoxins as described
by Cavallarin et al. (2011) was increased. On the other
hand, McAllister et al. (1998) reported low mould counts
in different lucerne silages during 15 d of aerobic exposure.
Consequently it was unlikely that these microorganisms
played a signicant role for the spoilage in that study which
underlines the difculty of understanding aerobic spoilage
processes in lucerne silages.
4.2. Animal preference and dry matter intake
To our best knowledge, there is a lack of studies
evaluating the impact of aerobic exposure of lucerne
silages on preference behavior of ruminants. However,
for other ensiled forages data is available (Gerlach et al.,
2013, 2014; Wichert et al., 1998). In the present study,
the strong decrease in preference after few days of aerobic
exposure was somehow unexpected as silage seemed to
be aerobically stable when using temperature as evaluation tool. The extent in decrease was comparable to
aerobically deteriorated whole-crop maize silages fed
to goats in preference trials (Gerlach et al., 2013). Those
maize silages were exposed to air for 8 d and temperature
was the best predictor for feed intake (r2 = 0.68, P < 0.001).
Silages deteriorated within 4 d and in the same interval,
short-time DMI decreased more than 50%. In contrast,
grass silages that were used in the same experimental
design, were aerobically stable (determined with silage
temperature) for at least 6 d and goats did not show strong
decrease in preference in relation to aerobic exposure
(Gerlach et al., 2014). It is therefore difcult to explain the
strong and early decrease in DMI in this study. Compared
to other ensiled forages, lucerne seems to show differences
in the deterioration process. As Muck and OKiely (1992)
reported, aerobic stability of lucerne silages is difcult
to predict with common models. It was supposed that
the factor responsible for the good aerobic stability of
lucerne silages was unlikely one of the principal products
of silage fermentation, therefore giving evidence for
unidentied compounds occurring during the spoilage
process that might also affect preference and DMI. Vice
versa, as proposed by OKiely and Muck (1992), stability
might be due to the presence of an inhibitor (or inhibitors)
produced during ensilage. A decrease of these unidentied
compounds during aerobic exposure could have affected
preference by goats and resulted in the strong avoidance
which was shown in both trials. In contrast to maize silages,
the deterioration process was not dominated by yeast and
DMI lacks a strong correlation with temperature increase.
Moulds and aerobic bacteria might play a signicant role
in both spoilage process and impacting DMI by producing
(unidentied) degradation products or mycotoxins.
Ethanol was positively correlated to DMI which might
be a side-effect of aerobic exposure, more than a direct
effect on preference. At least ethanol does not seem to
impact preference negatively, which supports previous
studies (Daniel et al., 2013; Randby et al., 1999) with
dairy cows. Besides signicant reductions in preference and
DMI, volatilization of ethanol and methanol during aerobic
exposure adds losses of energy to the silage DM.

The effect of N-compounds is ambiguous and difcult to

clearly attribute to preference data, as shown with a lack of
signicant correlation in this study. Also Dulphy and Van
Os (1996) stated that the inuence of N-compounds is even
less clearly explained than that of acids. On the animals
side, the control of intake is complex and it is unlikely that
a single factor will determine how much an animal will consume (Dawson and Mayne, 1998). The same factors that are
responsible for aerobic stability being difcult to predict in
lucerne silages might therefore also affect preference and
the strong avoidance of aerobically exposed silages in our
experiment.
5. Conclusions
Although aerobic stability (determined by rise in silage
temperature) was high, goats strongly avoided aerobically
exposed silages, irrespective of use of a chemical additive.
Processes taking place under impact of oxygen need to be
further studied, especially in legume silages; however, air
contact has to be restricted as good as possible due to its
enormous inuence on DMI.
Conict of interest statement
We wish to conrm that there are no known conicts of
interest.
Acknowledgments
This study was nancially supported by funds allocated
to the Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn. We
thank Nadja Wahl and Petra Jacquemien, University of
Bonn, and Dr. Kirsten Wei and her team, Central Analytical Laboratory, Humboldt University Berlin, for support in
chemical analyses.
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