Table 1 Fermentation parameters of ensiled products in the present study, as compared to those ‘established goals’ as well as typical values for conventional corn silage, legume silage, or grass silagea.

From: Proof of concept for developing novel feeds for cattle from wasted food and crop biomass to enhance agri-food system efficiency

Analyte

Corn silage

Legume / Grass silage

The present study

Goal

Typical range

Goal

Typical range

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

(28–32% DM)

Legume silage (28–32% DM)

Grass silage (32–36% DM)

FFV

FFV + CC

FFV + SMC

FFV + CS + SMC + WBG + MS

FFV + CS

FFV + CS + WBG

pH

3.9

3.88

 < 4.5

4.91

4.57

3.7 ± 0.02

3.9 ± 0.02

4.0 ± 0.03

4.0 ± 0.5

3.9 ± 0.01

4.4 ± 0.09

Lactic acid (%DM)

4–7%

5.16%

4–7%

4.87%

4.72%

10.2 ± 1.0

5.9 ± 0.9

12.0 ± 0.8

4.0 ± 1.6

5.9 ± 0.4

1.2 ± 0.6

Acetic acid (%DM)

 < 2%

3.49%

 < 3%

3.80%

2.05%

2.9 ± 0.4

2.1 ± 0.4

1.4 ± 0.4

0.7 ± 0.4

4.2 ± 0.3

6.2 ± 0.8

Propionic acid (%DM)

 < 0.5%

0.35%

 < 0.5%

0.33%

0.13%

n.d.b

n.d

n.d

0.2 ± 0.1

n.d

0.9 ± 0.07

Butyric acid(%DM)

 < 0.01%

0.03%

 < 0.1%

0.91%

0.34%

n.d

n.d

n.d

n.d

n.d

n.d

Total acids(%DM)

 

9.05%

 

9.9%

7.2%

13.1 ± 1.4

8.0 ± 1.3

12.9 ± 0.2

5.1 ± 2.1

10.1 ± 0.6

8.4 ± 0.8

Lactic acid (% total acids)

65–70%

57.25%

65–70%

49.1%

65.2%

78.2 ± 1.1

73.4 ± 1.6

89.5 ± 2.7

74.5 ± 16.0

58.4 ± 0.8

16.5 ± 7.0

NH3-N (% total N)

 < 7%

8.58%

 < 10%

16.4%

9.12%

2.2 ± 0.4

2.5 ± 0.7

1.1 ± 0.1

1.4 ± 0.8

1.7 ± 0.04

1.6 ± 0.04

1,2 Propanediol (when present)

 

1.30%

   

n.d

n.d

n.d

n.d

n.d

n.d

  1. aData for the goals and conventional silages were from Ward and de Ondarza35.
  2. bAbbreviations: FFV for fresh fruit and vegetables; CC for corn cobs; CS for corn stalks; SMC for spent mushroom compost; WBG for wet brewers’ grains; MS for mushroom stems, and n.d. for analyte not detected. Deviations from reference values are in italics.
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