Papel da fermentação propionica na produção de silagem

Abstract

The intensive cattle management leads to the necessity of forage strategies, mainly as silage. The silage utilization in the dry season as part of the cattle feeding is a common practice. The ensiling procedure has mainly the objective to increase the forage nutrients and to decrease losses in the dry matter and energy. The application of microorganisms as starter cultures to control fermentation is important in the silage production. Microorganisms isolated from the plants themselves, render more efficient inoculants. This demonstrates the necessity of evaluating and quantification studies from endogenous forage. The majority of the nationwise used inoculants is originally from abroad. Despite of the inoculants being originated from the very forage, it is important also the combination of such starter organisms with species from Propionibacterium. Among the different metabolites, Propionibacterium spp. are able to produce organic acids, mainly propionic acid, which accumulates in the end of the fermentation process and helps to ensure the stability of the silage. Propionic acid is a potent inhibitor of yeast.