In this study, we developed a calibration equation to determine the feed composition and fermentative quality of non-powdered barley whole-crop silage. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) analysis could be used to predict the concentrations of dry matter (DM) (R²_v = 0.93 ; ratio of performance to deviation [RPD] = 3.6), crude protein (CP) (R²_v = 0.86 ; RPD = 2.6), crude fat (R²_v = 0.77 ; RPD = 1.8), acid detergent fiber (ADFom) (R²_v = 0.85 ; RPD = 2.4), neutral detergent fiber (R²_v = 0.44 ; RPD = 1.4), lactic acid (R²_v = 0.89 ; RPD = 2.7), acetic acid + propionic acid (R²_v = 0.87 ; RPD = 2.4), butyric acid + valeric acid (R²_v = 0.85 ; RPD = 2.6), total volatile fatty acid (VFA) (R²_v = 0.86 ; RPD = 2.7), and total acid (R²_v = 0.88 ; RPD = 2.4), volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) content (R²_v = 0.88 ; RPD = 2.7), and pH value (R²_v = 0.87 ; RPD = 2.6). The results obtained in this study indicated that the concentrations of DM, CP, ADFom, lactic acid, butyric acid, acetic acid+propionic acid, butyric acid+valeric acid, total VFA, and total acid, VBN content, and pH value in barley whole-crop silage can be predicted with an acceptable accuracy using NIRS techniques.

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We assessed an effect of inoculation with glycerol and Lactobacillus coryniformis strain 394 which ferments glycerol to an antimicrobial component 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde (3-HPA) in laboratory-scale ensiling of whole-crop maize. Although 3-HPA was produced in the silage, it disappeared after 3 days of storage perhaps due to chemical reaction of 3-HPA and some other component in the silage. Nevertheless, it was observed after opening the silos (after 60 days of storage) inoculation with L. coryniformis 394 and glycerol proved to retard aerobic spoilage of the silage. In another experiment of cultivating spoilage-causing yeast (Pichia sp. Y1) in extract of the material maize which was previously supplemented with 3-HPA and incubated prior to inoculation with Pichia sp. Y1, 3-HPA disappeared after the incubation. In this extract, the growth of Pichia sp. Y1 was also retarded comparing to its growth in extract of the maize supplemented with no 3-HPA. This result suggests that the chemical reaction of 3-HPA and components in maize might produce some other antimicrobial component.

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