Silage fermentation - updates focusing on the performance of micro‐organisms

Abstract

Advances in micro‐organism identification techniques have resulted in increased knowledge of the diversity of prokaryotes and eukaryotes in silage. Such knowledge has enhanced the understanding of how fermentation occurs in forage crops with different characteristics and how the process can be improved to enhance silage quality. Undesirable micro‐organisms can grow in silage when fermentation does not occur properly. Such micro‐organisms may be pathogenic and/or produce toxic metabolic compounds; however, information on the consequences of these metabolites on the health of animals that consume silage is still lacking. The major challenge of ensilage is to produce high‐quality feed that is nutritional, sanitary and stable, with a high dry matter recovery rate, in a process involving no interventions during fermentation and considerable variation in the characteristics of the substrates. It is important to note that each substrate has particularities and that we can only improve fermentation if we fully understand microbial diversity. This review is intended to update information related to the fermentation profile of silage, focusing on microbial diversity.