Abstract
Microorganism composition of high moisture Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and its fermentation characteristics of silage inoculated with lactic acid bacteria was studied. Three Italian ryegrass cultivars of Akiaoba, Nagahahikari and Tachiwase with the moisture more than 80% were harvested at the boot stage. Silages were prepared by using a small-scale system of silage fermentation and treated with control, a selected bacteriosin-producing strain RO50 (Lactococcus lactis) or a commercial inoculant Chikuso-1 (Lactobacillus plantarum). The water-soluble carbohydrate content in these cultivars were 8.3-11.5% on a dry matter basis. Overall, the counts of microorganisms were 10^5-10^6 aerobic bacteria (counts are CFU/g fresh forage), 10^3 or few mold and 10^5-10^6 coliform bacteria in these cultivars. The count of lactic acid bacteria in Akiaoba and Tachiwase was 10^3-10^4CFU/g, but in Nagahahikari could not be detected. Clostridia were detected as 10^1CFU/g in Tachiwase. All control silages were not well preserved with relatively high pH value and butyric acid content, but low lactic acid content. While silages inoculated with Chikuso-1 had higher lactic acid contents (p<0.01) and lower pH compared to the control and strain RO50 inoculated silage.
